Makeup Tips/How To

How Do You Wear Red Lipstick? Tips and Tricks

October 24th, 2008 by Karen 33 Comments

Like the Ol’ Faithful of lip looks, a red lip is one of the most reliable, fool-proof ways to steal the spotlight.

But red and other bright lip shades can be challenging colors to wear. My secret to wearing reds like Lancome’s Absolute Rouge ($29, pictured above) is to apply them using a MAC 316 Covered Lip Brush ($19).

With the 316’s firm, pointed tip I can really get in where I need to get, precisely controlling my lines and delivering the right amount of pigment for my look — kinda like drawing with a sharpened pencil versus trying to draw with a stubby crayon. When applying directly from a tube of lipstick, I’ll often end up with uneven color or color breaking outside the lines of the natural shape of my lips. Not cute, ladies!

For my makeup this week I’ve alternated between Estee Lauder’s Ruby and Lancome’s Absolute Rouge.

A classic tomato red with subtle golden pearl, Absolute Rouge arrived last August as part of Lancome’s L’Rouge Absolue lipstick line. Richly pigmented, it was designed for full coverage and moisture, thanks, according to Lancome, to Pro-Xylane, a deeply-moisturizing molecule found across their Absolute skincare range. Whatever, right? It’s pretty — the most important thing.

Got any tips or tricks for wearing red lips? Come on, share your secrets. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

10 Fantastic Smokey Eye Tutorials

October 22nd, 2008 by Karen 45 Comments

One of my favorite things about makeup is that there’s always room to step up your game. I love to imagine all the tips and tricks that I’ve yet to learn.

I’m always looking to get better at doing smokey eyes. I’ve come across hundreds of smokey eye tutorials, and I think these 10 are some of the most helpful ones. I hope you find them useful, too!

1. A smokey eye video tutorial with MAC Pro makeup artist Chantel Miller

2. A black smokey eye by Christine of Temptalia.com

temptalia.com

3. A video how-to showing ways to use Stila’s Talking Palette

4. Get a high fashion look with this smokey eye by MissChievous of Specktra.net

specktra.net

5. A smokey eye video tutorial starring Kim Kardashian (and her awesome makeup artist)

kimkardashian.com
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11 Great Makeup Wipes and Cleansers

October 18th, 2008 by Karen 26 Comments

A few days ago I reviewed L’Oreal Skin Genesis Wet Cleansing Towelettes with BHA. A few of you gals then offered up your fave makeup removing wipes and cleansers in the comments. Here’s a list featuring your recommendations and why you love ’em!

1. MAC Wipes

$24.50 for 100 wipes
Super duper. They’re a great cleanser and come in a resealable bag (that actually works) to keep them moist and fresh until you need ’em.

2. Korres Wipes

$12 for 25 wipes
Sticker trubs. Great wipes, but the package closes with a sticker instead of a Ziplock and doesn’t always form a tight seal. If you’re not careful, the wipes can dry out soon after the package has been opened.

3. EveryDayMinerals Cleansing Wipes

$3.75; I don’t know the package size
Great scent. People seem to really like the mild lavender and grapefruit fragrance. These wipes are all-natural, but aren’t considered among the softest wipes on the market.

4. Garnier Nutritioniste Nutri-Pure Wet Cleansing Towelettes

$6 for 25 wipes
Soft and clean. These are said to be softer than most other moist cleansing towelettes and remove makeup well. They have a fresh scent, don’t leave behind a sticky residue, but the pack tends to dry out if you’re not careful.

5. Olay Daily Facials Express: Sensitive Skin

$6 for 30 wipes
Velvety soft. These wet cleansing cloths contain aloe and vitamin E, making them extremely soft and moisturizing. They great makeup cleansers, too, even removing waterproof mascara with ease.

6. Boots No7 Quick-Thinking 4-in-1 Wipes

$7 for 30 wipes
Handy dandy. With Boots now carried in Target stores nationwide, these are easy to find (and sometimes on sale). They remove makeup well, even mascara, but they can be a little bit drying.

7. L’Oreal Skin Genesis Wet Cleansing Towelettes

$8 for 25 wipes
Acne fighter. These extremely soft wipes have a nice honeysuckle/rose scent and contain BHA (beta hydroxy acid) to help treat mild acne.

8. Comodynes Dermatological Cleansing Towelettes for Acne and Problem Skin

$4 for 20 wipes
Bargain Basement. I’ve never tried ’em before, but if rumors that Trader Joe’s carries them are true, sign me up. I love Trader Joe’s!

9. MAC Cleanse Off Oil

$21 per bottle
Fan favorite. A gentle, cleanser for oil-based makeup; 100% mineral-oil free, even removes waterproof mascara.

