Red Lip Trend Alert!

SEEING RED

I’ve been seeing a lot of red on the runways for FW 11/12 so much that red lips are seeping into bridal trend as well for 2011/2012 Brides.

Diane Von Furstenberg and Gucci models had a deep burgundy red where as a brighter red lip was seen at Amsale (check out this gorgeous Amsale Bridesmaid dress) and Romona Keveza bridal shows (beautiful Romona Keveza gown above).

Various crimson shades were also spotted at Miu Miu and Yves Sain Laurent.

Red lips look amazing with lots of lashes and some liner.  It’s a perfect way to add some drama and really stand out. And if you are on the shy side when it comes to bold makeup...downplay the rest of your look and just have your gorgeous pout stand out.

To keep red lipstick from bleeding...powder your lips first. Apply a lip primer. Use a dry lip pencil and do not overdraw your lip shape. Take a Q-Tip or tiny brush and apply blot powder around your lips to prevent bleeding. If you stick with more matte shades vs. shiny glossy lipsticks, they’ll last longer and the drier texture will tend to bleed less.

The red lips in the Gucci FW 11/12 Ad Campaign are Ferosh! To die for!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE red lips paired with a shorter manicure. A coral-red is my favourite this season...looks good on anyone that is a light pale skin tone and also looks perfect with a bronzed tan.

Those pointy nails that celebs are rocking (“talons”) are so cool...but for bridal you will want to avoid the trendy stuff and go with a clean, shorter, slightly-squared manicure. Have the aesthetician round the edges a bit so it doesn’t look too harsh and try to keep them on the shorter side. 

“Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.” Gwyneth Paltrow

Rich Hair Colour for Fall......

Thinking of going for a brand new revitalized and ready for fall look?

Rhianna has changed her hair colour from the bright siren red to a more natural gorgeous rich brown with very subtle highlights in a lighter shade!

I love her soft waves with subtle nude and pinky makeup with this rich hair colour. Perfect for fall.

Very soft and oh-so pretty!

Pretty in Pink - Bridal

Soft shades of pinks really add that soft romantic look that most brides are looking for. Pink is always a good choice for bridal looks as it is soft and it can look fresh, healthy and is a really natural look when you pair it with defining neutrals. Most brides want the groom to see them for who they are......and not a total stranger walking down the aisle. Using neutrals to define features is a perfect way to look like a more gorgeous and glammed up version of yourself. 

I was pleased to see Kim toned down her usual reallllllly smoky black dark eye and super bronzed skin for her wedding day. She looks like a very polished fresh version of herself. As she had 3 dresses with different hairstyles and jewelry... the makeup had to compliment each very different style. I think her artist did a good job of creating a makeup look that worked with all 3 wardrobe changes. More and more brides are choosing to switch up their look for their reception as you are only a princes for the day so you might as well make the most of your one day in the spotlight!

She has very matte flawless looking skin with strategically placed highlights/contours. She also has a very defined brow. Her skin is probably primed with primers to create that smooth finish. Bronzers and highlight powders are used to create depth and show off her bone structure. She uses slightly lighter powder under her eyes.  

To create her eye, I would use lot of false lashes (probably stacked or lots of individuals), minimal eyeliner winged out and her shadow is swept out in a wide cat-eye shape and I'd also line the inner rim for depth and definition.  For the lids I'd use colours like MAC's All that Glitters, Woodwinked, Patina, Shroom eyeshadow with other chocolatey browns to create her golden-brown neutral eye. 

To achieve this lip I'd use MAC's Speed Dial or Angel Lipstick with Fashion Scoop Cremesheen Glass or Cultured Lipglass. If you want a bit more warmth MAC's Partial to Pink Cremesheen Glass would be cute too. Everyone's natural lip-colour has an effect on the end result of a lip-colour so sometimes you have to play around with it a bit to reach the desired shade. 

For blush I'd chose MAC's Pink Swoon or Well Dressed Powder Blush on the apple of the cheek with bronzer across the hollow of her cheekbone to warm it up and create definition. It also looks like she has a highlight on the top of her cheekbone.  

My advise to Brides that want a natural look, is to enhance your everyday makeup with a few upgrades. All you need to do is kick up a couple notches. If you don't wear lip-colour everyday, the next step up would be a soft nude or pink or peach. If you wear always rock a pale nude sheer lip everyday use something with a little more colour, like pink or peach, to define your lips on your wedding day. Taking baby steps like going from nude to a pinky-beige will be a little easier than going from bare lips straight to va-va-voom red. 

There are no rules and I find just trying things on is the best way to find the desired look for your wedding day. Your makeup should compliment your natural beauty, dress and hair. Think of your makeup as icing on the cake! 

Bright Lights and Big City Lips

The sun is shinning....it’s still summer girls......that means we have a few more weeks to enjoy Spring/Summer trends. All skin tones can pull off a pout enhancing neon bright lip!

Hot coral, red, pink and tangerine lip colours are the perfect choice for those who want a youthful look and who are not afraid to make a strong impression.

When you have a bold lip colour on and want the lips to be the main event, play down the eyes and cheeks. I love a simple black eyeliner, not much eye shadow, minimal blush and lots and lots of lashes with a really bold lip. You don’t want more than one feature competing for attention. This is a perfect way to showcase your pout!  

 This gorgeous orange shade above is from Montreal Fashion week Spring/Summer. 

 Rihanna always looks great it bright bold colours. I love this fuschia shade she is rocking! Try MAC’s Show Orchid Lipstick with Magenta lip liner.

Pink and Coral are my favourite neon shades as they look good on so many skin tones. If you are brave rock a bright coral red or bold orange. So hot!

