Glam NYE Party Looks

If you haven’t yet decided what makeup look you’re going to rock on NYE, I have some stunning looks to share with you. New Years Eve is a night to pull out all the stops and go super glam. I don’t know about you, but I think that sparkles are a must on this night. When choosing your look, I suggest that you pick something to feature on (eyes or lips). You can find out more about that here.

While I will be ringing in the new year with my loves at home (and good chance I’ll be asleep by 11:00 #momlife), I will be living vicariously through you pretty party-goers out on the town. I’ve included looks for everyone from the simplistic novice to the daring diva. Here are my favorite looks to bring in 2013.

The Minimalist

This is a classic, yet subdued look. Anyone can pull this off. This is perfect for those that are still a bit skeptical of their makeup skills, or just want a simple look.

Shimmery shadow used as a liner paired with a nude lip.

The pop of champagne shadow in the inner corner kicks this look up a notch.

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The Red Lip

We all know that nothing screams ‘party’ like a red lip. These will definitely make a statement.

Matte red lips.

Dramatic lashes & lips.

Minimal eyes with a bold lip. This look is one of my all-time faves.

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Glimmer & Glam

Sparkle is essential on NYE. It’s the biggest party night of the year, so if you’re going to wear glitter, this is the night to do it.

Gold glitter will make your eyes pop, especially those with green eyes.

This sparkly taupe smokey eye is a twist on the classic smokey.

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Happy New Years to all of you! A big thank you to each of you that have supported my business and my blog this year. 2012 was such a wonderful year. Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous 2013! Cheers!

What are your NYE plans? What look will you be wearing to ring in the new year?

xo,

Festive & Fun Holiday Lip Balm Giveaway

If you know me, you know I’m OBSESSED with Christmas. Like, I want to be one of Santa’s little helpers obsessed. I’m giving two lucky ladies another chance to win a Long Winter Farm Lip Balm! This time they are festive holiday flavors. Yummy! This is another extremely easy contest. Here’s all you have to do:

1. Make sure you already ‘Like’ Beauty Anywhere on Facebook. (If you don’t, you can like my page by clicking the link on the right hand side of this page.)

2. ‘Like’ the picture of the lip balms.

3. Comment and tell me if you would like to win an eggnog or gingerbread lip balm.

I will be choosing two winners at random tomorrow at noon (12/19), so make sure you go enter! These will be mailed out tomorrow, so you will receive just in time for Christmas! These are a perfect stocking stuffer, or a yummy little treat for yourself. Good luck!

Here’s hoping you have the happiest holidays,

How To Coordinate Your Lips With Your Eye Look

I think deciding how to match your lip and eye look is a common struggle among women. I get a lot of questions from my clients about what lip color they should wear to compliment their eye look. Should they go matchy-matchy? Use a plum-toned lipstick with a plum eye? I have broken it down and created these simple illustrations for you. I’ve chosen 3 common looks to help you achieve makeup perfection. These are all great looks that you can also wear at your holiday parties!

1. Sexy Sophisticate

This is a very sultry look that will really draw attention to your eyes. Make sure you keep the focus on your smoked out eyes and pair this look with a nude lip. One of my favorite lipsticks to recreate this look can be found here. You will definitely be turning heads with this glamorous look!

2. Classic Beauty

This retro look is perfect for making a statement. Wing out your liner and pair it with a matte red lip for that old Hollywood glamour look. This lipstick on Lauren Conrad is perfect for emulating this look.

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.3. Romantic Drama

You typically want to choose one focus point, but with a plum-colored eye, you can definitely incorporate a lip color that has a plum-toned base. Personally, I would choose a bit lighter shade than what is shown in the picture. If you’re going for a more dramatic, or a nighttime look, it would work great. Otherwise, pair this look with a nude, toned-down lip.

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What’s your favorite go-to look? How do you pair your lips & eyes?

