My life in paints, powders and pigments

2012-01-27T11:10:00.000-08:00

A few months back my husband, Andrew Stiles, did a shoot with the super cute Jane Levy. She's on the TV show Suburgaory on ABC. Firstly, I love a red head. Few and far between in this town (although there are some great ones representing: Jessica Chastain, Bryce Dallas Howard, Deborah Ann Woll from True Blood). She has lovely porcelain skin and sparkly blue eyes, and even better.... a terrific dry sense of humor. We had a lovely day shooting her and I am excited to watch her star rise.

Get the Look: Elizabeth Banks at the Man on a Ledge Premiere

2012-01-25T11:05:00.000-08:00

For the Man on a Ledge Premiere, Elizabeth wore a stunning gold paillette dress from Pucci with really sexy Christian Louboutin gold shoes, so we used lots of bronzes on the eyes and warmed her skin to a sun kissed golden color. The bronzes made the blue of her eyes just pop. And I love the warm rosy nude lip color because it keeps the look from feeling washed out, but it doesn't take away from the eyes. I applied the foundation as I always do, using a synthetic brush and a Beauty Blender. After it was set I dusted a little bronzer at her hairline and on her cheekbones to give that beachy glow. For the eyes I took a deep brown liner and smudged it into the lashes top and bottom, and into the waterline. Then I blended the color and brushed on a deep bronze shadow over it. A little black liner on the top lash line defined the eyes and make the lashes look thicker. And so did a few coats of black mascara. You know I love my mascara!

Foundation:

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisturizing Foundation #023

Powder:

Chanel Poudre Univesselle Libre #40

Blush:

Jouer Mineral Blush in "Peach Bouquet"

Bronzer:

Jouer Matte Bronzer in "Golden Honey"

Brows:

Anastasia Brow Wiz in "Medium Ash"

CoverGirl Clear Brow Gel

Liner:

CoverGirl LiquiLine Blast in "Brown Blaze"

Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick Color in "Cocoa"

Eyeshadow:

Josie Maran Argan Beautiful Eyes Quad in "Beautiful Nudes"

CoverGirl Smoky ShadowBlast in "Bronze Fire"

Mascara:

CoverGirl LashBlast 24 in "Black"

Lips:

Inglot gloss #53

Body:

Prtty Peaushun in "Medium"

Get the Look: Chloe Moretz at the Critics Choice Awards

2012-01-25T10:43:00.000-08:00

I got to work with the adorable Chloe Moretz for the first time last week, getting her ready for the Critics Choice awards. I was so excited to work with her....I love those green eyes, full brows and lovely fair skin.

I kept the look pretty simple, just a smudge of color on the eye, a soft rosy cheek and a sheer neutral pink on the lips. We kept it young and fresh and easy. She's only 14 after all!

After moisturizing, I applied foundation and then a bit of liquid blush on the cheeks, right onto the apples. After setting that with loose powder I brushed up her brows and set them with brow gel. I used a little cream shadow and smudged it along the top and bottom lash lines, being sure to keep the color edgeless and soft. A curled lash and a bit of mascara fished the eye off and a swipe of lipstick gave the lips a little warmth and shine. I wish I could say there was more to it, but sometimes simple is best! Especially when you have such a pretty young face, no need to overdo it.

Moisturizer:

Yonka Pamplemousse

Primer:

Tom Ford

Foundation:

Armani Luminous Silk #2

Blush:

By Terry Rose de Rose liquid blush in "Coral Rose"

Powder:

CoverGirl Professional Loose Translucent Powder

Eyes:

Bobbi Brown Metallic Long Wear Cream Shadow in "Black Violet"

Mascara:

CoverGirl LashBlast 24 Hour Mascara

Brow Gel:

CoverGirl Clear Brow Gel

Lips:

NARS lipstick in "Cruising"

Get the Look: Paula Patton at the Golden Globes

2012-01-15T20:42:00.000-08:00

Paula was wearing a strapless Monique Lhuillier gown, a beautiful sunny yellow. We wanted to keep the look light and pretty, focusing on lashes and cheeks, playing up the happy element of the color.

After prepping the skin, I used a flat synthetic foundation brush to swipe on the foundation, applying it to the bridge of the nose, the cheeks, the forehand and the chin. Then I used the brush to blend the color out towards the jaw and hairline, going over the base with a criss cross motion to ensure that it's well blended and there are no lines. I used a little concealer to cover any darkness under the eye or redness along the side of the nose, feathering it out so it blends perfectly with the foundation. Before I powdered, I use a dual fiber brush to apply a bit of cream blush onto the apples of the cheeks and then after I powdered I used a touch of powder blush to brighten the face a bit more. I like to combine cream and powder blush, just make sure you apply "like to like" so use the cream blush before you powder, and the powder blush after the makeup is set. Next I focused on the brows. I gave them a nice full look by adding a little to the shape with pencil. The key to making it not look too heavy is to run a clean spooly through the brows after you fill in with pencil. This softens the lines and blends the color in, making it undetectable. Set the brows with a clear gel, brushing the hairs into the desired shape.

For the eyes I started by sweeping bronzer that was close to her skin tone over the lid, giving the eye a wash of warmth and a little depth, while still looking like skin. Then I took a black liner and drew a black line all along the upper lash line, pushing it into the lashes. Taking a small synthetic brush, I smudged the line, softening the edge, making it less severe. I used a little black liner on the bottom as well, pushing it deep into the lashes so that when mascara is on, the illusion is thicker, darker lashes.

The eyes--soft liner and strong lashes--were the focus of the look, so the lips and cheeks were just meant to compliment them. A soft pale, peachy lip made her look radiant without distracting too much from the eyes, and the wash of warm pink on the cheeks gave her a fresh, healthy flush.

I gave Paula her lipgloss, a few cotton buds, and some blotting papers for her to take with her on the red carpet. I wish I could be there to touch up my clients when they get there, but alas, once I leave them they are on their own. The challenge is fitting all of those touch up supplies in those teeny tiny clutches!

Foundation:
CoverGirl Queen Collection Natural Hue Liquid Makeup in "Rich Sand"

Concealer:
CoverGirl Queen Collection Natural Hue Concealer in "Light"

Powder:
CoverGirl Queen Collection Natural Hue Pressed Powder "Light Bronze"

Bronzer:
CoverGirl Queen Collection Natural Hue Bronzer "Light Bronze"

Blush:
CoverGirl Cheekers Blush in Classic Pink with CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush in "Lush Berry"

Liner:
CoverGirl Queen Collection Eyeliner on "Black Onyx"

Brow pencil:
CoverGirl Brow & Eyemakers pencil in "Midnight Brown"

Shadow:
CoverGirl Queen Collection 1-Kit Eye Shadows "Down to Earth" and "Copper Penny"
CoverGirl Eye Enhancers 1-Kit Shadows in "Shimmering Onyx"

Mascara:
CoverGirl Queen Collection LashFanatic in Black

Lips:
CoverGirl Queen Collection Gloss in "Starlet Sand"

Get The Look: Paula Patton at the GQ Men of the Year Party

2011-11-18T09:39:00.001-08:00

For the GQ Men of the Year Party, Paula wanted to sex it up a little, so we went with pretty bright pink lip and a sexy, flirty eye with fluttery lashes.

After prepping the skin, I applied a bit of foundation and concealer where needed. Before I powdered I used my fingers to apply a little of the By Terry liquid blush, concentrating on the apples of her cheeks and added the luminizer on her cheekbones and the bridge of her nose. After powdering I dusted on a bit of bronzer on top of the blush to add a golden glow and to soften and blend the cheek color.

I subtly strengthened Paula's brows, making them just slightly bolder than they are. I love a strong brow and a strong lip together. Brushing them up also made them a little thicker. Using a warm gold, I added a little dimension and depth to they eye, but I mostly focused on liner and lashes to make her eyes be the stand out feature. Deep grey and black shadow paired with black liner gave her eyes a feline look, while lots of mascara finished it off.

Paula pressed the lip color gently onto her lips from the tube, and then I did a light dusting of loose powder over it to give it a more matte texture. We skipped liner so the lip would have a soft edge.

*Paula is the new ambassador for CoverGirl Queen Collection, which is very, very exciting!*

Foundation:

CoverGirl Queen Collection Natural Hue Liquid Makeup in "Amber Glow"

Conealer:

Chanel Correcteur Perfection in "Beige Santal"

Cheeks:

By Terry Rose de Rose Liquid Blush in "Coral Rose"

CoverGirl Cheekers Bronzer in "Golden Tan"

Luminizer:

Benefit "Sun Beam" Liquid Luminizer

Powder:

Tom Ford Beauty Translucent Finishing Powder in "Sahara Dusk"

Brow:

MAC Brow Pencil in "Spiked"

Liner:

LiquiLine Blast Eyeliner in "Black Fire"

Eyeshadow:

Chanel Les 4 Ombres in "Kaska Beige" & "Smoky Eyes"

Mascara:

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Lasting Mascara in "Very Black"

Lips:
CoverGirl Queen Collection Lip Color in "PowderPuff Pink"

Get the Look: Nikki Reed at the Breaking Dawn Part 1 Premiere

2011-11-15T08:16:00.001-08:00

Nikki's dress had a bit of a Grecian feel so we went for a clean, elegant look. Too much color would feel over the top. I focused on luminous skin that felt effortless, with a subtle hint of color on the eyes.

For the skin I prepped with Yonka's moisturizer and then mixed Tom Ford Beauty Traceless Foundation in "Natural" with a little Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint in Golden so that her skin would have a soft, luminous glow. I always use the Beauty Blender to blend out the foundation. I can't work without it, it just blends makeup so well. For the cheeks I used a touch of Inglot cream blush in #83 for a little soft warmth, applying with my fingers and blending it out with a brush, and Benefit "Sun Beam" highlighter on the cheekbones and bridge of the nose for a pretty sheen. I set the base and blush with a light dusting of CoverGirl Professional Loose Powder in "Translucent Medium".

For the eyes I used CoverGirl SmokyShadowBlast (the Lavender side of "Silver Sky") on the lid and a bit under the lower lashes and then a little of the bronze side of the SmokyShadowBlast in "Bronze Fire". I applied it with a brush to keep the lines soft and undefined. I popped a bit of the gold Sun Beam over the cream shadow to add extra luminosity. Afterwards I gave the lashes a good squeeze with an eyelash curler and put three coats of CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume mascara in Black on the top and two on the bottom.

On the lips I used CoverGirl Wetslicks Amazemint Lipgloss in "Slaphappy" over a little CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipliner in "Sublime".

Moisturizer:

Yonka Pamplemousse

Foundation:

Tom Ford Traceless Foundation in "Natural" mixed with Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint in "Golden"

Powder:

CoverGirl Professional Loose Powder in "Translucent Medium"

Blush:

Inglot Cream Blush in #83

Luminizer:

Benefit "Sun Beam"

Eyeshadow:

CoverGirl Smoky ShadowBlast in Silver Sky and Bronze Fire

Mascara:

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara in Black

Lipliner:

CoverGirl LipPerfection in "Sublime"

Lipgloss:

CoverGirl Wetslicks Amazemint Lipgloss in "Slaphappy"

French Glamour

2011-11-13T15:09:00.001-08:00

Get the Look: Jessica Alba at the Clinton Foundation Gala

2011-10-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

I worked with Jessica Alba again last week, she was attending the Clinton Foundation Gala event. She wore a beautiful outfit from Dior, I especially loved the jewel toned skirt, so lovely.

Jessica has the most beautiful skin, so we kept it dewy and luminous, and her "new mom"radiance certainly added to her glow! I used a bit of a cream bronzer and highlighter on the cheeks and then added a bit of warm shimmery pink blush to add a little extra "happy" to the cheeks.