10. Shu Uemura Skin Purifier High Performance Cleansing Oil

$28 per bottle
Super moisture. Similar to MAC’s Cleanse Off Oil but doesn’t smell as good; said to be more moisturizing, though, and ya gotta love Shu.

11. L’Oreal Skin Genesis Pore Minimizing Gel Cleanser

$8 per bottle
Deep cleaner. Also contains BHA, like the Skin Genesis cleansing towelettes, and considered a good cleanser, able to even remove eye makeup.

So tell me… How do you remove your makeup? Do you use a liquid cleanser, a wipe or a combination of both?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Summer Sendoff: 12 September Posts You May Have Missed

October 4th, 2008 by Karen 9 Comments

1. A Blue, Pink and Silver Eye with Clarins So Sublime Quartet

“I didn’t think I’d be able to use the colors in the So Sublime quad when I first saw them a few weeks ago because they seemed too bright, but playing with them today changed my mind. I like the results. I think I’ll include this eye in my regular rotation of work friendly (yet colorful) looks. Yes, Virginia, you too can wear hot pink eye shadow!” Read more…

2. How To: A Purple Smokey Eye with Stila Convertible Eye Color in Violet

“I hate going to work completely tow’ up, but it seems like I’m always running late. What I need are makeup tools and tips to help me save time when I’m getting ready for work, and I think I found one: Stila Convertible Eye Color ($20). ” Read more…

3. The Chanel Smoky Eye Quad Seduction

“She arrived dressed to thrill in a sleek black compact — four sophisticated shadows born to seduce and built to weaken knees. Crafted to create the ultimate smoky eye, she prepared to do her dance of makeup seduction. Even before I opened the Chanel Smoky Eye Quad ($56), I could hear her siren song.” Read more…

4. Looking for Cheap, Stylish Ways to Organize Your Makeup?

“Your local art store may have just the thing you need to keep your growing makeup stash organized. Most arts and crafts stores stock unvarnished wooden boxes in assorted shapes and sizes. They make perfect (and affordable) makeup storage containers. I spied these boxes, each ranging from a whopping $1.50 to a staggering $3, at my local Ben Franklin Craft Store this afternoon. They’re perfect for storing eye shadows, blushes, glosses or whatever your makeup-lurving heart desires.” Read more…

5. MAC Cosmetics Cremesheen Product Pictures and Swatches

“A new kid’s in town, and her name is Cremesheen — MAC Cremesheen. The collection joins two other major MAC releases that arrived on counters nationwide today: Suite Array, and Gold Fever (exclusive to Nordstrom stores). Say hello to Cremesheen’s 14 new lipstick colors.” Read more…

6. Diorshow Iconic Mascara Lengthens, Curls and Defines Lashes with Ease

“Some products are so good in certain ways that their strengths totally outweigh their weaknesses. For me, Diorshow Iconic Mascara ($27) is one of those products. The newest member of Dior’s lash arsenal doesn’t produce the thickest lashes I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t thicken as well as, say, Chanel Exceptionnel does, but it lengthens, curls and defines lashes so amazingly well that I don’t mind at all.” Read more…
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Estee Lauder Pink Ribbon Collection Products for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 1st, 2008 by Karen 11 Comments

I stopped by the mall tonight after work to window shop for shoes (my Adidas Shell Toes are on their last legs), but, alas, *forces* drove me toward the mighty cosmetics department.

At the EstÃ©e Lauder counter I stared hypnotically at this pink mountain of awesome limited edition Pink Ribbon products for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Half a million dollars in proceeds from the sale of World Pink products this month will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The girl working behind the counter warned me that the Elizabeth Hurley Lip Color Collection ($16) is selling fast.

Check out the jeweled pink ribbon pin ($12.50), bling!

I was tempted by the lip sets. The first one, called the Evelyn Lauder Lip Collection ($22), comes with three full-sized lipsticks in some of Evelyn Lauder’s fave shades (pinks and berries). The second set, the Elizabeth Hurley one, includes three sheer and shiny High Gloss lipglosses in Pink, Rose and Pearl.

Estee Lauder High Gloss Lipgloss in Pink

Estee Lauder High Gloss Lipgloss in Pearl

Estee Lauder High Gloss Lipgloss in Rose

I hope you had a fab day today. Your kindness and response to the Breast Cancer Awareness Month post this morning blew me away. It looks like we’ll reach (and hopefully exceed) the $100 goal ($200 with matching) for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, so you deserve a big hug for that. Great job. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How To: A Purple Smokey Eye with Stila Convertible Eye Color in Violet

September 30th, 2008 by Karen 53 Comments

I hate going to work completely tow’ up, but it seems like I’m always running late. What I need are makeup tools and tips to help me save time when I’m getting ready for work, and I think I found one: Stila Convertible Eye Color ($20).

Part Transformer, part James Bond gadget, it delivers three great tools in one — a twist-up eye pencil, a smudging sponge, and, when you twist the middle of the pen, a coordinating eye shadow.