I like using MAC’s matte lipsticks, lip pencils and pigment to create this look and I find they last all night long! (even after sipping on a few cocktails!). Apply your face powder around your lipline to keep the colour locked in. It helps absorb any bleeding that may occur. You can also powder inbettween applications right on the lip...to create a softer more matte look.  

Pink/Fuschia lip: Pure Matte Lipstick in Carthage from the NARS Summer 2011 collection or MAC Magenta Lip Pencil & Magenta Madness Pigment (neon!)

Red lip: MAC Cherry Lip Pencil, MAC Redd Lip Pencil

Orange/Coral lip: MAC Morange Lipstick, MAC Neo Orange Pigment or MAC Chromaline Pencil in Orange

Vera Wang................MAKEUP!

Fashion designer Vera Wang has announced plans to branch out into cosmetics!!!!!!!! How exciting!

The designer — who is most famous for her high-end bridal wear collections — will expand her line to include a new collection of makeup in 2012. I love all of her dresses so I'm sure she is going to design some great products to compliment her beautiful bridal looks. Her brides always look amazing!

I hear the line will also include skincare, bath and body products, and beauty accessories when it goes on sale at Kohl’s. I'm not sure if it is exclusive to Kohl's but I would imagine so. It will require a drive to the states but I can't wait to check out this line!

New York Treasure!

Wow, what a luxurious feeling skincare line!

I picked up the Lait-Crème Concentrè while in New York...and well, I’m impressed! I like to use it as a primer, a daily moisturizer, and make-up remover on a dryer skin. It feels plush and luxurious. This cream instantly rehydrates the skin. I love products that can be used for more than one function. The less skincare I have to lug around in my kit the more room for makeup!

I picked it up at Ricky’s in New York but check their site for more “where to buy” locations:

http://www.embryolisseusa.com/

Beauty Blender love love love

Beauty Blender

After years and years of preaching to my clients about the importance using brushes to create well blended foundation  I am in utter shock that I actually like using a sponge! For realz??!!

It is a quick and easy beauty solution that allows me to give my clients a professional finish and a flawless natural glowing complexion.

I find flat foundation brushes sometimes leave too much makeup on the skin and you can sometimes see the brush strokes IN the makeup. Don't get us wrong, we would NEVER apply makeup to the eye or lip with a sponge...you need brushes for accuracy and proper placement and for the powders and creams to be well blended. If you decide to use this...keep it strictly for applying foundations, blush, bronzer and face powder.

Unlike square sponges the Beautyblender has no edges. That eliminates visible lines and streaks. Use it damp when applying mineral foundations and you will see how natural it looks. You can use the pointed side for hard-to-reach spots like around the nose and mouth, and under the eyes. I like to use the rounded base for foundation and blush on the larger areas of your face such as your forehead, cheeks and chin. I'm really liking how it stipples cream blush onto the apple of the cheek. It works great with water based foundations and gel foundations...as well as mineral powder foundations. Gotta love a versatile product! As you can also use it for blush...it makes forking out $18 on a sponge less painful.

You can get these glorious sponges at Holly North and various other makeup stores. I’ve even ordered some on Ebay!

I’ve tried the $10 Sonia Kushuk purple egg shaped sponge at Target and I have also tried the red clown nose looking sponge at MAC. They are a lot more dense so they don’t give that uber natural look I’m after. However, they would be great for stippling on a more full-coverage looking foundation. I find the beauty blender superior by far as it is lighter, smells better, is super soft and way more bouncy and more flexible. Client’s have even commented on it saying it feels like a warm massage when I am applying their foundation with a damp Beautyblender!

I have heard that Sephora has a “Prescision Sponge” so stay tuned for my review on that!

Golden Girls...........

Golden Girls.... 


Working in an industry where we are surrounded by makeup and fashion that is ever evolving we are exposed to the latest trends, new colours and new formulas. Our clients are always asking us for insider tips and tricks and for us to recommend the seasons hottest must-haves. As we would never let our girlfriends walk around looking like a hot-mess.......here's a blog you can read to ensure you always look your best!
Summer arrived fashionably late this year but we're still loving this summer trend. It's so wearable you can rock in into Fall!
Golden Girls....A stunning summer trend that's both easy to execute and universally flattering! Can you say Beach babe!?!?
If you haven't incorporated these hot metallic hues into your summer beauty routine, don’t freak out....you have a few weeks left to rock this trend.

We’ve rounded up some of our favourite ways to get that golden girl look!

MAC’s Mineralize Eye Shadow in Golden GazeI find this black shadow easy to blend and it has a gorgeous gold reflect to it! Baked minerals in a powder formula. Sheer and lightweight. Colour builds lightly, layer after layer, without heavy coverage. Use it dry for a sheer golden glow or wet your brush to create a more metallic frost. 

Hoola Bronzer by BenefitThis is the smoothest warm bronzer I have ever used. Easy to blend...looks uber natural. Not to red...perfect for light to medium skin tones. When I’m tanned I layer it on.

MAC Skinsheen Leg SprayNow that warmer weather has finally arrived in Vancouver....and bare legs are ready to be unveiled, we've found a secret weapon that will shine up your limbs and give them that instant glow you are after. I use this on my legs until I get from my usual pasty colour to golden brown. I frequently bring it with me to use on darker skins as well as it’ll just even them out and hide scars and tan lines. It’s water resistant so you can go from the sand to the pool and back without looking streaky. Love this and I don’t think I’d survive summer without it. Right now it’s permanent but I stock up on it anyways just in case!

China Glaze Crackle Glaze Collection – in Tarnished Gold!Creates a deconstructed crackle finish over your favourite nail lacquer. I like this stunning gold lacquer over top of black or dark grey polish.

Have a fun summer.....stay tuned for Fall/Winter trends......