For the eyes I used a new product from Shiseido that I am in love with. It's a long wearing cream shadow with great pigment and intensity, and it is now in heavy rotation in my kit. The brown has a perfect amount of glittery shimmer in it, making the eyes catch the light and radiate warmth back. The purple is the perfect bright violet, and mixed with the brown, it was really stunning. (You can't really see the colors in the picture, sadly.) I added a little black at the lash line for depth, and of course, heaps of mascara.

The lips were a softly shimmering warm beige gloss.

Foundation:

Armani Luminous Silk #8

Powder:

NARS Mountain

Cheeks:

MAC Mineralize Blush in "Lovejoy"

Hourglass Illume Cream to Powder Bronzer in "Bronze Light"

Brows:

Anastasia Brow Wiz in "Ash Blonde"

Eyeshadow:

Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color "Leather" & "Purple Dawn"

Mascara:

Helena Rubinstein "Feline Black"

Lips:

Armour Beauty Gloss in "Edie" with Dior Addict in "Lace Beige"

Sun Kissed and Wind Swept at Michael Kors S/S 2012

2011-09-29T02:27:00.000-07:00

I worship at the altar of Dick Page and I love this look that he created for Michael Kors. It's subtle, but there's still a statement. I love that there are only two colors on the face. Truly beautiful.

Very Pretty at Versace.

2011-09-27T08:57:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love a beautiful, simply made up face. I do love the less is more approach, it's just as hard to get right as a full on full makeup look. The dewy skin, perfectly groomed brow, the barely there pink cheek and the glossy peachy/taupe eye.....pure perfection. I wish this kind of look translated to the red carpet, Hollywood would be a more beautiful place.

I Heart Tom Ford.

2011-09-26T09:03:00.000-07:00

I am so beyond excited for the new Tom Ford makeup collection to come out....I even dreamed about it the other night. No, seriously. The line of lipsticks he came out with last year were so spectacular, I can only imagine how delicious the rest of collection will be. It's already out in England (lucky ducks) so I've been stalking the website for Selfridges, ogling the shadows and lips new lip colors, imagining the textures and what the colors will look like in person. Here are the highlights from my wish list.

I am certain that this foundation is nothing short of perfection. And I'm so glad that Mr. Ford included good colors for darker skin tones. I cannot stand when a makeup line neglects foundations for women of color, it makes me crazy.

I mean, just look at these shadow palettes, they are gorgeous! I might just throw away all of my other shadows.

Nothing groundbreaking about these brushes, but these are my favorite shapes for eyeshadow brushes (they look like #217 from MAC and the brush from Sonia Kashuk's line). But they're just plain glamorous, so I want/need them!

Contour and highlighter. Enough said. Want it.

I have a weak spot for blush. If you have these two colors you don't need any others. They are so flattering on everyone. Hopefully Christmas comes early and I get sent box of goodies from their PR company before I lose control and order the whole line from the Selfridges website. I have been chomping at the bit about this line for months and now it's almost here and I am so excited I can almost smell the makeup, taste the lipstick and hear the perfect *click* of the compact closing. Le sigh.....

Gorgeous at Gucci. S/S 2012

2011-09-26T02:37:00.000-07:00

So far this S/S show season, the makeup has been really soft and pretty, no real strong makeup looks. Until now. Gucci brings the sexy with bleached brows, softly contoured cheeks and a smoldering black eye that is somehow equal parts sex kitten and rock and roll. I love the shape of the eye and how it just pulls you in since it's the only strong feature. And I never, ever, ever get tired of a bleached brow. Ever.

UK Glamour: Beach Beauty

2011-09-22T01:50:00.000-07:00

This is from the third story I worked on in Mexico in January for British Glamour with the amazing editor Alessandra Steinherr and fantastic photographer David Gubert. I love a single pop of color or point of interest with makeup and this story is no different. A bright matte mouth or shot of silver on the eye with no other makeup makes a strong, clear statement. And I love the idea of a powerful look on the beach. Not overly made up, but playful and intentional. That and SPF are all you need!

UK InStyle with Diane Kruger

2011-09-17T15:44:00.000-07:00

A few months back I got to work with Diane Kruger, who is as gorgeous as she is lovely. I had wanted to work with her for a long time, so I was thrilled when I got the call. She is so amazing in front of the camera, making the clothes all look effortlessly cool with her easy going attitude. It's such a pleasure to work on a face like hers.... The editors wanted a more polished look for the cover, but a more stripped down look for the inside story, so for the story I kept the look really simple, playing with structure and soft depth on the eyes, beautifully sculpted brows and a barely there lip color.

Get The Look: Jessica Alba at the ALMA Awards

2011-09-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

I have made up a lot of faces over the years, many beautiful faces, but I got to make up Jessica Alba the other day and I was blown away by her beauty. What a stunning, stunning woman. Plus she had just had a baby 4 weeks before, and you would never guess.... The lady has great genes!

For the ALMA Awards we went for a bit of a grey smokey eye and pretty skin, a little warm pinky-apricot on the cheeks and a pale pink gloss. Simple, pretty and cool.

All products are by Revlon

Foundation:

Revlon PhotoReady Foundation in "Caramel"

Concealer:

Revlon PhotoReady Concealer in "Medium" and "Medium Deep"

Blush:

Revlon ColorStay Mineral Blush in "Honey"

Luminizer:

Revlon Age Defying Spa Face Illuminator in "Gold Light"

Powder:

Revlon PhotoReady Powder in "Medium/Deep"

Eyeshadow:

Revlon ColorStay Eyeshadow Quad in "Sterling Rose"

Eyeliner:

Revlon Luxurious Color Eyeliner in "Black Velvet"

Mascara:

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara in "Black"

Lips:

Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss in "Crystal Lilac"

New Beginnings.

2011-09-06T10:19:00.000-07:00

A month ago my husband and I had a baby girl. She is amazing and beautiful and we honestly couldn't be happier. Or sleepier! But that goes with the territory, right....?

This will not become a blog filled with baby pictures or anecdotes about parenthood, but I felt like I should mention what's happening in my life, if for no other reason than to excuse me from diligent posting.

That said, she's the most beautiful baby in the world. Who will have an endless supply of makeup at her finger tips. Let's hope she has a beauty-tooth!

Get The Look: Nikki Reed at the Teen Choice Awards

2011-08-08T17:54:00.000-07:00

Nikki was wearing a dress that had a sweet, relaxed bohemian vibe. Her hairdresser, Kristen Ess, gave her a soft romantic updo so I kept the makeup simple and bronzed and pretty. Anything too "makeup-y" would have felt overpowering and out of place with the rest of the look.

I used a little luminous foundation wherever it was needed and then set the base with a medium toned loose powder. Using a soft fluffy brush I applied a slightly luminous bronzer on the apples of her cheeks and a little beyond for a soft, summery sun kissed glow.

For her eyes I used a warm brown color all over the lid, and blended it right up into the brow bone. For a little definition along the upper lash line, and to make the lashes look thicker, I used a deep forest green color and smudged it right into the lashes making the upper lashes look even fuller. (I skipped mascara on the bottom to emphasize the upper lashes.) To keep the lip understated I used a sheer, warm pink that gave just a hint of color to her lips.

Powder:
Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre in #30

Cheeks:
MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural in "Medium Deep"

Eyeshadow:
3 Custom Color in "Warm Camel"

Foundation:
Armani Luminous Silk #6.5

Eyeliner:
Burberry Eye Definer in Midnight Ash #3 (deep forest green)

Brows:
Anastasia Brow Wiz in "Brunette" and Anastasia Brow Gel

Mascara:
DiorShow Extase in Black

Lips:
Guerlain Baume au Coeur in "Rose Venus"

Get the Look: Jamie King

2011-08-08T12:40:00.000-07:00

Jamie King is a stunner. And her years as a major model lend her the ability to morph and experiment with her look in a unique way. She loves to play with makeup and she wears it so well.

I started with a light moisturizer and lip balm, as I always do, and then used the Beauty Blender to apply a light coat of foundation. I am loving Burberry's new makeup line, and their foundation is one of my new favorites. I set the base with a loose powder (I almost never use pressed--it just breaks in my kit) and then used a pretty light bronze blush that brought warmth and a touch of glow to her cheeks.

For her eyes, I used a warm bordeaux/wine color on the top lid and a touch under the lower lashes that made Jamie's eyes look incredibly blue. I used more of mid-tone bronze for the area above the crease, and softly blended it towards her brows. I darkened and lengthened her brows slightly for a little drama.... I love the contrast of her dark brows with her cool blonde.

I rarely do a lip AND an eye for the red carpet and this look was no exception. I kept it light handed by using a warm pinky nude lip that is one of my favorite colors. I thought it looked so beautiful with her skin tone.

Moisturizer:
Yonka Pamplemousse

Foundation:
Burberry Sheer Foundation in Trench #6

Powder:
Koh Gen Do Natural Lightening Powder

Blush:
NARS "Luster"

Eyeshadow:
Josie Maran Argan Eyeshadow in "Chianti" and "Embrace"

Brows:
Anastasia Brow Wiz in "Brunette"

Mascara:
Dolce & Gabbana Volumized Lashes

Lips:
NARS "Cruising"

UK Glamour: Beach Goddess

2011-07-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

This is the second of three beauty stories I did recently with British Glamour. I adore the beauty editor, Alessandra Steinherr. She has great vision, and is so fun to work with....I'd work with her any day of the week! David Gubert shot this story as well. The gorgeous Bridget Malcolm made my job easy, giving me a lovely canvas to work on. We channeled the vibe of a 50's italian movie star who was stranded on a desert island. Now if only we could all look this glamourous when we're shipwrecked....

Get The Look: Rose Byrne at Zimmerman Event

2011-07-22T21:55:00.000-07:00

It was a warm summer night in Hollywood and Rose was wearing a very cool, easy glamour dress from Zimmerman, so we went with a non-fussy summer look. It was an outdoor event and it seemed right to go with a fun lip color. Not too much on the eye, a sun kissed cheek and a bright, happy coral lip.

Using the EcoTools Bamboo Foundation Brush I swiped foundation onto her forehead, cheeks, chin and nose and then used the Beauty Blender to thin out and blend the color. I set the base with a little loose powder and then gave her a bit of a sunny glow with bronzer.

I kept the eyes very simple since the lip was such a statement. I swept the Almond shadow, a warm, lightly shimmery shadow, all over the lid and then used a bit of the Chestnut color to add depth to the crease of the eye. Heaps of mascara, after curling the lashes, gave the eyes a sweet doe eyed finish, and a bright slash of color on the lips finished up the look.

Foundation:
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation #6

Blush:
Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Powder:
Chanel Poudre Universal #40

Eyes:
Burberry Eyeshadow in "Almond" and "Chestnut"

Mascara:
Lancome Virtuose in "Black"

Lips:
Tom Ford Private Blend in "Ginger Fawn"

Get The Look: Hailee Steinfeld at Miu Miu Event

2011-07-22T21:47:00.000-07:00

For the Miu Miu event, Hailee wore a sweet blush colored Miu Miu dress. I used two different cream eyeshadows, one from CoverGirl and one from Chanel, and mixed them to get a muted blush tone for the eyes, and then accentuated the eyes by using black liner at the corners, top and bottom, giving her a bit of a cat eye. So it didn't get too severe I softened the edges of the line with a rich plum shadow using the EcoTools Bamboo Smudge Eyeliner brush.

I wanted the skin to be luminous and fresh so I mixed a little of the Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint into the foundation. I applied a little of a cream bronzer to the cheeks and a dusting of powder, just on the t-zone, left the skin dewey but not shiny.

I tamed her brows with a bit of Anastasia brow gel and brushed them into place with the EcoTools Lash & Brow Groomer. I love, love, love her strong brows.

A bit of a peachy lip from Ellis Faas kept the face looking warm and healthy, but without being overwhelming.