Stila Convertible Eye Color in Violet made quick work of this smokey purple eye.

The Violet shade’s pencil is a shimmery, dark plum; the coordinating shadow is a shimmery lavender.

Isn’t she cute?

For the eye look pictured up top, I started by applying a thin layer of primer on my lids with Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

I used the eye pencil end of the Stila Convertible pen to draw a thick line on each lid, starting at the outer side of the lash line and working my way inward. I took care to apply as close to the base of the lashes as possible, right along the roots.

To diffuse the color into the crease, I gently rubbed the smudging sponge along the top of the liner, taking care to make the liner darkest near the lash line.

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Makeup Tip: Layer Benefit Gilded Beneath Red Lip Glosses for Warmth and Shimmer

September 20th, 2008 by Karen 26 Comments

I just got a makeup tip and had to share! A friend who works for Benefit Cosmetics suggested I try their shimmery gold Gilded ($20) pencil with some of my red glosses. I tried it and BAM! — it breathes new life into glosses with instantly warmer, more shimmery color.

I applied a layer of Benefit’s Gilded creamy gold pencil for lips, eyes and cheeks beneath MAC Russian Red Lipglass, MAC Cult of Cherry Lipglass and Sally Hansen’s Natural Lip Gloss in Juicy Cherry.

Here’s a layer of Gilded on her own. I think she’s even pretty by herself…

Beneath a layer MAC Cult of Cherry Lipglass ($14)…

Beneath a layer of MAC Russian Red Lipglass ($14)…

Beneath a layer of Sally Hansen’s Natural Lip Gloss in Juicy Cherry ($8)…

I’m thinking Gilded will work well with dark berry and bright pink lip glosses, too.

Can you think of any other lip products I should try with Benefit Gilded?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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September Retro Roundup: One Year Ago on Makeup and Beauty Blog

September 3rd, 2008 by Karen 35 Comments

Happy hump day, ladies. Yours truly came down with a summer cold last night. My nose is stuffed up, my body aches, and I can’t taste anything. What is life, I ask you, if you can’t enjoy the taste of your greasy Chinese chicken chow mein?

Have a great day today, and wash those hands often because the cold is going around.

I thought I’d take a quick look back into the archives while I sip some guava juice. Last September was a fun month.

Interview with MAC Viva Glam Spokesperson Dita Von Teese

Makeup and Beauty Blog: So what MAC makeup are you wearing today?
Dita Von Teese: Well, lets see … I hope I can remember! I think my cheek color is called Dame. My lip color is Russian Red with a Lip Lacquer called Fan Plastico over that. And I have liquid liner and MAC false lashes (of course!). I have Vapor eyeshadow and MAC mineralize powder on. Click to read the rest…

MAC Mattene Lipsticks Review

While I was initially skeptical of the return of matte, I ended up being pleasantly surprised. I guess if Marky Mark can morph from an underwear model with a busy, pants-dropping schedule, to an Academy Award Nominee, matte lipsticks can evolve as well. Click to read the rest…

Hair Product Reviews – Phytodensium Anti-Aging Shampoo and Serum

You might need anti-aging products if…

You didn’t get an e-mail account until you took a class that required you to get one … in college.
You own a mix tape that you made off the local hip hop station; extra points if Salt & Pepa’s “Push It” or MC Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This” are on it.
You remember when girls didn’t talk about waxing or tweezing their eyebrows.
Your O.G. “skinny jeans” were of the Bongo or Guess variety, and they were so tight that after lunch you could barely breathe in history class.
You had or knew someone who had a spiral perm gone wrong.
Your bullsh*t-o-meter is finely tuned because you’ve “heard it all before.” Click to read the rest…

Tarte Fall 2007 — Natural Beauty Cheek Stain, Inside Out Lipstick, Rejuvalash Set

“A lovely color that would be good for ladies or makeup loving gents who want an easy, natural cheek look. Apply sparingly or risk Bozo the Clown mega-status.” Click to read the rest…

Makeup Tips from Emmy Makeup Artist Bruce Grayson

Makeup and Beauty Blog: HDTV is notorious for showing extreme detail in makeup, and some makeup companies like Kryolan are even creating special products to adjust to the fine detail of High Definition TV. What tricks and products do you like to use to deal with HDTV?
Bruce Grayson: The first thing I do is become buddies with the cameraman. Lighting is the most important element in HD. Second I make sure that the skin is even tone using a minimum of foundation and thin concealers only where needed. I always defuse eyeliners, especially black which can look harsh in HD. Before I even begin to apply eye make-up, I like to start with Olay Definity Eye Illuminator ($25.99 at drugstores nationwide) because it has multi-colored micas that help to hide imperfections. It limits the amount of make-up I need to use around the eye. Click to read the rest…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen