Archive for the ‘Makeup’ Category

Makeup is not only a form of self-expression, it’s also a form of art (why do you think they’re called makeup artists!)  If you’re having trouble choosing shades, all you have to do is remember the important lessons you learned from your second grade art teacher – use the color wheel!  It can literally solve any makeup problem!  

Choosing eye makeup colors 

In art class, you learn that if you want a color to stand out, you place it directly next to its compliment.  Complimentary colors are directly across from one another on the color wheel like red and green, blue and orange, and yellow and purple.   

The same rule applies in makeup.  If you want to make the color of your eyes stand out, you should choose eye makeup colors that are complimentary to your eye color.  If your eyes are blue, choose shadows and liners that are in the orange family (we’re not talking bright orange!… we mean golds and bronzes, like Elizabeth Arden Color Intrigue Eyeshadow in Gold or Palladio Eye Liner Pencil in Gold Bronze.)  If you have green eyes, try shadows that are in the red family, like light pinks and purples.  We like Revlon’s Matte Eyeshadow in Pink Innocence and Styli-Style Flat Eye Pencil in Purple. For brown eyes, try light blue shades like Stript Mineral Eyeshadow in Venus or  Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Deviant. 

For applying concealer

The color wheel can also be helpful when trying to make things on your face less noticeable.  In painting, if you want to neutralize a color, you add more of its compliment to it to tone it down.  The same thing applies for makeup.  For example, if you’re desperately trying to cover up that red zit on your chin, try a green concealer.  We know, we know, green concealer?  Trust us!  Because green is the compliment of red, it will neutralize the redness of your pimple and make it appear less noticeable.  Try Physicians Formula Gentle Concelaer Stick in Green or Dermablend Redness Concealer. 

This is also a helpful when hidng undereye circles.  If the circles underneath your eyes tend to be bluish in tint, try a concealer that has a more orangey hue like Revlon’s ColorStay Undereye Concealer in Deep.  If your undereyes are more purplish in color, try a concealer with more of a yellow tint to it.  We like B Vain’s Concealer in Yellow This will neutralize the color of the circles and make them less dramatic.

After all this talk of color, we don’t know if we want to go do our makeup, or go find that old box of Crayolas!

Yesterday, we told you about Bare Escentuals’ new Refillable Portable Rebuffing Brush. So you’ve got the means to apply your award winning BareMinerals foundation, but how do you know which shade is right for you?  With fifteen different foundation shades, Bare Escentuals makes sure that there is a perfect color for everyone.

To help choose your shade, you must determine two things:

• What shade family is my skin in?  Choose from five – light, medium, medium tan, dark, and deep.
• What undertones does my skin have?  Choose from three: cool (rosy/pinkish skin), golden (typically skins that have olive tints), or neural (a mix of theo other two)

You can also use this chart that Bare Escentuals provided us to really help you decide. Click on each face to view details.

Just when you thought that your lashes couldn’t get any more volume, think again!  L’Oreal Paris has recently introduced their new patented mascara technology with the Extra Volume Collagen Mascara.

Not only is this mascara wand twice as big as their traditional volumizing mascara brush, but the mascara itself is formulated with hydra-collagen, which helps thickens lashes (without the clumps!)  

L’Oreal’s Extra Volume Collagen Mascara comes in three basic colors: black, blackest black, and black-brown.

Click on the video to see the commercial for L’Oreal’s Extra Volume Mascara featuring Eva Longoria Parker.

Several weeks ago, we wrote a post about makeup brushes:  how to use them, choose them, and how to take care of them.  We want to introduce you to Royal Brush brush sets from Royal & Langnickel, a great gift for Mom!

Royal & Langnickel have been in business since 1943, and since then, have been an industry leader in quality brushes.  The brand actually started off as a leading paintbrush company.  The brushes were of such high and incomparable quality, that makeup artists began requesting them for their beauty needs.  They eventually evolved into a professional makeup brush company.  Royal brushes offer superior craftsmanship and use only the finest, highest quality of materials.  Surprise Mom this Mother’s Day with a brush set from the unquestionably best makeup brush brand out there!  We have three different sets, depending on her needs!

For the makeup guru:  Our 12-Piece Aqualon Brush Set contains every makeup brush Mom could ever want!  The set is complete with two squirrel face brushes, one badger fan brush, one taklon eyebrow/eyeliner brush, one dome shaped squirrel shadow brush, three pure sable eyeshadow brushes, one eyebrow/eyelash combo brush, two pure sable lip brushes, and a sponge applicator.   The set is $100 value for only $59.99!  Each brush features a clear acrylic, space-saving handle.  The set comes in a cute pink wrap pouch.  How perfect!

For the makeup minimalist:  Just because she doesn’t wear a ton of makeup, doesn’t mean Mom doesn’t deserve some fine brushes for the makeup she does put on!  This 5-Piece SILK Brush Set will meet all of your mom’s standard makeup needs.  The set comes with one powder and one blush brush, one small concealer brush, one eyeshadow brush, and a lip brush.  Plus, Royal’s signature SILK material is a luxurious blend of natural and synthetic hairs, creating some of the softest, and most elegant makeup bristle materials on the market!  These brushes were actually originally designed for intense daily professional use!  A $60 value for only $29.99.  Comes in trendy black and red pouch.

Somewhere in-between:  Not a guru, yet not a minimalist?  We’ve got something for her too!  Our 8-Piece Pearl Brush Set comes with eight brushes with sturdy handles and soft bristles.  The set comes with a powder and blush brush, one foundation brush, one concealer brush and four different eyeshadow brushes.  A $60 value for only $29.99.  Comes in practical black and white pouch.

It’s… The Balm!

With clever names like “Hot Mama,” DownBoy, and “Boyz’N My Berry,” it’s no wonder that TheBalm cosmetics has been receiving a lot of media buzz recently.   Jennifer Sullivan, a makeup artist, and TheBalm’s VP of Training and Education, tells BeautyNewsNYC that “theBalm’s multi-use products are made of the highest quality ingredients, perfect for today’s savvy woman who wants to look amazing in five minutes while being health conscious.”  In addition, almost the entire line is paraben-free!

What started out as a small, single product line has grown into a blossoming makeup company. TheBalm was founded in 2000 by ex TV producer Marissa Shipman when she realize that her love of makeup could actually be her career! She bought a few books on how to create makeup and the rest is history. Starting out with her first product, plumping  lipgloss, TheBalm has truly taken off in the past nine years.  Shipman is dedicated to her brand, which she calls her “baby” and she claims that there’s a personal story behind practically every product that she creates!

Recent press surrounding The Balm

• Jessica Stroup from the new 90210 is a fan of the Balm’s Plump Your Pucker Tinted Lip Gloss in Cocoa My Coconut.   
• Their Hot Mama blush was featured in the March 2009 issue of Parents Magazine
• The Balms Away eye makeup remover was featured in Lucky May 2009
• The new Karate Pick-Up Liners were featured in the May 2009 issue of Marie Claire
• Click here for more press articles surrounding TheBalm