Foundation:
Koh Gen Doh Moisture Foundation #023
Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint in "Pearl"

Blush:
NARS Multiple Bronzer in "Tuomota"

Powder:
Le Metier de Beaute Loose Powder in "Translucent"

Eyes:
Chanel Ombre D'eau in Source mixed with CoverGirl Intense ShadowBlast in "Brown Bling"

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Liner in "Black"
Dolce & Gabbana mascara

Brows:

Anastasia Brow Wiz in "Brunette"

Anastasia Brow Gel

Lips:
Ellis Faas Creany Lips in #L108

UK Glamour: Summer Beauty

2011-07-12T00:08:00.000-07:00

In January I went to Playa Del Carmen in Mexico with British Glamour to shoot three beauty stories. This first one was with the gorgeous model Chanel, who's face I adore. She can look like so many different characters, and her mega-watt smile can light up a room like nothing else. I loved working with her, not to mention the uber-talented photographer David Gubert. He made the shoot a breeze. Keith Carpenter did the hair and consistently impressed me with the effortlessly cool styles he came up with. I love it when things all work out organically, without drama and the pictures are gorgeous. This was definitely one of those shoots!

Dior Couture F/W 2011

2011-07-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

The most exciting show every season, makeup wise, is Dior. Hands down. Pat McGrath is such a genius and always makes the girls fit the character of the clothes, taking the looks to a whole new dimension.

This was my favorite look from the show. She did many amazing looks, from shiny color blocked appliques to translucent fish scale sequins on the eyes, but this one captured the fantasy and drama of Dior for me.

Check out www.style.com for all of the looks from the show. You won't be disappointed!

Get the Look: Rosario Dawson at the Zoo Keeper Premiere

2011-07-10T21:53:00.000-07:00

To balance out the glamour of the dress, we went with pretty, "happy" makeup. A soft bronze eye, a warm salmony pink cheek and a soft pink lip. She looked fresh, radiant and effortless, three of my favorite red carpet components.

I used a liquid foundation and used a firm foundation brush to apply the base. I love using a foundation brush because I can control how and where I apply the product, and use it to thin out the makeup or build it up where I need it. I used the Beauty Blender, another indispensable tool in my kit, to distribute the foundation and to work it into the skin. A little of the cream blush on the apples of the cheeks added warmth and added a healthy but soft punch of color, and then added contour with the MAC Bronzer. I love to add a touch of contour to define the cheekbones, and the MAC bronzer looks very natural, which I love. It should just look like a little hollowing of the cheekbones, and should be almost undetectable.

For the eyes, I swept on the bronze color in the Dior palette using a flat, medium sized rounded brush over the lid, and then softly blended it upwards towards the brow. I used a crease brush to add depth in the crease of the eye, and then I swept a bit of bronze and deep brown under the lower lash line, softly smoking it out (I used the brushes in the EcoTools 6 piece Eye Brush set to do the eyes--they're soft and stiff at the same time, which you need for perfecting an eye).

I love a cool pink lip, and Chihuahua gloss from NARS is the perfect color. It looked easy and pretty and just added a bit of lightness to the look.

Foundation:
Armani Liquid Silk in #7

Blush:
Illamasqua Cream Blush in "Rude"
MAC Matte Bronze bronzer as contour

Powder:
NARS pressed powder in "Mountain"

Eyes:
Dior 5 Colour eyeshadow palette in "Earth Reflection" (bronze & dark brown)
Chanel Ombre Essentielle shadow in "Cinnamon"
Kevyn Aucoin The Eye Pencil Primatif in "Basic Black"

Brows:
Anastasia Brow Wiz in "Brunette"

Mascara:
DiorShow Extase in Black

Lips:
NARS Chihuahua gloss

Body:
Prtty Peaushun in "Dark"

Get the Look: Kristen Stewart at the "A Better Life" Premiere

2011-06-22T22:20:00.000-07:00

For Kristen's look I started with off with clean, moisturized skin and then using a synthetic brush I swiped on the NatureLuxe Silk Foundation where needed, blending it out with a damp sponge so the coverage was sheer and luminous. A light dusting of translucent powder set the foundation. I swept a bit of the Natural Rose blush onto the apples of the cheeks for a soft and subtle flush.

For the eyes, I smudged on the deep rusty bronze color of the Purple Plume Smoky Shadow Blast from the lash line to above the crease blending it toward the brow bone. Then I used a bit of the plumy color in the Eyelights quad over the Shadow Blast to add depth to the color and to add a bit more definition at the outer corners of the eyes, and a soft sweeping of color under the lower lashes. I lined the waterline with black liner and smudged a bit into the top lash line as well as blended a little at the outer corners of the eyes. Two coats of Volume Blasting mascara in Black top and bottom give the final touch of glam.

I lined the lips all over first, and then applied a light coat of the Lip Perfection Lipcolor for a touch of shine.
Foundation:
CoverGirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation in "Chamois"

Powder:
CoverGirl Professional Loose Powder in "Translucent Light "

Concealer:
CoverGirl Invisible Concealer in "Light"

Blush:
CoverGirl Cheekers Blush in "Natural Rose"

Eyes:
CoverGirl Smoky Shadow Blast in "Purple Plume"
CoverGirl Exact Eyelights Eye-Brightening Eyeshadows "Vivid Greens"

Eyeliner:
CoverGirl Liquiline Blast Eyeliner in "Black Fire"

Mascara:
CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Blasting Mascara in "Very Black"

Lips:
CoverGirl LipPerfection Lip Liner in "Smoky"
CoverGirl LipPerfection Lipcolor in "Heavenly"

Get the Look: Nikki Reed at the MTV Movie Awards

2011-06-19T17:31:00.000-07:00

Nikki has such beautiful skin, I love to keep it dewy and light, with just a touch of foundation mixed with luminizer, so it looks radiant. I love how she can look like a baby Cindy Crawford, and I wanted to keep in that vein for this event. I used a bit of bronzer along with a peachy blush, and a warm brown on the eyes adding a bit off depth and soft definition. I didn't want to go heavy on the eyes or for her to look too made up, so we kept it clean and minimal.

I used the Koh Den Doh Maifash Moisture foundation, which I love, because it has a very dewy finish, mixing in a few drops of the Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint to add a bit of glow to the skin. I use a flat synthetic brush (I love the Bamboo Foundation Brush from Eco Tools) to apply the foundation, and then use the Beauty Blender to blend and buff it into the skin. I set it with a bit of loose powder and then used the MAC Mineralize foundation as a bronzer--the sheen is so lovely--and then popped a bit of the peachy blush on the cheeks for a healthy glow.

For the eyes, I used the Ellis Faas Creamy Eyes pen. I love the creamy texture, it dries down into the most perfect matte color. The color I used is a warm, beautiful brown that just looks like a second skin. I used a small domed brush (I used the Bamboo Concealer brush fro Eco Tools--the flat synthetic brush lets me blend the color into the lid and the tapered end allows me to blend the color right in to the lower lash line and feather it out softly.) Using a flat angled brush, I pushed in the MAC Fluidline right into the lashes to make the lashes look thick and full and then added two coats of the Dolce and Gabbana mascara.

A soft beigy-pink on the lips keeps the focus on her skin and beautiful eyes.

Foundation:

Koh Gen Doh Maifanshi Moisture Foundation #003

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint in "Bronzed"

Powder:

Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre in Dore´ #40

Blush:

Jouer "Peach Blossom"

Bronzer:

MAC Mineralize SkinFinish in "Deep Dark"

Eyes:

Ellis Faas Creamy Eyes #E105

MAC Fluidline in "Blacktrack"

Mascara:

Dolce & Gabbana "Volumized Lashes" in Black

Lips:

Cle De Peau Extra Silky Lips #130

Body:

Prtty Peaushun in "Dark"

Get The Look: Jessica Chastain at the Tree of Life Premiere

2011-05-28T21:16:00.000-07:00

I had the terrific pleasure of working with the stunning Jessica Chastain last week for her premiere of "The Tree of Life", the new Terrence Malick movie with her and Brad Pitt and Sean Penn (which just won the Palme d'Or at Cannes!)

You may not know who she is yet, but you will soon. She's in about a gazillion movies that are coming out this year, so keep your eyes peeled for her on the big screen.

She wore the most incredible Roland Mouret dress (it was green with a chartreuse accent) which looked mazing with her red hair and creamy, pale skin. We kept the makeup soft and feminine, no need for a statement when you have a dress like that!

Skin:

Yonka Pamplemousse Moisturize

Foundation:

Chantecaille Future Skin in "Ivory"

Powder:

Le Metier de Beaute Transluscent powder

Blush:

NARS "Sex Appeal"

Eyeshadow:

Burburry Beauty Eyeshadow in "Chestnut" and "Almond"

Liner:

Stila Kajal Liner in 'Tigers Eye"

Brows:

MAC "Fling"

Mascara:

Helena Rubenstein "Feline Blacks"

Lips:

Cle de Peau Extra Silky Lipstick #109

Get The Look: Elizabeth Banks at the Met Ball

2011-05-03T13:45:00.000-07:00

Old Hollywood Glamour meets modern chic.

We went for a glamour girl look, updating it with a matte warm brown smoky eye, luscious lashes and an orange lip. She looked elegant without looking overly retro.....

I prepped her skin with Yonka's Pamplemousse moisturizer and By Terry lip balm. Then I applied a bit of a dewy foundation where she needed it, and bronzy cream blush before I powdered. For the eyes I primarily used a warm matte brown shadow but used a little bit of a lightly shimmery vanilla color to blend the shadow into the brow bone and a bit of a deeper shimmery brown right at the lash line for a touch of depth. Three coats of mascara on the top lashes and a kiss of mascara on the bottom finished off the eyes. I added a bit more blush in a pale pink shade for a little glow and then finished off the look with a beautiful orangey coral lip.

Skin:

Yonka Pamplemousse moisturizer

Lip balm:

By Terry Baume de Rose

Foundation:

Koh Gen Doh Maifanshi Foundation in #013

Powder:

Laura Mercier Translucent powder

Blush:

NARS "Sex Appeal" and Josie Maran cream blush in "Sun Kissed"

Eyeshadow:

Josie Maran Argan shadows in "Oak", "Sweetheart" & "Embrace"

Brow Pencil:

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Ash

Mascara:

Lancome Virtuose in Black

Lips:

Tom Ford "Ginger Fawn"

Body Lotion:

Pretty Peaushun in "Light"

Lily Collins: UK Glamour

2011-04-16T19:25:00.000-07:00

I did a fashion story for British Glamour with the adorable Lily Collins. We got to explore many sides of her personality; the cool girl, the sassy brainiac, the effortless chic girl..... I loved the clothes, her gung ho attitude, and of course those gorgeous strong brows!

Luscious Liz.

2011-03-25T14:38:00.000-07:00

How can you have a makeup/beauty blog and not address the passing of one of the greatest beauties of all time? You can't, you just can't. This week we lost the iconic, and marvelously spirited (and I do mean that as a double entendre), and devastatingly beautiful Elizabeth Taylor.

She was an incredible actress--Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is vicious, venomous and a must watch, Cleopatra is pure Hollywood extravagance, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, well between Paul Newman and a young, luscious Elizabeth Taylor, it's pure eyeball porn--and a raucously fabulous individual who was one half of the biggest and most glamorous couple that Hollywood has ever seen. Her and Richard Burton's white hot love affair and public life eclipsed that of Brangelina by 1000 times. They were the original scandalous Hollywood couple. (Do yourself a favor and read "Furious Love" or at the very least the excerpts from it in Vanity Fair. It's a fascinating story of her life with Richard Burton and you can barely begin to comprehend the insanely glamorous lifestyle they lived. Not that they could remember much of it I'm sure. She could drink her famously hollow legged husband under the table)

She was one of the first celebrities to take a stand on the AIDS crisis in the 80's and even went before Congress to speak her mind. Her foundation, AMFAR, is one of the biggest and oldest AIDS charities around. Til the day she died, she was a firecracker and a true individual. (She even gave specific instructions and timing for her service this week, saying she wanted to be at least 15 minutes late for her own funeral.....!)

