Oxblood is the color of the season. Think deep maroon, a glass of Merlot, dark mahogany, deep brown/reddish. It’s in all the fashion mags and all over the runways. It’s oxblood everything: lips, clothing, shoes, hair. Here are some examples of the color scheme:
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Let’s be honest, besides my nail color, the closest I’m probably going to get to this trend is my wine.
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What are your thoughts on the trend? Will you be wearing oxblood lips this fall?
Filed under Beauty Trends
As a makeup artist, you might think that I wear a ton of makeup. The answer is no. I love to wear my makeup so that it covers my flaws, but I still look like myself. The best way to describe it is, I like to look like the best version of myself. I think creating the perfect makeup look all starts with the skin. Use a good skincare routine and become diligent about taking good care of your skin and you’ll be on your way to your best makeup days ever. In order to achieve the, “I’m wearing makeup, but don’t look like it” look, you have to start with the basics of skincare. You can find out all about my skin routine here.
There are certain products you need to use to look like you have effortless, impeccable skin. If you’re wondering about the type of look I’m talking about, here it is:
I’m absolutely obsessed with Lauren Conrad’s makeup style. She is such a minimalist when it comes to her makeup. She looks casual, chic and cool. If you think for one second though that she just isn’t wearing makeup and is blessed with naturally radiant, flawless skin, you’re wrong. She is absolutely wearing makeup. She has just mastered how to apply it without looking like pancake face.
I’m going to show you the necessities to master this look. Even though it may look like Lauren just has a little lip gloss and eyeliner on, there is actually quite a bit more that goes into achieving this look. Here are the things you will need:
1. Foundation:
You have to achieve an even skin tone and hide your imperfections. Start with a foundation that gives you the amount of coverage you need. You don’t want to choose one too heavy, otherwise you risk losing the all-natural look we’re going for. Try a few samples from Sephora to see what works for you and what you feel comfortable with. Recently I’ve been on a foundation sampling frenzy and I’m currently loving this foundation from Lorac. It gives me the perfect amount of coverage for my skin.
Lorac Natural Performance Foundation, $36 at Ulta
2. Bronzer:
Lauren has a bronzed look to her skin, but it’s not too over the top. You need to create a little contour to your skin. Sweep some bronzer on your forehead, cheeks and jawline. I’m in love with this bronzer from NARS:
NARS Bronzer in Laguna, $34 at Sephora
3. Highlighter:
Highlighting is the key to giving your skin back the radiance it naturally emits. Dust a highlighter on top of your cheekbones to give your skin the radiance you see celebrities with in pictures. Everyone wants this look. I call it the J. Lo glow:
Who wouldn’t want to look like this?
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle, $34 at MAC stores
4. Eyeliner:
Eyeliner is something I have mixed feelings about. Everyone always thinks it’s strange that I NEVER line my bottom lash line. This is actually my secret to looking like I’m not wearing a lot of makeup. I love the definition that lining my top lid gives me, but once I put it on the bottom I feel like the whole look of my makeup changes. It looks like voilà, I’m definitely wearing makeup. If I’m doing a smokey eye though, I’ll definitely line underneath. If you notice in the picture, Lauren only has liner on the top. They have applied a bronze shadow underneath to give it a glowy feel. I love powder eyeliners because they tend to look a little more natural and you can get them really close to the lash line. Here is one of my favorites from Bare Escentuals:
Bare Minerals Powder Liner Shadow in Onyx, $14
5. Groomed Brows:
Groomed brows help to make you look polished. Make sure you remove any stray hairs. You can do this in form of waxing, tweezing or threading. My absolute favorite brow gurus are Anastasia of Beverly Hills. They have this counter at your local Nordstrom. They shape your brows into the perfect shape for your face. They’re wonder women! Unless you are blessed with perfectly full, shapely brows, you may need to fill them in a bit. I prefer a powder, over a pencil, to fill in my brows because I think it looks more natural.
Anastasia Brow Powder, $22 at Nordstrom
6. Lips:
Lips are the finishing touch for this look. Unless you put something on your lips, you don’t look completely finished. Apply a gloss, or a nude lipstick. Here is one of my favorite nude lipsticks. You can also find it featured in this post:
MAC Lipstick in Honeylove, $15 at MAC stores
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What do you think about the minimal makeup look? What celebrity do you think wears this look the best?
There are certain items that every bride needs to make sure she keeps close-by on her wedding day. Give them to your Mom, your Maid of Honor, or anyone who might be carrying a clutch you can stow them in. If you have your makeup professionally done, your makeup should last the entire day. There are still some items you will need so you can touch up before pictures, after eating, or after all the lip-locking. Remember, a calm bride is a happy bride. Be prepared with these tools just in case you happen to need them. It’s your wedding day which means it should be a joyful, stress-free day! Enjoy it & pack these essentials:
1. Concealer:
If you well up and shed a tear or two, you should be fine. If the tears are going to flow like a waterfall it’s another story. You want to bring a concealer just in case you have an emotional moment and need to high-tail it off to the bathroom for a quick touch-up. Even if you think you aren’t the type to get emotional it’s still best to be prepared. I’m not usually overly emotional but all it takes is for me is to hear “Dance With My Father” by Luther Vandross. I’ll probably be crying like a tween who just found out Justin Beiber isn’t single. That song gets me every time.