A Huge Thank You

I’m so happy to say that I had my busiest wedding season yet this year! I had the pleasure of working with some of the sweetest, beautiful brides and extremely talented photographers. Thank you so much to everyone who continues to refer me. I’m so grateful for each of you! A huge thanks to Cory + Jackie, the Indianapolis based (and phenomenal) wedding photographers who featured me on their blog this month. I was able to work with them for a wedding at the Indiana Statehouse and can’t wait to work with them again this coming year. Ladies, if you’re still looking for the perfect photographer, do yourself a favor and check them out. They do fab work. You can check out the featured post here.

With this being the month we celebrate thankfulness, I wanted to take a moment to thank each of you and let you know how much I appreciate your support. Thank you to those of you that follow my blog and my Facebook page. It means so much to me that you take the time to read anything that I write. When I first started my blog, I didn’t write anything for a year because I thought no one would care to read anything I wrote. I still have a long way to go, but each of my 1,108 followers is near & dear to my heart. I love getting your comments, emails and questions. Keep them coming. You’re the best!

A super HUGE thank you to my family, friends, clients, photographers, etc. I couldn’t be more thankful for each time one of you mentions my name when someone is looking for a makeup artist. I couldn’t grow without you. Your continued support means the world to me.

I can’t wait to make 2013 the best year ever. Thank you.

xo,

 

A Few New Additions To The Portfolio

Two of my wonderful brides have been kind enough to send these my way. These are some of the most recent additions to my portfolio. It’s always greatly appreciated when a bride lets me add a few of her photos to help build my portfolio.  They look stunning. Thank you Hannah and Meredith!

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How Often Do You Clean Your Makeup Brushes?

** UPDATE: **

A pin is going around on Pinterest that says to soak your brushes for 20 minutes in vinegar. I do NOT suggest this. Unfortunately someone pinned this with the wrong information that came from a readers comment on this post. This could potentially damage your brushes. You do not want to use anything besides shampoo that is formulated for makeup brushes. I hope none of you have been misinformed. Please read and follow my method below. This is the best and safest route to clean those brushes of yours! The best of luck and happy cleaning!

Cleaning your makeup brushes is one of the most crucial, yet overlooked, tasks that should be done regularly. Cleaning your brushes is important for multiple reasons. First of all, brushes are an investment. It has taken me years to build up my brush collection and we all know they aren’t cheap. Quality makeup brushes can range in price from $5 to above $50. It’s important to take care of them because they should last you years, maybe even a lifetime if you take care of them properly. Another important reason your brushes need cleaned regularly is because they collect bacteria. If you’re prone to acne this is especially true. If you don’t clean your brushes you are only continuing to spread bad bacteria that can cause breakouts. And finally, if you’re not cleaning your brushes you will not get the optimum results from them. A brush packed full of makeup isn’t going to do the job it was designed to do. Here are the steps to take when cleaning your brushes.

1. Find a makeup brush shampoo. I’m currently using Well-Cared For Brush Conditioning Shampoo by Bare Escentuals. I absolutely love this product because it conditions your bristles and is free of skin-irritants. It also removes every last bit of makeup from your brush. For a budget-friendly option, use a mild baby shampoo such as Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. Next, add a quarter size amount of your shampoo to a cup of lukewarm water and swirl your brush around in the water for a few seconds. Be careful not to submerge the metal part (ferrule) of your brush into the water, which can loosen the glue of the brush.

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2. Rinse out your brushes with lukewarm water, squeeze out the excess water, and make sure they are smoothed out into their original form. Lay your brushes on a towel flat to dry overnight.

For some brushes, such as lip and eyeliner brushes, I will also clean them with alcohol and then shampoo them for extra cleanliness. Some people would tell you not to do this, but I like to make sure my brushes are extra clean. If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to shampoo your brushes, another great product to use is Quick Change also by Bare Escentuals. This is a very quick-drying cleansing spray that removes the pigment out of your brushes and sanitizes them. It leaves your brushes smelling great too! If you’re a makeup artist, it’s a great product to use in between clients.

Makeup brushes that are used for personal use should be cleaned every 2 to 4 weeks. Make sure to follow these steps and you’re on your way to clean, better performing brushes that will give you optimum application results. You might even see a difference in your skin too!

Do you clean your makeup brushes regularly?