They just don't make them like that any more, kids. They truly broke the mold with her.

Must watch movies:

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Butterfield 8

The Sandpiper

Cleopatra

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Night of the Iguana (Richard Burton & Eva Gardner)

Pretty, Pretty Prada.

2011-03-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's because I started doing makeup in the early 90's (possibly fashion's most minimalist period--especially for makeup) but I always love a soft, subtle, nearly bare face. Even though she is completely made up, the effect is so soft and sweet and simple, it makes me grin with joy. This is what we all wish we looked like when we roll out of bed in the morning!

Cute Chic at Chloe.

2011-03-18T21:17:00.000-07:00

Bold brows, beautiful skin, a smattering of (fake) freckles, and a warm matte brown to the brow bone....what an exquisitely beautiful look. Simple, clean and chic. Maybe my favorite look of the season.

Foundation Class.

2011-03-18T19:05:00.000-07:00

One of the most daunting makeup categories has to be foundation. No matter how many articles are written about finding just the right foundation, the questions and confusion never seem to stop. It doesn't help that there are so many different formulas and types to choose from. I have so many foundations in my kit, not because you can't mix and create new colors, but because women have all different skin types, and what works on one woman doesn't necessarily work on the next. Someone with oily skin wouldn't be served well by a luminizing foundation, and a woman with dry skin should clearly avoid any type of matte formula.

I'm going to break down a few formulations and let you know who they work best for, and hopefully this will help provide some insight into the crowded, confusing, often confounding world of foundation.

Take a deep breath..... and dive on in!

LIQUID:
The most common and easy to use formula. It's easily blended, mixed, and manipulated to get the coverage you want. That said, it also comes in a plethora of options that can quickly become overwhelming at the counter.

Knowing the language helps.... does it say moisturizing or allude to being emollient in any way? Then if you have oily skin or skin that's prone to breakouts, that is not the best formula for you. Oil-Control or long wearing formulas tend to be on the heavier side, and more matte, which can accentuate fine lines and wrinkles, so if you have dry, flakey skin, or are older, you'll want something a bit more on the dewy side.

Tinted Moisturizer:
Tinted moisturizer is great is you have generally excellent skin, with only a few areas of light discoloration or blemishes that need to be dealt with. The coverage is minimal but will even out a bit of redness here and there. Concealer is needed to fine tune coverage. It's light, easy to apply and often has SPF, which is an added bonus.

(Honestly, I have yet to find a tinted moisturizer that I like. For me it's an issue of color, and anything darker than light-medium seems to go a bit orange-y. But if someones skin is good enough for a tinted moisturizer, I'd rather skip foundation all together and just correct what I need to with a touch of concealer.)

Luminizing:
Hollywood is crazy for a luminizing foundation, just check the pages of InStyle where makeup artists sing the praises of Armani's "Luminous Silk Foundation" month after month. That's because the subtle illumination provided by that formula adds a glow to the skin that adds youth, vitality and makes them look like they're literally glowing from within. These formulas are especially excellent on the red carpet, where the lighting is out of your hands and you want the actress to look subtly radiant, not greasy or shiny.

That said, it doesn't work on everyone. If you have large pores or oily skin (and the two generally go hand in hand) this type of foundation can just exacerbate the issues, settling into the pores and making your t-zone visible from space. If you want that glow, you're best adding it afterwards with a slightly luminous powder, that way you can control where the shine is. Your oils will mix in with your foundation and give you a lovely glow regardless. Your natural oil + lots of shimmer all over = greasy mess.

(Bonus of having oily skin: you have fewer wrinkles as you age)

I recommend:
* Armani Luminous Silk
* Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint (add to foundation for more coverage)

Dewy:
Dewy formulations are exactly what they sound like, they leave a moist finish that leaves the skin looking fresh and, well, dewy. These are wonderful formulas for those with normal to dry skin as they are also moisturizing. (They tend to have a lot of oil in them, usually the second or third ingredient, so if you have oily skin, this is not the foundation for you.) They don't tend to offer too much in the way of coverage, but they are great for adding a little color to your face believably.....for example, if you are good and wear your sunscreen daily, as I truly hope you do, your face may be lighter than your body. This sheer formula let's you add warmth to your skin without looking heavy or makeup-y, so you can go a shade or two darker than your face and it won't look fake.

I recommend:
* Vincent Longo Liquid Canvas Dew Finish
* MAC Face and Body
* Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation

Full Coverage:
Just like it sounds, this formula is on the heavier side. Great if you have discoloration (ie: sunspots--please wear your sunblock!!--or melasma) or redness (rosacea) this will handily cover these imperfections. You can always thin these out with moisturizer or by blending with a damp sponge (a wedge or my fave, the Beauty Blender, work beautifully to thin out and blend foundations). These generally come in oil free formulations too. Make sure with these heavier foundations that you really blend the edges and the jawline, and are careful to avoid getting it in the hairline otherwise it will look mask like.

Tip:
You really only need to apply foundation to the center of the face; bridge of nose, nose where nostrils meet cheeks (there are often broken capillaries there), chin, forehead and a touch on the cheeks. Just blend the color outward towards your hairline and jaw with a synthetic brush, Beauty Blender or wedge (fingers if you must, but I don't think you get the best results). This way you will have coverage where you need it, and less where you don't.

I recommend:
* Estee Lauder Individualist
* Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation
* Cle de Peau Cream Foundation

Matte:
Matte skin has gotten a bad wrap since the early 90's, in part because the formulas were pretty heavy. But formulas have really changed since then, and you can get a matte finish without the heavy, lifeless look of the past.

Matte formulas are generally oil free, or have very little oil, so the finish doesn't have that light reflective quality that the luminizing and dewy quality of other formulas. But it will also remain matte throughout the day with very little powder and few touch ups. It you love the idea of a matte finish, but still want a little glow, use a blush or a luminizer with a soft sheen to it to add that extra bit of life to your skin.

Again, if you have dry or older skin, a matte foundation is only going to accentuate fine lines and wrinkles, so this is not the right base for you. However, oily skin really can benefit from a matte foundation, since many are oil free they are great for those with oily skin, just be sure to be light handed with your application. Your natural oils will bring life and sheen to your skin within :30 minutes of setting your base with powder, so go easy on the base and powder so you don't look lifeless.

I recommend:
* Makeup Forever HD (only available at Sephora)
* Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation
* Estee Lauder Double Matte

HD Foundation:
As far as I can tell, HD formulas for foundation just means matte, which is what you need for High Definition television. Any hot spots on the face read as glaringly bright shiny areas on the screen, so having it be matte keeps that effect to a minimum. The HD formulas that I've played with still have lovely sheer coverage, so that's where the new technology really comes into play. But they are matte and can be drying so be sure to take all of the points I made about matte foundation into consideration when buying an HD foundation.

POWDER:
Powder is a little tougher to manipulate than liquid, but it makes up for that in convenience. No worries about it being confiscated at the airport, or having it spill in your makeup bag, plus it great for doing touch ups though out the day. That said, if you have a lot of blemishes or problem areas to cover, this formula can be a little difficult to work with.

Pressed:
With a liquid foundation, you can use creamy with creamy, so using a concealer is easy and blends seamlessly. With a powder foundation you need to conceal first, and set those areas with powder, and then apply the powder foundation on top of that, so it can be a little tricky. I think it's a great formula for those who have great skin but just want a nice, smooth, natural finish.

I recommend:
* MAC Studio Fix
* Aveda Inner Light Mineral Dual Foundation

Loose (Mineral):
I don't have a lot of experience with mineral foundations, but some women swear by them. I find them to have a bit of an ashy sheen which I'm not crazy about, and I think they can accentuate larger pores, but like I said, the converts are true believes.

CREAM:
Cream foundations are similar to a full coverage liquid foundation in the sense that you can build and blend to the degree that works for you. It's easy to layer where needed and to blend down to near skin texture. These formulas also tend to have a lot of oil in them so if you have blemish prone or oily skin, this may not be the right foundation for you (the oil in the cream can make your blemishes worse and clog your pores). Like a powder foundation, the convenience is terrific, but you should use the formula that works best for your skin, not what's easiest to carry in your purse!

I recommend:
*Jouer Age-Repairing Perfector

I hope this was helpful! If you have any questions, I am more than happy to answer them....fire away!

Gorgeous Gucci.

2011-02-24T23:04:00.000-08:00

Simple, clean, elegant beauty stole the show at Gucci. A little depth on the eye, magnificently even and luminous skin, and a sharp red lip create one of the most stunning looks on the runway this season. Easy to recreate and completely timeless..... I love this look.

Green Thumb.

2011-02-22T12:30:00.000-08:00

It's no secret that I love makeup products. I am completely obsessed with them, and that's not a word I just throw around lightly. Skin care is a little different. It's more like a relationship. You have to get to know each other, spend a little time with one another, especially when you're at your worst (dull skin, break outs, puffy eyes), to see how you'll come out the other side together. I am a big believe in better living through chemistry when it comes to skin care. Retinols, Salicylic acid, you name it. I live and die by SkinCeuticals and the Red Carpet Facial Kit from Kinara. But it was time for a change.....

I have been trying to steer clear of excessive chemicals in skin care lately, and that posed a terrific problem. How do I find a "natural" product that still has the efficacy of something a little more "scientific"? Most of the products you find at Whole Foods don't address the fix it issues we're all looking to embrace....clear up dull skin, address fine lines....tighten, brighten, make me look my best, if not a smidgen more youthful.... But through trial and error I have found a cadre of products that I think are "green" miracle workers. I am thrilled with their results as well as their ingredients.

So on that note I am going to share my findings with you, dear reader. Now, these work specifically for me. But I don't have problem skin. I have the occasional little break out (still!) but the main solutions I am looking for are clear, clean skin, an occasional brightening, keeping fine lines at bay, and the perfect amount of moisture for my skin. Pretty simple. Here are my new favorite "little helpers" who have now taken up permanent real estate in my medicine cabinet.....

I found this at Space NK and am thrilled with this line. I've been using two products from them, the Rebuilding Moisturizer and the Resurfacing Mask. The moisturizer is great because it isn't too thick or greasy, but leaves my skin feeling light and fresh. The scent is distinctively "health food store" but it doesn't bother me. (There are some natural products that smell so natural that they actually make me gag--I'm not a fan of overwhelming fragrances in skin care).

The Resurfacing Mask has replaced my other at home peel kit. It takes a little time, they suggest having it sit for 20 minutes, but when you wash your face, you have lovely clear, bright skin, without the burning and redness you get from a peel. Same results, but you can actually walk out of the house afterwards without looking like a burn victim. I am 100% sold on this product.

www.tataharper.com
www.spacenk.com/home.do

The Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask from Ren is a fantastic product. Primarily composed of lactic acid and fruit acids, it does all of the heavy lifting that chemical based peels do, without all of the chemicals. The mask doesn't get tight the way the one from Tata Harper does, so it feels a little different. This one has a little more of a tingle, but nothing like a regular peel. And you only need to leave this one on for 10 minutes. I like to switch back and forth between peels week to week. Why not mix it up?

www.renskincare.com

Oh Kahina, I love you and your beautiful oils so much. I love your (refillable) packaging, I love your message (you can search this blog for an earlier post on this line), and I adore your products. I am dedicated to the Serum, which has all of the healing properties of Argan oil, but with the added benefits of sea buckthorn oil and carrot seed oil. Face oil is scary for people, and I totally get that. It seems illogical and that it would make you break out. But I have oily skin and I use it and it never, ever makes me break out. I use it at night before bed....I put it in my palms, press my hands together and then press it into my face, neck and chest. My skin looks radiant and plump and even. I love, love, love this product. Can't say enough good things about it.

www.kahina-givingbeauty.com

The Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser is as close to a perfect product as you can get. It gently removes makeup and daily residue without stripping your skin, and it comes with these fantastic muslin clothes that have just enough "tooth" to the fabric to do light exfoliation. It has a very faint Noxema scent to it, which I love. But it's very light, not at all overwhelming. I haven't used any other Liz Earle products, but they are on my "try" list for sure.

www.lizearle.com

I have been using the Dr. Haushka Eye Contour Day Balm for a decade. It's incredibly emollient, and it makes sense to me that you want something incredibly rich and nourishing around your eyes. They say it's a "day balm" but it's too greasy to wear under makeup so I use it at night. I just recently started using the Clarifying Toner. I love a toner. It really is the final step in the cleansing process. This one isn't drying and leaves my skin feeling clean and, well....toned. What more can you ask for?

www.drhauschka.com

Rodarte F/W 2011.

2011-02-21T13:20:00.000-08:00

It's really hard to use a lot of color on the eyes without looking like a peacock, and I think James Kaliardos did a bang up job for the look at Rodarte. It's soft and pretty, but still a bit edgy and weird because if the color choices. But that's what I love about it.....it's a little off, and that's what makes it interesting.

Get the Look: Gabrielle Union

2011-02-17T13:25:00.000-08:00

I love working with Gabrielle, she's super cool, super funny, and wonderful to make up.

I wanted to play off the nude of the dress and stick with neutrals for the look. Bronzes and browns gave the eyes a flirty soft sexiness and the nude mouth made it feel sophisticated and effortless.

All products are by Neutrogena:

Foundation:

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Glow Sheers in "Bronze Glow"

Bronzer:

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Custom Glow Bronzer

Blush:

Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Blush in "Natural Apricot"

Eyeliner:

Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliner in "Cosmic Black"

Eyeshadow:

Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeshadow in "Iced Coffee"

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Custom Glow Bronzer

Mascara:

Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara in "Carbon Black"

Lipstick:

Neutrogena Moisture Shine Lipstick in "Caramel Kiss"

Lipgloss:

Neutrogena Moisture Shine Lip Soother in "Glimmer"

Get the Look: Rumer Willis for Badgley Mishka

2011-02-15T23:01:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful day in Paradise Cove, Malibu at the end of last year when we shot the campaign. One of those incredibly warm Southern California winter days that makes you shake your head in disbelief, especially in a year like this when most of the country has been dealing with snow storm after snow storm. It was a perfect day for a shoot at the beach, with warm salty air and pretty dresses.

Rumer has beautiful, creamy pale skin that is absolutely flawless. Truly stunning skin. I tend not to use much foundation on her, just enough to add a little dewiness. Using the Beauty Blender to apply foundation assures you don't apply too much and it gives a beautiful finish, I can't work without it. I add a touch of shading to make her cheekbones pop and a little powder highlighter on the ridges of the cheekbones to add life and light to the skin, making it radiant and luminescent.

For the eyes, I like to play with depth and dimension. A neutral taupe shadow along the lash lines and in the socket doesn't look like makeup, it just makes the eyes look dynamic and clear. Black liner pushed generously into the top lashes make the lashes look thicker and longer, as does a healthy dose of mascara on top and bottom. It opens the eyes up like nothing else.

A warm pinky nude lip makes the look feel finished without looking lipsticky, a perfect compliment to a fresh, radiant face.

Foundation:

Armani Luminous Silk #2

Powder:

Laura Mercier Translucent Powder

Highlighter:

Shiseido Luminizing Satin Face Color in "High Beam White"

Contour:

Kevyn Aucoin "The Sculpting Powder"

Eyeshadow:

Chanel "Slate"

Eyeliner:

MAC Fluidline in "Blacktrack"

Mascara:

Dior Show

Lipstick:

NARS "Little Darling"

Here Comes the Beauty Pack by Chanel

2011-01-26T12:10:00.000-08:00

Peter Phillips created the most adorable stop animation short ever. I love looking at it and seeing all of my favorite products in there and seeing all of the clever ways he incorporated them!

Watch it again and again! It's just so fun...Oh Chanel, you always know how to make me smile!

Here's the link:

http://www.nowness.com/day/2011/1/25/animating-chanel#share

Hailee Steinfeld: Golden Globes

2011-01-22T18:02:00.000-08:00

Last week I had the terrific pleasure of doing Hailee Steinfeld, the 14 year old breakout star of True Grit, for the Golden Globe Awards. She is such a fresh faced young beauty, and the challenge was how do you make a 14 year old look red carpet ready, while still having her look age appropriate. She was wearing a beautiful, long ivory Prabal Gurung dress with a sporty racer back that is chic and youthful. Not wanting to go too bridal I focused on gorgeous skin and gave the eyes the tiniest bit of drama.

After prepping the skin, I used a touch of the Chanel Vitalumiere foundation in "Clair" where she needed it, adding a little highlighter on the bridge of her nose and the tops of her cheekbones (I used an eyeshadow base called "Base Ombre a Paupiers" that has a pretty, luminous sheen, and when mixed with moisturizer it makes a lovely highlighter) then set the base with a dusting of loose powder, and added a little extra luminosity with the Poudre Douche in "Peche Tendre". It gives a pretty, subtle glow to the face. Finally, I used a light peach blush on her cheeks, a new color called "Espiegle", which gave her a soft fresh glow.

I kept the lips neutral, using a barely there nude so the focus would be on the eyes and the skin, which I wanted to keep young and fresh, all dew drops and roses.

For the eyes, I laid down a wash of pink with a silvery taupe on the lid, so the lid looked polished, and then used a deeper taupe along the upper and lower lash line for a little definition. A thin line of black liquid liner that ended in a tiny kitten flick, and a coat of jet black mascara gave her eyes a finished look that was a little glamorous, but still right for a young beautiful starlet.

Foundation:

Chanel Vitalumiere in "Clair"

Highlighter:

Chanel Base Ombre a Paupiers (mixed with moisturizer)

Highlighting Powder:

Chanel Poudre Douche in "Peche Tendre"

Powder:

Chanel Poudre Universelle Libretto Loose Powder

Blush:

Chanel Joues Contrast in "Espiegle"

Eyeshadow:

Chanel "Slate"

Chanel "Murano"quad (the pink color)

Chanel "Silliage"

Eyeliner:

Chanel Ecriture de Chanel Automatic Eyeliner in "Noir"

Mascara:

Inimitable Intense in "Noir"

Lipliner:

Chanel Le Crayon Levres in "Beige"

Lipstick:

Chanel Rouge Allure in "Mythic"

Paris: Le Maquillage Professional.

2010-12-27T11:11:00.000-08:00

It had been well over 10 years since the last time I was able to make it to MaqPro in Paris, and it's a place I had been dying to get back to. Since I was there last, the location has changed (now it's only a little easier to find than before) but the products are pretty much as I remember them, which is to say awesome. I enthusiastically hopped on the train and found my way to the La Motte-Picquet Grenelle stop.

I love the the hunt for makeup....even when it's 30 degrees out. One of the things I love so much about searching out makeup shops that are off the beaten path is getting to see neighborhoods you otherwise would never, ever get to. It can really take you to the outer reaches of an out of the way neighborhood. (I used to love going to the Makeup Forever shop in Paris before you could buy their makeup anywhere else. Places like this feel so secret and special.)

This is a WALL of cream colors. Every cubby is a slight variation of the color in the cubby next to it. I mean, it's breathtaking! Literally made my heart beat faster. I had been using a color from them that was almost gone, I was using it so sparingly, and I was finally able to restock it. I fully stocked up on that color and then some....Although in all honesty, I thought I showed tremendous restraint. I could have gone completely bonkers in there.

The amazing thing is that they still had the many of the same colors from 10 years ago! Most makeup lines will have completely overhauled their line within that time frame and all of your favorite colors will be long gone. I was so thrilled that they still had the colors that had become an integral part of my kit.

It's not like walking into a retail makeup shop, it definitely has the feeling of a pro store, and the main attraction is the array of cream colors. There are shadows and liners and a few lipsticks and glosses, as well as special effect makeup, but the creams are really so fantastic. The range of colors is just mind boggling.

A woman named Maude helped me while I was there and her English was perfect and she was very helpful and super patient with me while I looked through everything they had. Apparently they are in the middle of redoing their website too, so ordering on line will hopefully be easy. Not sure when I'll make it back into their shop but I hope it isn't another 10 years!

Lovely, lovely palettes.

I love that the shelf is literally sagging under the weight of a rainbow of colors.

A beautiful bag of pretty powders.

Share the Fantasy 80's.

2010-12-05T12:40:00.000-08:00

One last one.... couldn't resist.

Chanel Egoiste.

2010-12-05T12:37:00.000-08:00

Ah, now I'm on a YouTube roll, digging through all of the old Chanel fragrance ads. Here's another of my favorites..... I wish these still ran on tv, they're brilliant. But thank god for YouTube!!

Share the Fantasy.

2010-12-05T12:28:00.002-08:00

After posting those Chanel images I started thinking about the amazing Chanel commercials that aired all during my childhood. They made an indelible impression on me as a child and even though the quality of the video looks blurry and dated, the imagery is as fresh and exciting today as it was back then.

Directed by: Ridley Scott

In the Mood for Chanel.

2010-12-05T12:27:00.000-08:00

A while back I did a shoot with the wonderful photographer Liz Von Hoene and she created these beautiful graphic images. I love how playful they are, but still so chic, like the House of Chanel itself.

Rainbow Bright.

2010-12-01T10:41:00.000-08:00

I love, love, love finding new makeup brands. Especially ones that have an exciting product that feels new and interesting.

One of the fun things about LA is that there are theatrical makeup shops here around town and they have weird, under the radar makeup lines that you can't find anywhere else ( stores like Naimie's, Frends, Cinema Secrets, Image Exclusives to name a few. New York City has Alcone and I guess the Ricky's chain would kind of fall into this category too). My dentist is across the street from the Cinema Secrets store in the Valley, and since I rarely have business over there, other than doing the Leno Show, I try to pop into Cinema Secrets whenever I get my teeth cleaned!

When I walked in I saw a display of the Lip Tar from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (a brand I'd never heard of) and started playing with the rainbow of colors. They are kind of like the Lip Mix colors from MAC, but they have a glossy finish that can be worked down into a matte stain. And they are super, super pigmented. So if MAC's Lip Mix had a baby with Makeup Forever's HD Liquid Blush, that's what this product is like! They have theatrical colors like black, white, green, yellow, purple and all lots of pretty wearable colors in between including really pretty pale beiges and pale dusty pinks that I've been using as blush (so soft and subtle). I also bought one of the reds called "Stalker" just because it was so amazing and intense. I will probably never use this color, but it's one of those things that you just look at and you have a deep seated need to have it in your kit. Not that I can't achieve the same effect with any of the myriad red lipsticks I already have, but this is the definition of a beauty junkie, right? Buying what you don't need because, well, you just LOVE it and have to have it!

Delicious Dior.

2010-11-22T09:41:00.000-08:00

Galliano is known for his elaborate and fantastical runway shows. Roxanne Lowit, who has been covering the backstage mayhem of fashion shows for the past 30 years, is known as the go to woman to capture the fleeting moments before and during the shows. Now Roxanne has come out with a book that is a MUST for any fashion or makeup fanatic. The big glossy book is an awesome beauty tome and wonderful documentation of the most incredible makeup of the past decade. (never has there been a better partnership than John Galliano and Pat McGrath)

Roxanne was always backstage when I used to work on the shows..... (Somewhere in her archive is a picture of me and Kate Moss when we both had baby pink hair -- she had hers dyed for the Versace show that season -- ah how I'd love to get my hands on that negative!) Roxanne has more energy and enthusiasm for her job than almost anyone else I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Check out her other books (this is her 3rd)....they are an intimate documentation of New York nightlife from the 70's on.