L’oreal True Match Concealer, $9 at lorealparisusa.com
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2. Lipstick or gloss
You want to bring a lipstick, lipgloss or both to reapply before pictures. Remember that photos can sometimes wash you out a bit, so you just want to keep your lip color looking fresh. Just dab a little on before photos and maybe again after your done eating. You shouldn’t need it more than that. If you prefer, you can ask your makeup artist to buy the color she will be using on you. You can find one of my favorite lipstick shades by clicking here.
MAC lipstick in Honeylove, $17.50 and MAC Plushglass in Ample Pink, $22.50 at MACCosmetics.com
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3. Oil blotting sheets
A makeup artist preps and primes your skin and uses products that are formulated for your skin type, so you will not have to worry about your makeup coming off. If you have a problem with excessive oiliness, or you’re getting married in the summer on a hot and humid day, I suggest picking up a few oil blotting sheets. These will allow you to remove the excess shine on your face without ruining your makeup.
Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets, $5 at drugstores
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4. Makeup remover cloths:
These are great if you happen to get really emotional & need to dab under your eyes to remove excess makeup that might have fallen. I would say this item is definitely optional, but you can never come too prepared.
Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes, $6 at drugstores
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5. Compact Mirror
You’re going to be the star of the show and in high demand at your reception. You may not have time to sneak off to the bathroom to reapply your lipstick, so a compact mirror is perfect for quick touch ups.
Sephora Collection Compact Mirror, $15 at Sephora
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Remember that weeks before your wedding you want to make sure you take care of your skin like it’s your second job. If your skin is in optimum condition, your makeup will be too. You can find my 3 steps I recommend for flawless makeup in my past post here. Most of all, enjoy your day & relax. Everything will go smoothly. Remember to keep in mind, a calm bride is a happy bride!
What essentials will you be sure to have?
When I saw Emma Stone Sunday at the MTV Movie Awards, her makeup caught my eye immediately. In my eyes, the look she’s wearing is the epitome of what summer makeup should look like. Her makeup looks simple except for the pop of color on her lips. Like I have said in my past post, summer makeup should be simple with one focus point. Choose either the eyes or the lips, make them stand out, and the rest should stay simple. With only 4 easy steps, I’m going to show you the products that you can use to recreate this fun, summery look.
1. Foundation:
First off, her skin isn’t shouting ‘luminous’ to me. Her foundation looks semi-matte. A great foundation to recreate this look would be Laura Mercier Oil Free Suprême Foundation. This foundation gives medium, buildable coverage with a semi-matte finish.
$42 at Sephora.com
2. Blush:
She is wearing a very subtle, peachy-pink blush. The perfect blush would be NARS Blush in Sex Appeal. It’s the perfect mix of a soft pink and pale peach. Since she is wearing a coral lip, you want to make sure your blush has a tint of coral or peach in it too.
$28 at Sephora
3. Eye Liner
Emma is wearing a black, sleek liner. Keep your eyeshadow very neutral, almost bare, and put the focus on the liner. A great liner to create this look is MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack. This liner is seriously awesome (I swear) and it’s perfect to recreate this look.
$15 at Nordstrom
4. Lips
And the grand finale…the lips! She is wearing a coral lip that looks like it has a tint of pink to it. The actual lip product she is wearing is Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous. Her makeup artist, Rachel Goodwin, actually confirmed that this is the color she is wearing! When you look at the product it looks like a red-orange shade. I’m sure you can work with the color and achieve the color that best suits you depending upon how much you apply. I love to mix colors, so if this looked a little too orange-ish on myself, I will just add a dab of pink! I will definitely be picking this color up on my next drugstore visit because I’m certain it will be selling out soon.
$7.69 at Target
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Voilà! You look like a movie star!
What do you think of this look? Would you wear it?
Filed under Beauty, Favorite Products, Makeup
I have so many favorite summer makeup products that one post just wouldn’t cut it. Here are the rest of my essentials for long-lasting and flawless summer makeup:
1. Tinted Moisturizer:
A tinted moisturizer can completely replace your foundation if you’re comfortable with a sheer coverage. I, on the other hand, still use a light coverage foundation on top of my tinted moisturizer because I have minor skin imperfections. If you are blessed with great skin, a tinted moisturizer is all you will need in the summertime. Tinted moisturizers do exactly what they sound like they do. They tint the skin, covering discolorations slightly, and moisturize. If you decide to strictly use a tinted moisturizer, make sure it has a high SPF of 30+. A great money-saving trick I love is to use your daily foundation and your daily moisturizer and mix equal parts together to make your own version of a tinted moisturizer. It works just as well. I have finally found the ultimate tinted moisturizer I’ve been searching for:
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30, $42 at Nordstrom
This moisturizer gives great coverage, while still letting your natural skin show through. I absolutely love the texture and feel of it. It leaves my skin feeling very hydrated and not tacky, like some tinted moisturizers tend to. It has a long list of luxurious ingredients that actually help to improve your pigmentation after 4 weeks of use. I’ve tried a lot of tinted moisturizers and this one exceeded all of my expectations, so it will stand alone on my list of favorites. In fact, this product is so good that it’s what Gwyneth Paltrow wore at the Golden Globes this year.
