Gray: Hot or Not?

I received an email from Infusium 23 about what they consider to be the trend of celebrities embracing and enhancing their gray hair. Here's what Infusium 23 had to say:

For most women, gray hair means one thing – getting older. However, thanks to the gray hair trend among celebrities and fashionistas, gray is the new black (or blonde, or brunette!). Songstress Pink, supermodel Kate Moss and reality TV star Kelly Osbourne have gone as far as dying their locks gray, while older women such as actress Jamie Lee Curtis have sported their gray locks proudly.

Disguising gray hair can be a never-ending battle, but women can now embrace all shades of gray! Dare to wear hair gray (whether it’s natural or not!) with these tips from Infusium 23 hair health expert Gavin Harwin:

• With gray hair, it’s important to avoid things that look like roller sets and teasing. Think simple and modern, not retro, to keep it fresh.
• Gray hair can be drier and coarser. Add moisture and control frizz with Infusium 23 Frizz Controller Leave-In Treatment which infuses the hair cuticle with nutrients to provide smoothness, control and protection against frizz.
• Try a cool, short haircut which makes gray hair look young and hip.

What do you think of gray hair as a trend?
Here are my 2 cents: If you are an older woman and your hair is naturally going gray, I think there's no reason NOT to embrace gray. Salt and pepper, white, and shiny silver hair can look beautiful. If a woman likes her hair to be gray, then she should go for it.

My mother has salt and pepper hair, but she would love for it to be silver. She's asked stylist after stylist and has always been told that it's difficult--if not impossible--to dye hair gray in a way that looks good. She's stuck with her salt and pepper, hoping for the day when it all turns gray.

While naturally gray hair looks just fine, I think it looks really weird for someone who is not naturally gray to dye their hair that shade. Look at Kelly Osborne in the photo above. It looks strange to me, but what do I know?

Let me know your thoughts! If this really is a "trend," I can't see many women embracing it.

Read Full Article...

Okie Dokie, tokidoki!

Have you been anywhere near a Sephora lately? If so, you've no doubt been bombarded by cutesy products from tokidoki.

When I first saw the products, I shrugged them off. I had never used anything by tokidoki, and the graphics seemed a little too tween-ish for my taste. I figured tokidoki was all about packaging and that the actual quality of the product would be an afterthought.

But then I actually tried something by tokidoki--their Prisma Lip Gloss (in Bullets)--and my mind was changed. Apart from being a bit too fruity, I adore this lip gloss. The color is subtle, the shine is insane, and I love the way it feels--and looks!--on my lips. The applicator takes a bit of getting used to: it's a clear silicone paddle that makes lip gloss application a snap once you get used to it.

Based on my experience with Prisma Lip Gloss, I feel a bit better about the tokidoki collection and would recommend checking it out--especially if you're buying products for a slightly younger woman.

Here's what Sephora has to say about their tokidoki products:

With summer just around the corner, it’s time to add a pop of color to your palette! Whether you are an au naturel gal or glam goddess, the new criminally cute tokidoki collection exclusively at Sephora has you covered with the hottest shades of the season. From shimmering bronzer to long-lasting lip stains and eye-popping shadows, the collection offers all you need to create an irresistibly edgy new look!

Add a little mischief to your makeup bag with these colorful must-haves:

• tokidoki Perfetto Eyeliner ($16) – Channel your inner artist and draw a temporary tattoo on the skin or expertly line the eyes with this innovative chisel-tipped liquid liner. Available in eight bold shades.
• tokidoki Fantastico Lip Stain ($15) – This unique marker pen applicator will provide lips with intense color for all-day wear.
• tokidoki Luminosa Powder ($22) – Achieve a luminescent, radiant glow with this highlighting powder.
• tokidoki Cromatico Eyeshadow ($15) – Housed in signature tokidoki heart and crossbones packaging, these high-pigment shadows layer beautifully for a velvety finish. Available in 16 shades and multiple textures.
• tokidoki Brillante Glitter Eyeliner ($14) – Make your eyes sparkle with these vibrant, glitter-infused pencil liners. Available in 14 vivid shades.
• tokidoki Prisma Lip Gloss ($15) – Add sexy shine to lips with this non-sticky, moisturizing formula in a sweet blueberry flavor.
• tokidoki Inferno Bronzer ($22) – A shimmering bronzer gives your face a glowing, warm color that looks stunning solo or over makeup.
  

Blend art and beauty for a criminally chic look with the new tokidoki collection available exclusively at Sephora stores.

Read Full Article...

OPI For Spring/Summer

Every season, OPI looks for exotic locations as their inspiration for their newest line. This Spring and Summer, OPI's going with Hong Kong, the fragrant harbor.

Here are their new shades:

• Bling Dynasty: A shimmery gold
• Red My Fortune Cookie: Rich red
• Hot & Spicy: A sizzling coral
• Dim Sum Plum: A purple-berry hue
• Jade is the New Black: Vibrant green
• Suzi Says Feng Shui: A serene cobalt blue
• A Good Man-darin is Hard to Find: A zesty red-orange
• Lucky Lucky Lavender: Light purple
• Meet Me on the Star Ferry: A moonlit violet
• Panda-monium Pink: Light pink
• Pearl of Wisdom: A lustrous pearl shade
• Chop-sticking to My Story: Warm caramel shade

Hmm. I am not entirely sure that I like this line. Maybe I'm getting OPI fatigue, but the names seem stupid and borderline stereotyped. And the colors are a bit too Easter egg-ish for my taste. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd probably go with Jade is the New Black, but I'm just "meh" about the whole thing. Maybe in my old age I just prefer the classics. Who knows.

What do you think of OPI's Hong Kong line?

Read Full Article...

Spring Trends for Your Nails

Spring is in the air! I mentioned yesterday that the Spring 2010 collection from NARS is due out in a few days. Then I got an email the other day from the good folks over at Ms. Manicure with the Spring 2010 forecast for nail trends.

Here's what they had to say. And let me just add that I've tried Ms. Manicure products and they're decent...and affordable, which is always a plus. Let me also add that I really like the green nail trend for some reason. What do you think of it?

Mint Green

Give polish color the green light this year – literally. Spring 2010 is all about pastel colors, especially mint green. Promising to be popular, the color provides an exotic pop to the hands without being too bright and distracting. With Essie and Chanel already offering greens, it is sure to be a trend that sticks. Make the polish last longer by providing proper cuticle care prior to the polish with the help of the Ms. Manicure Handy Dandy Mani kit ($9.99). With the help of a cuticle clipper and wooden cuticle boards, you can moisture and take care of manicures so the polish won’t pop off!

Lace Nails

Boudoir is back – and not just in your lingerie drawer. Translate the trend to your manicure by sporting a lace pattern on your nails. A different approach to the everyday nail art, the glitz and glamorous look takes the patterns your kid sister used to press on her fingertips to a whole new adult extreme. And, if you’re feeling wild, you can even get the look at home with real lace!

Nude Nails

This year, it’s all about going au-natural. From organic products to sustainable living, take the trend all the way to your fingertips by forgetting the bright beach-inspired colors and black. Grab a light peach, champagne or pink tinted polish and bare it all. Before applying the polish, don’t forget to buff out imperfections with Ms. Manicure‘s Call Your Buff ($2.99), a four-sided emery board. Buffing your nails will provide a solid base for the polish, and will ensure they look great underneath a thin sheen!

Polish-Free Manicures

With smudges and imperfections a thing of the past, new nail product alternatives, like Minx Manicure, promise to keep the caps on your polish in 2010. A favorite of Rihanna and Blake Lively, the no-polish mani offers a 2- to 4-millimeter-thick film that's cut to fit the nail and affixed with a heat-activated adhesive. Costing $35 - $45 a manicure, each manicure lasts over two weeks. If you are looking to do your own no-chip manicure, make a point to polish the tips of your nails (as well as the tops) to avoid chipping. And, if you accidentally get a bit of polish on your skin in the process, roll a piece of a cotton ball around a wooden cuticle stick (available in Ms. Manicure’s Handy Dandy Mani kit), dip in nail polish remover and gently rub off excess polish!

Read Full Article...

Get Your Hair Ready for Fall

A new season means updating your look. While you're freshening up your makeup look and your wardrobe, be sure to do something with your hair. Here are some hints from Pantene and Hallie Bowman, Celebrity Hair Stylist.

As we enter the fall season today, it’s important that we do what we can to help prevent further damage that’s already been done over the summer. Luckily, the color trends we will be seeing this fall are conducive to rehabbing your hair – it’s going to be all about giving your natural hair color a chance to shine and staying away from the harsh colors and bright platinum shades that are most damaging to your hair.