I got myself this book as an early Christmas gift.... but this book is perfect for your Christmas list!

More Things I Like: Patrick Dougherty

2010-11-13T18:05:00.000-08:00

Two Christmases ago my husband and I drove from San Francisco down through Big Sur. We stopped at the Big Sur Bakery (http://www.bigsurbakery.com/blog/) for a little lunch--delicious!--and next door to the restaurant was a crazy hippie garden that had these incredible giant "nests" that you could climb into....there's a ladder that you crawl up and there were pretty pillows strewn about in them. They were just wonderful and we fell in love with them. I am not 100% sure they were done by Patrick Dougherty, but if not then someone should pay him residuals because they looked just like his work. (All of these images are Mr. Doughertys)

If you live in Los Angeles you might remember seeing an installation of twigs on the outside of the Max Azria store on Melrose. That was done by Mr. Dougherty. I just think his work is outstanding and I love the environments that he creates. Kinda wish we had one in our garden... how amazing would that be?

Addiction.

2010-11-13T17:40:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not I still have one or two Tokyo posts left in me. I know, you thought I had completely exhausted the subject of makeup shopping in Tokyo, but I still have a few more tidbits up my sleeve. And I've saved the best for last..... This line is barely a year old and it was developed by a makeup artist named Ayako. She is an amazing makeup artist (she worked with Francois Nars for years) and has created an incredible line. The shadows, especially the metallic shimmer ones, have almost a sticky texture, it's just delicious. Unlike other shadows, it doesn't have a lot of fall off, even the really dark colors. I am so in love with this makeup line it's not even funny. Just talking about it sends me into a slight panic because I want more, more, more of it and it's only sold in Asia.

I love the lipsticks. And the packaging is just divine. I only bought a few colors, but each one is totally perfect.

Here's another shot of the four shadows I bought and two waterproof liners--one in cream, the other in black.

A light coverage foundation...if I remember correctly it's the only formula of foundation that she makes. And of course, it's amazing. Fingers crossed I go back soon so I can buy more from this line. It can't happen soon enough.....

Holiday Cheer.

2010-11-13T07:19:00.000-08:00

When I was young, I loved those really bad quality eyeshadow sets form the drugstore....the ones that had 50 colors and came in a really cheap plastic box...the product was so bad that no matter how dark or sparkly the color, it just looked like nothing on your hand, or eye for that matter. But I loved the way it looked.....like a world of possibilities. Now all of the lucky budding makeup artists out there can ask Santa for a Stila Color Wheel for Christmas and get really pretty eyeshadows that actually work and have amazing pay-off. Plus it's super cheap, like under $40. I want one just because it's so pretty to look at. Maybe I can glue two together and make it into an ornament for my tree or something... Now where did I put that hot glue gun?

I Love Nick Cave.

2010-11-10T17:02:00.000-08:00

Nick Cave is an artist who makes "Sound Suits" out of everything from twigs to faux fur the leather strips. I am really upset because he had a show here in LA last year and I didn't know who he was so I missed it. And now I'm gutted because I would love to see these suits in person, and even better...during a performance. Aren't they just stunning? His sense of color and texture makes me crazy happy.....You can see video of him "playing" the suits on YouTube. I recommend it!!

Halle Berry at the Carousel of Hope Ball

2010-11-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

The perpetually stunning Halle Berry.... She gets more and more gorgeous every year. I am always honored when I get to make up that face. This look was for the Carousel of Hope Ball, a benefit for children's diabetes. A few people in my family suffer from diabetes, it's a cause that's close to my heart.

Here are the products I used on Halle that night (all products by Revlon):

Foundation:
Photo Ready Foundation in "Caramel"

Powder:
Colorstay Finishing Mineral Powder in "Suntan Matte"

Luminizer:
Age Defying Spa Face Illuminator in"Bronze Light" (this is one of my FAVORITE drug store steals!)

Blush:
Colorstay Mineral Blush in "Golden Bronze"

Eyeshadow:
Luxurious Color Perle Shadow in "Black Galaxy"
Cream Eyeshadow in "Copper Canyon"

Liner:
Luxurious Color Kohl Eyeliner in "Black Truffle"

Mascara:
Fabulash in "Blackest Black"

Lips:
Colorburst in "Blush"

Milla Jovovitch at the Hollywood Awards

2010-11-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

I did the lovely Milla Jovovitch the other night for the Hollywood Awards where she was honored for her work in the new movie "Stone". She is so incredibly beautiful....the pale blue eyes, the perfect proportions....I just love getting to make up that gorgeous face.

Most of the time us makeup artists beg people to steer away from getting too matchy-matchy with their makeup, but we decided to play with the tones of her orange Temperly dress instead of shy away from them, working with copper and apricot tones on eyes, lips and cheeks. (The bronzy/apricot shadow made her eyes the most intense shade of blue and gave them depth and definition without looking too overdone.)

Here's a breakdown of the products I used for Milla (all products are by L'Oreal):

Foundation:
True Match in "Natural Beige"

Concealer:
Infallible Neverfail Concealer in "Medium Light"

Powder:
True Match All Over Mineral Glow in "Nude Glow"

Blush:
True Match in "Apricot Kiss"

Eyeshadow:
HIP Metallic Duo Shadow in "Charged"

Eyeliner:
HIP Studio Secrets Color Truth cream liner in "Black"

Mascara:
Voluminous in "Black"

Lips:
Infallible Lipcolor in "Apricot"

Coyuchi

2010-10-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

Well it's almost 80 degrees here in LA today, and it's the end of October. I guess our unseasonably chilly summer has blossomed into a lovely Indian Summer, but I am craving fall. Like, full on fantasizing about rainy, chilly days that call for curling up on the couch and watching old Bette Davis movies. (Fall is my most missed season since moving out west. It's almost impossible to have one of those yummy lazy days when it's perpetually beautiful outside.) And so I am obsessing over blankets. Heavy wool blankets. Deliciously soft cashmere blankets. You name it. These blankets from Coyuchi look so perfectly autumnal....I want to take them up to a cabin in Big Bear or Lake Tahoe and wrap myself in one after a long chilly walk outside. I love how simple they are....I am especially crazy for the whipstitching. Maybe if I collect enough blankets it'll work as a talisman and start pouring outside. Or since this is LA maybe I can just hire a movie set guy with a rain making machine.

Karlie Kloss by Tim Walker

2010-10-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

I loved this story by Tim Walker in last months W. His stories are always so whimsical and pretty.... Just wanted to post this picture of Karlie because it makes me happy.

A Ray of Sunshine

2010-10-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

Some prettiness to brighten up your day.

Rick Owens.

2010-10-12T10:32:00.000-07:00

A cool interpretation of a "tough girl. Slightly futuristic without being in your face about it. The bleached brows make this look possible (without bleaching them you would never get that clean amazing shape). I believe it was Lucia Pieroni that did this look.... I think Lucia is one of the most prolific and genius makeup artist working today. (check out her incredible body of work on www.streeters.com)

And Now For Something Completely Different.

2010-10-11T14:01:00.000-07:00

Junya Watanabe always functions outside the box. You can always count on the hair and makeup to be something utterly unexpected....Clicking on the images of style.com for the Junya Watanabe show (and Comme Des Garcons for that matter) always hold the same thrill as opening a really beautifully wrapped gift, you just know it's going to be good. I loved all of the different, highly unnatural shocks of hair color and the completely obscured faces. Models have a uniformity on the runway as it is, but adding this extra layer of anonymity was really exciting, especially when you look at the grid of the entire collection.....

YSL.

2010-10-11T13:50:00.000-07:00

The beautiful skin, bleached brows and simple eye at YSL make my heart beat faster. The elegantly slicked hair and blank face with a punch of color on the lip are the perfect canvas for the elegantly tailored clothes of YSL. It just shows you that hair and makeup don't have to be over the top to make a strong statement.

Givenchy

2010-10-11T10:11:00.000-07:00

The deep red lips, bleached brow and frizzy hair trend continues with the Givenchy show. The neutral definition on the eye is so subtle and pretty, and the skin and sculpted cheekbones look stunningly chic and effortless. This is makeup that can easily be adapted from runway to real life.

It's Showtime!

2010-10-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

I love the shows..... I used to enjoy working on them, but I really, really love getting to look at them on style.com the day after they happen from the comfort of my own home. It's so exciting when you see a look that takes your breath away, and when I saw the hair and makeup (and of course the clothes) for the spring Marc Jabobs show I gasped with girly delight. I loved the bleached brows (totally ubiquitous this season) the full on eye and a deep red lip, and the U-pin crimped hair, all reminiscent of the Biba look from the '70's. I cannot wait to see this look show up in the spring issues of magazines. It's pure makeup decadence.

Flesh For Fantasy.

2010-09-27T13:42:00.000-07:00

I recently went to the LACMA in Los Angeles and saw, among other exhibits, a show called "Manly Persuits: The Sporting Images of Thomas Eatkins. This painting was on the back wall, in a darkened room, and the muted tones seemed to glow with life. You can't really see the red of their faces and the almost greenish glow of their pale skin in this image, but in person the colors were magical. All peaches and creams and varying shades of flesh and nudes. Really, really beautiful. I wasn't familiar with Thomas Eakins before stumbling upon the exhibit, but am now a fan. His paintings have wonderful, lovely tones and an amazing way with light. This one was by far my favorite.

Marilyn Monroe's Makeup.

2010-09-21T12:31:00.000-07:00

I would die to get my hands on these makeup items from Marilyn Monroe's estate.

Stunning, stunning packaging.

Everything looks so lovingly used.

What is this beautiful lavender blush/powder?

Beautiful photos courtesy of Thomas Card Photography.

Amanda Lepore for TUSH Magazine.

2010-08-20T09:02:00.000-07:00

I love Amanda Lepore. I think she's amazing as a model and a muse. I saw this story in TUSH magazine and had to put it up. It's pretty genius.....

Photography: Marcus Ohlsson

Makeup: Fredrick Stambro

Hair: Rolando Beauchamp

Post from teenvogue.com

2010-08-12T11:29:00.000-07:00

Teen Vouge got in touch with me a few weeks ago and asked if I would do an interview with them about makeup brushes. I have what you might call a MAJOR obsession with brushes. I have literally hundreds. And if you're wondering why I have so many, it's because there are days when I have multiple girls on a shoot, or have to do a few different clients in a day and what good is it if I used my fave brushes on one person and then they're dirty and I can't use them on the next lovely lady? So there's the answer, many, many multiples of my favorites. But don't worry, you don't need that many brushes, in fact just of few of the right ones will suffice. Read below for my brush breakdown..... And thanks again to Teen Vogue!

Q: What are the most important makeup brushes to own and what brushes can you do without?

A: The right tools for the job are absolutely key. And having the right tools truly helps you get the best results. The most important brushes are for concealer, eye shadow and blush since these need the most blending, and a powder brush so you don't over apply (a problem with pressed powder). I love using a big synthetic brush for foundation, but it's not as important as having a concealer brush that makes short work of spots and under circles. And even though I always use a lip brush for work, you can absolutely skip it.

Q: What kind of makeup products should you use brushes with?

A: Nothing helps make a blemish disappear like the right brush, it can work miracles! And getting a perfectly flushed cheek is way easier when you have the right shaped brush. One that's too big will put too much product on and over too much of your face and one that's too flat can just leave big patches of unblended color. And using the right brushes for eye shadow will be the difference between looking like fabulous and looking like you have two black eyes!

Q: What should you look for when shopping for makeup brushes?