2. Bronzer:
It wouldn’t be summer without bronzer. Summer is the only time of the year you can get by with looking like a bronzed goddess without being questioned if you just came back from an exotic vacay. With that being said, bronze away! While the sun is one of my favorite things, I prefer not to lay out in it because of its harmful effects, so I definitely put my bronzers and self-tanning creams to good use in the summertime. One of my least favorite things in a bronzer is one with an underlying orange tint. If you’re trying to be cast as the latest Jersey Shore housemate these bronzers are NOT for you:
NARS Bronzer in Laguna, $34 at Department Stores
Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder with Real Cocoa, $29 at Sephora
Bare Escentuals Warmth, $19 at BareEscentuals.com
3. Bright Pink Lips:
Bright pink and fuchsia lips happen to look amazing with muted down makeup and luminous summer skin. In the summer, keep it easy and choose one focus point or just keep everything simply neutral. My lovely cousin Arantha, author of the blog Gourmet Beauty, recently did a post on fuchsia lips. You can view her favorite colors here. One of the colors she has recently recommended on her blog has become one of my new daily favorites! These colors are very stylish and fun this season, so give them a try!
Nicki Minaj for MAC Viva Glam, $14.50 at MAC stores
Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Candy Pink, $8.99 at drugstores
4. Finishing Mists
I am in love with finishing mists. One of my favorite things about them is they feel refreshing, like you’re giving thirsty skin a drink of water. They set your makeup and give it staying power. It’s Indy 500 week here in Indianapolis and for those of you that don’t know, that means a long, 90 something degree day in the direct sunlight. My makeup has to withstand the heat and also last for hours. These products will help it to do just that:
Urban Decay All Nighter, $29 at Sephora
MAC Fix+, $20 at MACCosmetics.com
Are there any essentials you must have for summertime? Everyone have a safe & happy Memorial Day!
In the summertime I’m all about quick and easy makeup that will last all day without making me look too “made up”. Summer is a time when you want your skin to look fresh and luminous. What I love about summer makeup is my routine is cut almost in half! This leaves me a lot of other time to get stuff done, such as laundry web surfing. In Indiana, we have a lot of humidity and high temps in the summer. I need my makeup to last (and look good) from the time I put it on to when I wash it off at night. This can be hard to achieve but with the right products and routine seen below, you will be on your way to long-lasting, fresh-faced, summer beauty.
1. Primer
Primers are specifically made for either the face or eyes. A primer helps the longevity of your makeup. It creates a smooth surface for applying your foundation or eye makeup.
A facial primer not only helps to reduce the appearance of your pores, it also helps to control oil and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. When you’re using a face primer, a little goes a long way. You usually only need one pump, if that.
An eye primer keeps your shadow adhered all day long and also keeps it from creasing. It also works to the benefit of the eyeshadow by bringing out the true pigment in the shadow. I would consider an eye primer a staple in anyone’s makeup collection, but if you’re someone with oily eyelids then a primer is an absolute necessity. When wearing foundation or eye makeup in the summer, I definitely recommend trying one of the following:
Bare Escentuals Prime Time Foundation Primer, $23 at BareEscentuals.com
MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Microperfecting Primer, $34 at Sephora
2. Neutral Eyes
Think beachy and bronzed…and J. Lo. Summertime is when you can get away with minimal eye makeup, so use it to your advantage. The great thing is you don’t have to be makeup savvy to create a look. I usually keep it simple with one light, shimmery color all over the lid. For evening, pop another color into your crease and you’re good to go. Here are some of my favorites.
Urban Decay Naked2 Palette, $50 at Sephora
MAC eyeshadow in Naked Lunch, $15 at Nordstrom
Bare Escentuals Eyeshadow in Vanilla Sugar, $14 at Nordstrom
3. Peachy Cheeks
When I think of light, fresh makeup I think of peachy-pink cheeks. You want a shade that gives you a natural-looking flush of color. The focus point shouldn’t be on your cheeks. You just want a pop of blush that gives you that little pick-me-up, making your finished look polished.
NARS Orgasm Blush, $28
MAC Buff Blush, $24
Kirsten Dunst at Cannes Film Festival 2012. Summer makeup perfection.
What are your summer makeup essentials? Stay tuned for Summer Makeup Essentials Part 2.