“The days of striking, contrasting colors are gone this season,” explains Celebrity Stylist for Pantene, Hallie Bowman. “This fall people will be going back to their roots, or at least making it look that way. We’re going to see natural-looking tones to balance the more extreme hair styles that are going to be big, including mixed textures and nods to the 80s shapes.”

The Color Trends:

Blonde: Platinum blonde is out and warmer, neutral tones are in. If you’re blonde Bowman recommends shades of sable, vanilla or mink. However, if you’re not ready to let go of your platinum locks, soften the look by adding some golden highlights. (Note from Lydia, the platinum blonde: Even though it's fall, I have no intention of ditching my ultra-blonde...no matter what the trends dictate!)

Brunette: Reddish or bluish browns are out and warmer browns are in. Shades like deep chocolate and chestnut are going to be all-the-rage; it’s all about making your shade believable.

Redhead: Two words – true red. The key is to ask your stylist to stay away from blue and copper undertones, both of which reflect orange in the sunlight. One way to avoid orange is to add some highlights to cool down the shade.

Black: Stay away from blue undertones and go for ebony to keep the shade natural-looking.

Maintenance: Once you’ve achieved the shade you want, keeping your color looking fresh can be a challenge, but it doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot! Bowman recommends using a shampoo and conditioner system that is developed for color treated hair, such as the ones from Pantene.

“I love the Pantene Expressions collection because it keeps hair color looking fresh, and helps reveal the three facets of hair color: tone, depth and vibrancy,” explains Bowman.

The Pantene Expressions shampoos are formulated with a patented liquid crystal technology that helps repel water and condition hair to keep color radiant. The five collections are custom designed by shade – blonde, brunette, red, midnight and highlighting – to help color-treated hair maintain its vibrancy and multi-dimensional shine in between colorings.

The Pantene Expressions shampoos and conditioners retail for just $5.49 apiece at national food, drug and mass merchandisers, and online at drugstore.com.

Read Full Article...

How to Wear Dark Lipstick

Fall is here and that means trading in your light, shiny lipgloss for a deeper, richer, dark lipstick. But pulling off the dark lip look can be tricky. If done wrong, darker shades can make thin lips look thinner. If the color feathers or is not applied flawlessly, it will look sloppy.

Here are some hints to help:

• Focus on your lips only. If you try to pull off a dark lip with a dramatic eye, you're going to look a little clownish. Avoid this by making your eyes look very natural with minimal shadow, just a touch of liner, and mascara. Also ease off the blush. Rosy cheeks and almost black lips could make you look silly.
• Be sure to pick your shade well. Consider your complexion and the undertones in your skin. And don't forget, dark lipstick doesn't have to be black.
• Exfoliate your lips. This is easy to do and requires no special products. When you brush your teeth, just gently brush your lips as well. This will remove dead skin cells and soften your lips. Dot on a little lip balm or moisturizer for added protection.
• Consider a lip primer. Again, don't buy anything special: just put some concealer or foundation on your lips. This will help to neutralize your lips' natural color and may help prevent against feathering. If you want a special product, try for something with silicone in it so the darker color has something to cling to.
• Line your lips. Try using a small lip brush and your dark shade to line your lips. I'm not a fan of using lip pencils for this, and you probably know why. Just think of the first image that pops into your mind when I say "lip liner." I rest my case! Next fill in the rest of your lips using your lipstick and the lip brush. Using a brush will give you better control and should result in a more precise look.

I've been trying out a few shades from Mattese Elite, one that's a deep raisin shade and one that's a vibrant (though dark) pink. Unlike some deeply pigmented lipsticks, this brand made my lips feel soft and moist--not cakey and dry. If you're looking for a dark shade, you might want to check them out (plus at just $10 a tube, they're pretty budget friendly!).

Read Full Article...

Fashion Weeks Looks You Can Pull Off!

Fashion Week just wrapped up in NYC last week, and there were so many great fashions and makeup trends strutting down the runway.

Sephora's PRO Beauty Team was busy doing makeup for 12 shows during fashion week, and I have the deets on how to attain some of their best looks at home. Here are my a few of my favorite looks from Sephora's team:

Dennis Basso
The Color Story: The collection is a modern take on old-school glamour. The designer was inspired by Hedy Lamarr, a 1930’s star known as “The Most Beautiful Woman In Films.” The contrast of the lip color shows there are no rules in glamour except confidence.