A: First of all, when you buy eyeshadow and you get those little sponge tipped applicators, just throw them away. You don't need a million brushes, just a few of the right ones....And you will never get the looks from magazines or red carpets if you use those. You can get pretty good brushes at the drug store, Eco Tools are good ones, and CVS will take anything back with a receipt, so that makes it easy to try them out. It all comes down to how to blend a product... Anything you use powder with you want to use a brush with real hair; blush, shadow, powder, bronzer. And anything that is liquid or cream you should use a synthetic brush with; lipstick, foundation, concealer, eye liner. For a concealer brush, you want it to be flat so you can feather the concealer out and seamlessly blend it into the foundation. For eyeshadow, I like a brush that is soft and domed for blending, and a flatter oval one for laying down color. For powder or bronzer, one that is soft and fluffy and domed does the trick. And for blush, I love one that is domed and on the smaller side; ones that are too big make it hard to control the color. Brushes that are really hard or rough just feel terrible on your face. It's your FACE! Only use things that feel nice on your skin.

Q: Why is owning the proper makeup brushes important?

A: You can't get the control you need with your fingers and sponges. If you were a carpenter, you wouldn't use a ruler to hammer in some nails! It ends up wasting product when you don't use the right tools, because you can't apply if efficiently. Plus if you take care of your brushes you can have them for a lifetime, so they are very much worth the investment!

Q: What can you do with brushes that you can't do with other makeup application techniques such as sponges, using your fingers, etc?

A: Brushes let you be so much more precise than using your fingers or sponges. You can't blend eye shadow with your fingers and applying powder blush with your fingers or a sponge is a recipe for disaster. With brushes you can draw on a perfect 60's winged liner, or beautiful wash of color, or add depth and contour to your eyes. You can give yourself a believable sun kissed glow with bronzer or a fresh and pretty flushed cheek. All of which is almost impossible without brushes!

Q: What tips do you have for using makeup brushes? Are there any special looks you can create by using them?

A: There are so many different sizes and shapes of eye shadow brushes, it can get a bit confusing! But they all do different things so it really depends on how you like to wear your makeup. Thin, pointy brushes are perfect for lining the eyes. Small, stiff angled brushes are great for filling in brows or pushing liner into the base of your lashes.

Q: How often should you clean your brushes? What's the best way to clean them?

A: Realistically, try to clean your brushes every month. You don't want to have a bunch of bacteria growing in your brushes, especially the ones you use to cover blemishes with! You don't have to buy anything special to clean them with, your favorite shampoo will work just fine! For your brushes that are harder to clean, like lip brushes, eyeliner brushes (especially if you use a gel liner) and concealer brushes--basically synthetic brushes--you can use dish washing soap. It really breaks down the oils and gets them super clean. To dry them squeeze out the excess water with a paper towel, or a dishtowel, and lay them flat to dry. Letting them dry overnight means they're ready to use again in the morning. Don't blow dry them with a hairdryer, you can totally damage the hairs that way. Sunbeams are fine, so a sunny windowsill can speed up the drying process.

Charles David F/W Campaign

2010-08-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

I worked on the new fall Charles David campaign with Yu Tsai, one of my favorite photographers and collaborators, and the images just came out. I love the cinematic feeling of these images....

Divine.

2010-08-05T18:21:00.000-07:00

I was poking around online, doing some reference hunting, and I found this amazing old Clairol ad from the late 50's/early 60's. It's actually 3 ads but I photoshopped them together because I thought it was so beautiful---if you look hard enough you can see the seams. If I could dye my hair that dusty pink color or the stunning ash grey in there I would do it in a heart beat. Too bad I know from experience what a hassle it is to maintain those colors. But isn't that pink just gorgeous??

Icon Redux.

2010-08-03T16:33:00.001-07:00

A few months back I did a shoot with Amanda De Cadenet for In Style with the cast of Pretty Little Liars. It was a fun concept, we set out to modernize four icons; Bridgette Bardot, Audrey Hepburn, Brooke Shields, and Sophia Loren. The looks are instantly recognizable, but are tweaked so that they are more wearable in every day life. Even though they feel slightly period, you wouldn't feel like you were playing "dress up" if you walked out of the house wearing these looks.

For Ashley Benson, who was portraying Bardot, I kept the look really peachy and fresh so it wouldn't get too over the top sex kitteny. Lining the top lid, and having a beautiful feathery soft strip of lashes kept it sultry without getting vampy. Bardot was all about sexy but with a healthy dose of vulnerability, so keeping a flirty sweet feeling was key. I lightened her brows just a touch to soften the face....it really brings the focus to her pretty blue eyes.

When the bangs were on (they were a little "wiglet" made by hair genius Andy LeCompte) and the hair went up, Troian Bellesario instantly turned into Audrey Hepburn. This is what I love about my job, you just tweak a few little things and people transform. It's just......magic! I made her a little paler because Audrey was always fair, and we dramatically thickened her brows, but the final part of the transformation fell into place when I added the contour and a light sweep of highlighter on her cheekbone. Her bone structure just popped. I can't take credit for that gorgeous long neck of hers though....that was all her.

It was a no brainer that Lucy Hale would be Brooke Shields. She has amazing thick dark hair and gorgeous strong brows. I matted out her mouth a little so the focus would all be on her amazing eyes and brows. I used deep bronzes and golds to make a soft, edgeless round eye, and then used heaps of mascara to open them even more.

Shay Mitchell shares the exotic bone structure of a young Sophia Loren. She was all about the eyes, but for Shay I went a little softer with the look. Using a mossy green color softened it while still recalling the feline feeling of an iconic "Sophia" eye. Of course lots of mascara and a nude mouth tie it all together.

My Saddest Tokyo Moment.

2010-08-03T11:06:00.000-07:00

There are only a few places to buy traditional Kabuki makeup in Tokyo, and one of those stores is in a north-east section of Tokyo called Asakusa. Fortunately for me, there was an annual spring festival---Sanja Matsuri---happening while we were there, so there was actually a good reason for me to drag my husband to a section of Tokyo we might not have otherwise visited. (The festival was really breathtaking and completely worth the trip. And we found the most delicious Soba restaurant. Bonus!)

The store was supposed to open at 11am, but at 11:30am it was still closed. Maybe it was closed for the festival....if there was a note on the door I certainly couldn't read it so I'll never know. It was clearly shuttered up and no amount of knocking brought anyone to open up shop....I never made it inside. I was totally gutted. My backpack was empty and ready to be stuffed to the gills with whatever goodies awaited me there, but it wasn't meant to be. Just one more reason (er, excuse) to head back to Tokyo as soon as I can.

It looked really lovely in there.......

I love this picture. These were people's shoes lined up along the bench at the Soba restaurant. (Since I have no makeup to show I defaulted to footwear.)

Taking A Lashing.

2010-07-30T15:21:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of my hotel room floor. I have to admit I went a little crazy with the lashes in Tokyo. This is a cropped picture and shot after only the first two days there--so what I'm saying is there were many more lashes than this by the time we left.... I literally bought them by the basketful. Sometimes several baskets full. I just couldn't help myself, there were so many different kinds. Running around the streets and subways of Tokyo, observing all of the girls and women, I noticed that EVERYONE was wearing strip lashes. Seriously. Almost every single woman. There was very little clumpy mascara to be found, no building up a lash with product, they just went for the full strip. Some of the lashes are so natural and light and feathery that they barely look like strips when they're on. Putting on lashes takes a bit of practice and skill but I have to say it makes a huge difference, especially the subtle ones.

And of course they have cute little cases for you to store your lashes in when you take them off at night. Because seriously, they think of everything.

Dolly Wink.

So, Tsubasa Masuwaka is the face for Dolly Wink lashes and I think she is just about the cutest thing ever. What I've gleaned is that she's a model in Tokyo and is sort of the poster girl for all things cute. I mean, she IS the packaging for the Dolly Wink lashes.... the lashes are almost secondary to her hair and makeup and super sweet expressions. I just wish that bow was a hair clip that came with the packaging instead of just part of the cardboard. I'd have quite the collection if it was.

Why didn't I buy all of these lashes???

Or these ones? Time to book a flight back!

Teresa Palmer: L'Animale Extraodinaire

2010-07-21T16:04:00.000-07:00

Teresa Palmer is the gorgeous Aussie who's the female lead in The Sorcerer's Apprentice. She's as beautiful as she is funny and a blast to be around. This was a shoot we did for In Style that's in the August issue.....all of the clothes were leopard print and she looked amazing. These are my two favorite images.

You'll be seeing a whole lot more of Teresa in the next year or so, so keep your eyes peeled. She's set to invade the states, and we're better off for it!

RMK: Makeup Makes Me Happy

2010-07-18T16:57:00.000-07:00

"Makeup makes me happy" is RMK's tag line, and it is a perfect one at that. This is Rumiko's line, a wonderfully talented makeup artist.... and the line is equally wonderful. I know you can also get RMK in London, so if you're heading there, or of course Asia, check out the line in person. You won't be disappointed, although I'm not sure if they sell all of the same products. The thing about makeup shopping in Japan is that they have different laws about ingredients. That's why certain colors are so amazing over there, they use pigments that the FDA doesn't allow. I don't care what they are, they deliver, so just don't tell me. La-la-la-la-la, I'm not listening!

I got 3 lipsticks, lipgloss, a lovely warm contour color and a compact foundation. The foundation, although seriously limited in colors--the darkest you'll find is a tan shade--is an incredible texture. I fell in love with it, and I never use cream foundation. It gives a totally believable, flawless finish and you only need a tiny amount of powder to set it. I wish there was a great range for darker skin tones because the formula is so good. But I get it, Japan is pretty homogenized so there's no reason to make darker skin tones as there's no customer for it.

The lipsticks are an incredible texture. They have shine without being sparkly, they just have this luminous glow to them that is really flattering. And the contour is amazing. I mentioned how the contours there don't deposit a lot of pigment, so you can do really subtle shading. I love this formula, totally crazy for it. The gloss is a gorgeous tawny beige and it does have a bit of shimmer in it, which I usually avoid. But it doesn't look shimmery at all when it's on, it just has this intense dimension. Shu Uemura had ones like that too, but alas, Shu is no longer available in the US. We'll miss you!

Now, this is a sample! This adorable credit card sized compact is a cream foundation sample. This could actually survive traveling around in your makeup bag. The cardboard is lined with plastic so it's sturdy, and there's enough product in there to last you about a month. Impressive.

Kawaii!!

2010-07-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

"Kawaii" menas cute in Japanese. And this super "kawaii" girl was on a poster in Tokyo. I love the boy/girl feeling of her sweet rosy cheeks and giant bow tie. Adorable!

Sweet & Girlie Jill Stuart Makeup.

2010-07-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in a previous post about Sonia Rykiel's makeup line that Jill Stuart had a line too....Well she does, and it is super adorable....really cute and girly just like her clothes. The products in this picture, from left to right, are a beige luminizer and 4 different colors of eye gels -- smokey purple, periwinkle blue, taupe and warm white. The eye gels are pretty amazing. The texture isn't like any other makeup product I've ever felt, it's almost like a cold pudding. I know.....weird. But the colors are really pretty and crazy shimmery. They look good over shadow or as a thin wash of sparkly color on their own. I can't even compare the texture to anything else on the market because there isn't anything like it that I've ever seen in the States. I've heard the line Paul & Joe is made by the same manufacturer (I think it's Kose) so maybe they'll come out with something similar one day. Cross your fingers!

Playing with the colors in the store and picking my favorites.

I showed some restraint and only bought four things. Of course, I regret that decision now that I'm thousands of miles away from those lovely products.

Beach Blanket Babylon

2010-07-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

I don't even really like the beach, but I really want one (or two or three) of these yummy cotton beach blankets. Maybe it's because I grew up in Northern California in the 70's, but there's something about a rainbow that just makes me happy. And rainbow stripes just about make me crazy. It just looks....upbeat. (There are less rainbow-y ones for those of you who would like a slightly more subdued beach look) Any way you slice it, these look super cozy and cute and like a perfect place to set up your scrabble board while you hang out on the beach.....under an umbrella and slathered in SPF.