Credit Info: Makeup lead, Kabuki (supported by Sephora PRO Beauty Team)

How to Get the Look:

• Complexion – For a healthy glow, use the Sephora Tricks of the Trade Mineral Matte Setting Powder containing light-reflecting ingredients.
  
• Eyes – Achieve a subtle, smoky eye, with the Sephora Colorful Eyeshadow in City Fog. Apply the Sephora Flashy Waterproof Liner in 10 Deep Black closely to the top lash line to complete the look.
  
• Lips – Add star-studded drama with classic red lip – try the Sephora Lip Attitude - Chic in Red Kiss 28.

Gen Art Fresh Faces
The Color Stories: Seven designers (Cloak Dagger, Linus, Duskin, Vincente Vallarin, Min Young Lee, Yeojin Bea, S2VS) displayed fashion-forward trends for women and men with various makeup looks complimenting each collection. From rocker ballerina to modern glam and feminine, makeup ranged from strong smokey eyes to watermelon stained lips, sun kissed skin and rosy cheeks.

Credit Info: Sephora PRO Beauty Team, lead by Gilbert Soliz

Cloak Dagger - How to Get the Look:

• Complexion – For a natural complexion, apply the Sephora Matifying Compact Foundation to the entire face. Light-weight and shine reducing, this foundation is great for long wear.
• Eyes – Create a strong smokey eye by using the Sephora Colorful Mono Eyeshadow in Must Have 06 over the entire lid.
  
• Lips – Finish off with the perfect orange lip - try the Kat Von D for Sephora Painted Love Lipstick in Stiletto.

Vicente Villarin - How to Get the Look:

• Complexion – Create glowing skin for this modern glam look, by applying Sephora Luminous Glow. This creamy, light-weight formula has a beautiful pearly finish.
  
• Eyes – Keep eyes subtle by using a champagne eyeshadow all over the lid, such as the Sephora Colorful Mono Eyeshadow in Golden Girl 50.
• Lips – Finish off the look with a peachy, pink gloss such as the Kat Von D for Sephora Lightening Sheer Lip Gloss in Retox or Sexer.

Photos courtesy of Nick Baratta

Read Full Article...

Temptation...

I've been flipping though page after page of September magazines and I'm still not done with my stack. I've poured over Allure, Marie Claire, and half of Vogue, and I have yet to touch my Harper's or InStyle. (I didn't pick up Elle because I hate how they reformatted the magazine a year or two ago!) I feel like I'm OD-ing on fashion, trends, and makeup...not to mention frighteningly skinny models and the disgusting use of fur.

Anyway, in all my "reading" here are some products that have me intrigued:

• Clinique's Vitamin C Lip Smoothie Antioxidant Lip Colour ($17.50). These look like pens, but they're filled with some juicy looking lip colors that brush on and promise healthy, shiny lips. Yum.
• Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Powder Foundation SPF 20 ($37.50). I love mineral foundation, and I love foundations containing SPF. This product looks interesting because you grind the product before each use, so the color is fresh. It says "No waste. No mess. No kidding." Hmmm...mineral makeup is almost always messy. I wonder if the grinding mechanism makes this foundation less messy...or more messy!
• Bare Minerals Matte SPF 15 Foundation ($28). I love the idea of a matte foundation. Bare Minerals does a great job with foundations, so I am eager to give this one a test. Like the Elizabeth Arden foundation, this one promises to be mess free. Uh-huh.
• Almost everything from Dolce & Gabbana's Makeup Line. The fashion giant has a full line of products for eyes, lips, and face. They're all beautifully packaged and they look delicious. Now I just need to figure out how to get enough $$ to get my hands on the stuff!
• Pixi By Petra Strand at Target Wakeup Kit ($34). This kit has everything: tons of eye shadows, blushes, and lip colors to pick from, all in a handy and pretty little box. This is face in a box, and it looks perfect for travelling.

There are tons of other products out there that I can't wait to see. These are just the tip of the iceberg! Are there any products you can't wait to try this? Leave a comment and let me know. ALSO: don't forget to enter my Too Faced Natural Eyes giveaway!

Read Full Article...

Matte-r of Fact

I adore OPI's nail lacquers. There are so many colors to pick from, they go on well, and they last for a reasonable amount of time. The other thing I like about OPI nail lacquers--and all nail polishes for that matter--is that they make my nails look shiny and feel slick.

Well, available now is a new line of OPI products that take away all the shimmer and shine: Matte by OPI. Yup....matte nail color. Matte by OPI comes in six "iconic" OPI shades – Russian Navy, Lincoln Park After Dark, Alpine Snow, You Don’t Know Jacques!, La Paz-itively Hot, and Gargantuan Green Grape.

To properly wear these matte shades, OPI recommends that you do NOT use a base coat, top coat, drying drops, or hand cream. The wear time of the matte lacquers is significantly less than the normal lacquers.

What do you think of matte nails? I think they sound like a huge pain. I bet it takes a great deal of time (and skill) to apply matte nail color cleanly, and they seem like they'd be very high maintenance. Are matte nails something you'd try out? I think I'll pass!

Read Full Article...

Nailed!

There are so many nail colors on the market that it's impossible to find a shade that doesn't suit your mood, match your eyes, or reflect whatever color your aura is at the moment. And the good folks at OPI are determined to keep our lacquer choices plentiful. Here are some new collections to check out:

South Beach Collection
Available on February 4th, OPI is launching their Spring 2009 line, their South Beach Collection. Here are the shades:

• Done Out In Deco: lilac (crème)
  
• Clubbing Til Sunrise: tangerine (shimmer)
• Suzi & The Lifeguard: pink (shimmer)
  
• Conga-Line Coral: orange-rose (shimmer)
  
• Overexposed In South Beach: purple (shimmer)
  
• Bronzed To Perfection: brown (shimmer)
  
• Party In My Cabana: pink (crème)
  
• Sand In My Suit: nude (frost)
• Paint My Moji-Toes Red: red (crème)
• Miami Beet: violet (crème)
  
• OPI On Collins Ave. : red orange (crème)
  
• Feelin’ Hot-Hot-Hot!: flamingo pink (crème)

I'm personally not inspired by this collection. Maybe it's just me, but nothing "South Beach" really sends me. Frosty nail colors? Pastels? Meh. If this is the trend that Spring/Summer fashion is headed towards I'm not going to be a happy consumer. If I had to pick a shade, I'd opt for Paint My Moji-Toes...I guess.

90210 Collection
I mentioned this awhile ago and completely forgot about it. Similarly, I watched a few episodes of the "new" 90210 and then quickly lost interest in the next class of West Beverly High. Maybe I'm just too old...whatever. If you're still watching 90210 and want to have nails inspired by the cool kids, check out these shades:

Queen of West Web-erly: A purple shimmery color inspired by Kelly's little sister, the blogger.

Sweet as Annie-Thing: A "lollipop" red inspired by fresh from the mid-west (or wherever) female protagonist. Is it just me or does Annie look a little long in the tooth to be a high school girl?

Pretty and Privileged: A ruby red for the entitled. I think they should have called it Petty and Privileged, but that's just me!

My pick out of this collection? Probably Queen of West Web-erly. I'm in a purple phase at the moment.

Read Full Article...

Blunt Bangs for Spring 09

I never know what to do with my hair! When I go to a salon, it usually goes like this:

STYLIST: What would you like to have done today?
ME: Oh, I don't know. I guess just make it blonder and trim it.
STYLIST: Do you want to add layers or change your part?
ME: Sure...whatever...I don't know. As long as my new style is easy to maintain...

See? That's pathetic and hopeless. And I know I am not alone when it comes to hair confusion/fear in the stylist's chair.

Well, I'm finally here to help you and myself. Nicholas Penna, Jr. of SalonCapri outside of Boston is predicting that blunt bangs are going to be hot this spring...and he was good enough to share some tips on how to get this look the next time you go to the salon.

Nicholas Penna, Jr. of SalonCapri:

1. What is the hot style for Spring?
Blunt bangs are the hot style for spring because they add edge to hair. For a long time, soft hair was the trend and now there’s a change with some attitude. Celebrities such as Kate Hudson in the new movie Bride Wars and Erin Lucas from MTV’s newest reality endeavor, The City, are both sporting blunt bangs which makes it even hotter.

2. What hair type does this style work best on?
Blunt bangs typically look best with straight hair that is cut all at one length. However, we've recently seen stars like Kim Kardashian wearing her blunt bangs with wavy hair creating a contrast between the hip, edgy bang with romantic, tousled hair. Another variation to the blunt bang is to incorporate angles that frame your face, such as Anne Hathaway’s haircut.

3. What face shape do these bangs look best on?
Blunt bangs work well for everyone, if done right. Many times, younger people can pull off the style the best, but virtually anyone can sport this look. The best face shape for blunt bangs is a longer, oval-shaped face.

4. What are some other great bang choices for girls who do not have the appropriate hair texture/face shape?
Longer bangs that can be pushed to the side of the face add movement to the hairstyle, such as the side swept bang. This type of bang is the most universally worn and can look great on many different face shapes/hair textures.

5. Additional tips...
Blunt bangs add to style to your look, even when your hair is pulled back into a ponytail. You can just blow out your bangs and throw your hair back. It adds an egde to your look and gives you a change that's not as drastic as a shorter haircut.

I think that this style is definitely going to last well into this season. It is a faddy look, but I think it’s one that will stand the test of time. As it evolves, I imagine people will start to wear the bang in different ways, more tailored to their personality.

There you have it! One great idea for a new Spring 'do!

Read Full Article...

Purple Reign

Way back in the middle of August I predicted that purple would be hot, hot, hot this fall and winter. Judging from all the plums and purples out there, I think my beauty forecast was pretty darn accurate.

Purple is a funny color--you either love it or hate it. If you want to add a hint of the royal shade to your makeup wardrobe, here are some products to check out:

• Black Amethyst Mineral Shea Butter Lipstick by PurMinerals, $15: This sophisticated shade is supposed to look great on all skin tones. It's dark but not too flat and promised to give the wearer berry-stained lips. Pretty! Also available in a plumping lipgloss if that's more your thing.
  
• DiorShow Mascara in Plum, $24. Last year, with the launch of Bad Gal Blue by Benefit Cosmetics, blue mascara was everywhere. This year, change up your look with plum-tinted mascara. It will brighten your eyes and add just a hint of lush color.
  
• Wicked Lovely Lip Gloss from Smashbox, $18. Not for the faint of heart, this rich, bruised purple shade gives you a seductive shine. Embrace your darkside with this beauty!
• Purple By Night Vernis Please! Nail Lacquer by Givenchy, $15. This violet nail polish has a lot of depth, with sparkly hints of blue, mother of pearl, and pink. Plus the formula is chip resistant so your nails stay gorgeous.
• Violet Train Case by Sephora, $49. You'll never lose this shiny purple makeup box. Pack it with all your favorite products and you'll be organized and will look like a pro. Have I ever mentioned I love Sephora's makeup cases?
  

Yes, purple is a trend. A year or two from now, you may hate all the plums and violets, but for now...just enjoy it. Purple's quirky and romantic. Go ahead and embrace it!

Read Full Article...

Winterize Your Look

Halloween isn't even here yet and already it's getting chilly out there. Here in the Seattle area a cold front has pushed through. Temperatures have plummeted and there's even some snow in the mountains. Like it or not, winter weather is on its way.

The one thing I love about the cooler seasons is that makeup looks drastically change. Gone are the light pinks and sunshiney shades. In their place are the lush, deep, rich hues that conjure up romantic images...at least in my mind.

Here are a few looks to embrace this fall and winter, thanks to the editors at Harper's Bazaar:

UNDONE FRENCH TWIST

• Step one: Blow hair out straight. Add body by setting it in big Velcro rollers for 10 minutes, suggests Sebastian Professional stylist Thomas Dunkin.
• Step two: Pull hair back and twist it up into a loose twist.
• Step three: "Pull out a section in the front so that it frames your face, which is what makes this style fluid," instructs D.J. Riggs, artistic director of TIGI Linea. Spritz Nexxus 360° Volume Bodifying Finishing Mist ($9.99) for hold.

SMOLDERING EYES AND SLEEK HAIR

• Step one: Line top and bottom lash lines with a black liner like Stila Kajal Eye Pencil in Onyx ($14). "Or use liquid liner first, then soften it with a pencil," instructs Beauty.com celebrity makeup artist Tina Turnbow.
• Step two: Sweep gold powder shadow from lashes to brow bone. Apply to the inner corners as well for a more dramatic look. Try Clé de Peau Beauté Eye Color Quad in #13 ($75).
• Step three: Use a shadow brush to blend the liner with the shadow, which will deepen and smudge the color, suggests New York makeup artist Kimara Ahnert.
• Step four: Finish with black mascara. Try Estée Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara ($19.50).

PINK AND RED LIPS WITH ATTITUDE

• Step one: Even out skin tone with powder foundation.
• Step two: Line lips and fill them in with a lip pencil. "This will help the color last longer," says Turnbow. To get staying power with-out lip liner, use a long-wear lip color like L'Oréal Paris Infallible Never Fail Lipcolour in Color of Hope ($11.99; $2 will be donated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund).
• Step three: Apply lipstick. Try Clinique Long Last Soft Shine Lipstick in Watermelon ($14) or Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Cha Cha Cherry ($7.99).

DARK, SHINY NAILS
Fashionable fingers will be drenched in shimmery polishes this season. The greenish silver at Chanel had a rock 'n' roll vibe, while the metallic mauve at Bill Blass was a more sophisticated take on the trend. Try Chanel Nail Colour in Kaléidoscope, $20, a sparkly sage shade.

AMAZING LASHES
Stacked lashes, seen at Versace, are an eye-opener. Buy falsies (or flashier versions, like Viktor & Rolf's) and cut them in half, advises Max Factor makeup artist Jake Bailey. "Apply to the outside of each eye so the longest lashes are closest to the temple," he says.

Read Full Article...

Nails for Fall

Though it may still be hot and muggy where you are, summer's days are numbered (that makes me so happy!). Earlier this week, I told you about Sephora's picks for the fall and now it's time to focus on what the two nail giants, OPI and Essie, have planned for the coming season.

But before I begin, I am going to make a bold prediction and say that we are going to see our share of purple this fall and winter, in nails, purses, shoes, and other accessories. I could be totally wrong about this...we'll have to wait and see.

OPI LA COLLECTION DE FRANCE
OPI always takes inspiration from international locations. In recent years, OPI has had collections from India, Australia, and Russia among others. Now it's France's turn to grace our fingertips! The colors are beautiful (as always with OPI). Here's what they're offering for fall/winter 08:

• Louvre Me Louvre Me Not: described as a royal purple
• Parlez-Vous OPI?: A smoky violet
• You Don't Know Jacques: a deep, rich taupe
• Tickle Me France-Y: a "naughty" nude
• Bastille My Heart: shiny, red burgundy
• I'm Fondue of You: yummy milky chocolate shade
• A Ouibit of Red: classic red
  
• We'll Always Have Paris: a seductively dark coffee polish
• Eiffel For This Color: dark, shimmery wine
• Baugette Me Not: cinnamon-y pink
• Crepes Suzi-ette: golden caramel
• Yes...I Can Can!: a jeweled eggplant hue

Click here to see all your color choices. My favorites from this collection? Louvre Me Louvre Me Not, We'll Always Have Paris, and Baugette Me Not.

ESSIE FALL 08 COLLECTION
Essie is offering six new shades for autumn, all available in a handy pack (one stop shopping! Love that!). Here are their shades:

• Lacy Not Racy: velvety burgundy
  
• Forever Young: fiery "tango" red
  
• Big Spender: a lush violet-red
  
• No Boundaries: a juicy plum
  
• Swept Off My Feet: a dusky rose
  
• Tomboy No More: rich red currant

Click here to see Essie's collection. My favorites? Lacy Not Racy and Tomboy No More.

I, for one, can't wait for all the deep, rich, dark shades of fall/winter. To me, fall colors always seem so romantic and vintage. Fall is my favorite season and I'm thrilled that it's just around the corner!

Read Full Article...

Bring on Fall!

My favorite time of the year is fast approaching: FALL! I love the changes in the weather, the cool breezes, the crispness in the air, the autumn colors, and the fall beauty trends.

So what's in store for fall beauty? Here's what Sephora's beauty editors say will be hot in the new season:

AUTUMN COLORS
CALLING ALL DRAMA QUEENS!
A smoldering gaze fit for a thespian starts with the smokey eye and Bare Escentuals’ BareMinerals Rocker Eye. Containing two eye colors (pearlized chrome and iridescent sparkling smoke), a liner shadow (blackest black), a double-ended brush, and a step-by-step instruction card, this kit is a no fuss approach to transform the lady into a vamp.

To complement the smokey eye, thick lashes are in order. Costume your lashes with Givenchy’s Phenomen’eyes: a revolutionary mascara with a high-tech patented round sphere brush that adapts to all eye shapes and reaches every last lash. With one dramatic stroke, a fanned-out panoramic effect is created, holding the curve of your lashes perfectly in place.

One swift swipe of NARS Shanghai Express seals the deal, and takes classic theatrics to sultry glamour reserved only for screen sirens. This warm brick red semi-matte lipstick contains special antioxidants to help keep color fresh for hours – a prerequisite for all drama queens.

POP ART
The face becoming an artist’s canvas presents the perfect opportunity to indulge in our artistic desires. For eyes, this means a single burst of blended color on the lids in a vibrant shade. The shadow can be dusted across the whole socket area or applied in half crescent shapes reminiscent of Pop Art. Pop Beauty’s Lid Neon has all the essential eyeshadows in one palette, with a shade for every creative mood. Watercolor brights like cornflower blue and fuschia are Sephora's favorite, but yellow is fun when feeling mellow, and when you want to make others green with envy – well, you know which color to choose.

To keep the focus on hot hues, opt for a more subtle approach to lashes. Fresh’s Firebird keeps lashes lush and feathery, while curving and lengthening. What makes Firebird truly fly is its ability to fluff lashes into a soft layer that flutters as one row. With one batt of your Firebird lashes, you will be famous for fifteen minutes.

Matte, nude lips are top choice alongside these exaggerated eye colors. Pale peaches and apricots that camouflage against the face are standard fare. Execute with NARS Honolulu Honey.
AUTUMN SKINCARE
For skin treats that make your natural state a natural wonder, Sephora present Cosmedicine’s Speedy Recovery Acne Treatment System. A breakthrough against breakouts, Speedy Recovery offers a unique synergistic system that not only fights breakouts and eliminates acne, but also improves the condition of skin. It is a revolutionary four-step acne regimen – exfoliating cleanser, daytime blemish lotion SPF15, nighttime blemish powder and on the spot gel - that has been scientifically proven effective. Flawless skin that is so in demand this season (well, every season, really) starts here: the basic skincare routine.

For an instant change of appearance, apply Philosophy’s Never Let Them See You Shine Oil and Shine Control Velvet Touch Primer. A matifying primer that dramatically reduces the appearance of oil, shine and large pores, it fashions a velvety base for a flawless makeup application. Just in time to deliver on fall trends’ promise of complexion perfection.

AUTUMN SCENTS
Scent has a way of transporting us to another realm at whim, and Sephora has two fragrances that will do just that. Emilio Pucci’s Vivara, a green floral perfume with hints of the Italian Riviera, allows you to breathe in the beach and soak in the sun long after summer has passed. Mixing amaretto, orange flower and Indonesian patchouli, Vivara sweeps off our feet and intoxicates you with Mediterranean romance after one spritz.

With summer nostalgia as only the beginning of a trip down memory lane, indulge in Kenzo’s Vintage Edition. A unisex fragrance that is reminiscent of the 70s, Vintage celebrates life with freedom and creativity. This limited edition fragrance mixes woods, florals and musk and evokes a sense of a bygone era filled with Woodstock, Mod and Pop Art. Packaged in four different psychedelic designs, Vintage mirrors the bold, bright patterns of Vivara’s bottle cap, both echoing a Pop Art influence that is in line with the color stories of the season.

AUTUMN QUICKIES
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Metallic, industrial manicures are nailing the scene as the “it” beauty accessory for fall. A departure from summer’s acidic neon hues, these new shades have a fresh take on heavy metals from matte grays and ivories to textured blacks. Sephora by OPI spearheads the industrial revolution with finesse: the latest collection boasts 54 colors complete with kitschy names. Sephora loves the warm purple gray appropriately dubbed “Metrochic” and the textured black called “Never Enough Shoes” (obviously).

MATTE-R OF SKIN
To offer a clean slate for the hyperreal makeup colors of this season, fresh peaches and cream complexions that stay matte are key. Deceptively simple, skin is artfully primed, blemishes are concealed and foundations are set with translucent powders.

Make Up For Ever’s HD Foundation and HD Powder bring you a “care-free” flawless
face. HD Foundation is an oil-free, lightweight liquid formula providing full coverage that appears sheer and natural with a matte finish that is true to color. HD Foundation is ideally set with the HD powder: a universal, invisible finishing powder that mattifies skin and completely evens out the complexion for a just-pinched glow.

I, for one can't wait for fall....and for shopping for all new beauty products!

Read Full Article...