Bad iPad!

2010-07-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

I have found a fault with the iPad, a pretty major one.... I can't seem to upload photos onto my blog from it, and since I'm in NYC for a while I won't be able to do any updating. Seriuosly, what's a makeup blog without pictures? Pretty useless I'd say. So enjoy the holiday. I'll get back to the Tokyo postings when I get back....

I Can Never, Ever Have Enough Brushes.

2010-06-28T21:47:00.000-07:00

I had bought some brushes from Hakuhodo at a trade show, but I heard they had a whole showroom in Tokyo, so I had to go. Finding things in Tokyo isn't easy. There are no street signs and the numbering system is like nothing I've ever seen before. Add to that, the fact that this showroom was on the second floor and you have a comical vision of me and my husband walking up and down the same street for 30 minutes looking for a sign, any sign, of the Hakuhodo showroom. BUT! When I found it, it was like brush Mecca. Rows and rows of the softest, yummiest brushes you've ever seen.

Holy Grail of brushes! Just look at them all! Isn't it delicious?

This was our hotel room "studio". Those sheers make for pretty light. And the traditional "Tenugui" I bought made a lovely backdrop.

Hand made goat hair brushes. These I actually bought in a traditional Geisha/Kabuki makeup store. I'll post more on that place later......

More Drug Store Goodies.

2010-06-28T10:25:00.000-07:00

I think this is my favorite drug store lipstick. Luvshuca is made by Kanebo, and you can tell by the amazing quality and texture. You know, the interesting part of this whole shopping exercise is that you really don't know what you'll really like or what will become your favorite until you get home and play with it, use it on people, see how it lasts on skin. You just buy items because you think they're pretty and you hope that you'll love it. These lipsticks are total winners. They are like a glossy lipstick--similar to one made by Cle de Peau--, and the palette is in the most flattering neutrals (they look pretty dark in this picture, but one is a pale beige and the other is a light pink) If I went back to Tokyo tomorrow, I would run to the nearest drugstore and scoop up every color.

Watosa.

2010-06-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

I was walking down Omotesando with my husband, feeling--as usual--totally overwhelmed and overstimulated by all the Tokyo had to offer, and got distracted by a cute side street. *sigh* This town is full of amazing cute side streets. Like, the whole city is made up of cute side streets. And it makes you crazy to think about all of the cute side streets you carelessly waked past and missed.... So anyway, we went down this alley and I found Watosa, a lovely little makeup shop. They didn't have a ton of stuff, but what they had was just perfect. I am just crazy for this foundation--top picture--and it came with the most insanely adorable, and frankly slightly impractical, sponge. The other product that I bought--and that is in the picture above--is a lovely contour color. I went bananas for the very subtle, sheer contour colors in Japan. They do it right, not too much color, and just the right shade for very believable sculpting. Love. Love. Love.

(The closest formula to the Watosa foundation in the states is the Liquid Canvas foundation by Vincent Longo. It has the same sheer dewy result that makes the coverage so believable.)

Attack of the Super Cute

2010-06-26T14:10:00.000-07:00

Japan has a way of taking the most mundane things and making them, well, super cute. Who knew that I needed a heart shaped powder puff? Or hot pink q-tips? Or the worlds cutest eyelash case? Well, thank you Japan, for making things that make my life just a little more adorable!

Get The Look: Nikki Reed Eclipse Premiere

2010-06-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

(We interrupt our Tokyo shopping spree broadcasting to cover the Eclipse premiere.....)

Nikki's Marchesa dress was so beautiful and feminine we went for a soft etherial look, with just a touch of girlish color on the lips. I prepped her skin with moisturizer and then a thin layer of Orlane's Eclat Absolut for a soft glow. I used a light application of foundation and a dusting of loose powder before adding a little rosy color to the cheeks, just a touch to keep it sweet. I wanted to have a light, easy eye, so I used a very light pink shadow, up just past the crease in the eye, with a little of a lavender grey over it for depth, then popped a little of the light pink into the corners of the eyes to add a little light to the face. Instead of liner I used a creamy taupe color from Ellis Faas (one of my new favorite products) near the lashes for a softer definition, then a little mascara on the top and bottom to finish it off the eyes. A matte pink lipstick gave the look an easy sweetness.

Skin Prep:
Yonka Pampelmousse moisturizer
Orlane éclat Absolu (for luminosity)

Foundation:
Armani Luminous Silk #7

Powder:
Chantecaille Loos Powder in "Ray"

Blush:
Jouer Mineral Blush in "Rose"

Eyes:
Cle de Peau Satin Eye Eolor #114
Jouer "Parfait" eyeshadow
Ellis Faas "Creamy Eyes #E107"
Lancome Virtouse Mascara in Black
Anastasia Brow Pencil in "Brunette"

Lips:
Lipstick Queen "Pink Sinner" lipstick

Sonia Rykiel Makeup. That's right, Makeup.

2010-06-24T09:09:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure why, but designers have makeup lines in Tokyo that aren't available in the States or even Europe. (Jill Stuart has one too---see tomorrow's post) I don't know if the brand recognition is better in Asia or if it's just a better market for cosmetics, but regardless many designers have makeup lines in Tokyo that you wouldn't have any idea about here. I loved the line from Sonia Rykiel. The Summer Collection eyeshadows are amazing; really rich, incredibly reflective metallics. I bought a rusty bronze and the deep purple in the still life above. (The two colors I bought are the ones on my hand in the picture below.)

The lip colors were lovely as well, but the day I found this line I was jet lagged and exhausted from walking for 12 hours straight, so I wasn't in a terrific state for checking our foundations and the like. This is why I need to go back! This trip really was an introductory journey to the wonderful (and sometimes wacky) world of Japanese cosmetics. It was too much to take in during the short period we were there....but I will for sure spend more time looking at this line the next time I go back.

Clear Winner.

2010-06-23T08:38:00.000-07:00

I am a lip balm addict. I will buy and try any lip balm out there. These caught my eye first because of the gold and silver. I wasn't sure if it had shimmer in it, if it was a liquid, or what the story was. Then when I looked closer I noticed that the formula was crystal clear!...which I have never seen before! And then because I didn't know if I would like Menthol or Non-Menthol better, I had to buy both. And 2 of each in case I really loved it, which I do~ and I marvel at the clear formula every time I use it.

Little Genius.

2010-06-22T10:08:00.000-07:00

Of course there's an eyeliner that is made to get between every single eyelash....Why have one point, when you can have three? It's a felt tipped liner made by Kate Cosmetics that is designed solely to make your lashes look thicker and fuller by filling in all of the gaps. Really, it's pretty genius and works like a charm. Hopefully someone stateside knocks this off so I don't have to travel back to Tokyo to get another one when mine runs out. (Ok, I bought 3 so it'll be a while before I'm in dire straights.)

Don't you love this shot with Tokyo in soft focus in the background?

The wonderful thing about drug store cosmetics in Tokyo is that the majority are made by really big companies like Kanebo (like this brand Kate), Shisiedo, or Kose. (Like how Loreal in owned by Lancome. ) This insures you get amazing quality for a fraction of this price. And it makes buying random things by the basket-full a little less painful!

Japan Products: FINALLY!

2010-06-20T22:48:00.000-07:00

EVIDENCE:

I went to Tokyo last month to go to a trade show and essentially to go makeup shopping, which is a dream come true for any makeup artist. The products they have in Japan are incredible not only in quality, but it ingenuity. Add that to a total and complete language barrier and half the time you have no idea what you are looking at or what you are buying, which simply adds to the excitement and thrill of it all.

I'm going to post a product a day (unless I am just too wiped out after work) for the next couple of weeks. There was so much to buy there, and I did my best to scoop up as much as I could, but I still want to go back and do more research and shopping, I simply did not get enough stuff! 5 days was not enough time, I couldn't see everything no matter how hard I tried.. It was frankly too stimulating and overwhelming to be entirely thorough. Sad but true..... but the upside is I'll quickly return to the coolest place on earth: TOKYO.

Because I was a little nervous about customs and possibly getting in trouble for bringing a ton of makeup back to the US, my husband and I set up a little "studio" in the window of our hotel room and we shot all of the products as I bought them. This way I could document the packaging but bring it home out of it's packaging, and be a touch more incognito for my re-entry. So remember, all of these pictures are taken in the hotel room, so forgive the surroundings and less than perfect photography -- although I have to say my husband did a great job with some of the still lives, which you sill see shortly.

We landed, went through customs and got to our hotel around 7pm. After finding a place to eat in the neighborhood -- which was incredible by the way -- wonderfully delicious soba noodles -- I was antsy to hit a store. We went to a drug store that I knew was open late, and I went into a fevered shopping frenzy. One thing I saw, and could only guess at it's purpose, was this amazing marshmallow like puff. It was moist and puffy in the package, squishy to the touch, and I just had to buy it to try to figure out what it was.

Turns out it is for exfoliating your face, and it does a wonderful job! It is soft to the touch, but has just enough resistance to exfoliate your skin without damaging it. Plus it is just so fun to touch, you can't help but have a good time washing your face, it is the most incredible texture! I was checking out the shops on Sawtelle (a three block stretch that has lots of Japanese stores on it) in Los Angeles the other day and I saw these for sale in the beauty section of one of the shops. It made me so happy to see them sold here, it brought me right back to my time in Tokyo. (FYI, they are a bit like a sponge, they get hard and smaller when they dry out. I'm not sure how they suggest to keep them moist, again, serious language barrier so I can't read the packaging, but you can just soak them and they return to their crazy marshmallowy state.) If there's a Japantown in your city go on a little hunt to try to find them. You'll be glad you did......

Equal Parts Both: STRANGEBEAUTIFUL nail polish

2010-06-16T18:04:00.000-07:00

I love nail color. One one my first beauty memories is of a bright yellow nail polish called "Maize" that I had as a kid. I love color and I love color on nails. It's a temporary thrill to look and see your nails another color, and a cheap thrill at that. I have drawers and drawers of nail polish. I love the way it smells and the beautiful shiny shellacked look of freshly painted nails. That and your mom's lipstick are the first beauty products you experiment with, and they're the least intimidating and the most user friendly.....

I read about this great new line of nail colors today called STRANGEBEAUTIFUL. Not only are the colors done in "volumes"-- the bottles were designed to look like books on a shelf -- but they are the most unexpected colors with the most wonderful names. The story of each color, the description of the inspiration, pulls you into another world and makes you look a little differently at the every day objects around you and really think about the colors you're taking in. Jane Schub, the creator, went to my alma mater, the Rhode Island School of Design, and was an illustrator before she segued into the world of beauty and cosmetics. You can hear her art school voice and her exposure to art history in the descriptions of her colors...it's really wonderful to know that people translate what they see into what they make, even the most random inspirations make it into their creations. Jane, I can't wait to see what you do next!

www.strangebeautiful.biz

Have a look at the site.

Get The Look: Nikki Reed

2010-06-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

For beautiful, glowing, lit from within skin I mixed a little luminizer into the foundation. After dusting on a little powder, I swept a bit of pink blush on the apples of her cheeks. I used a pretty, luminous light bronze shadow on her lids, and a touch of the same color along the lower lash line, and then added a little mossy green liner along the upper lash line to make her hazel eyes pop. Three coats of mascara on the top lashes--and just a tiny bit on the bottom--gave her a sweet open-eyed look. For the lips, I used a beautiful coral lipstick. I love coral and it looks so pretty with sunkissed skin, it just screams summertime!

Moisturizer:
Yonka "Pampelmousse"

Foundation:
Armani Luminous Silk #6.5 mixed with Jouer Luminizing Tint in "Bronzed"

Blush:
MAC "Dame"

Powder:
Chantecaille Loose Powder in "Ray"

Eyes:
Josie Maran eyeshadow in "Eternity"
Chanel Long Lasting eyeliner in "Vert Bronze"

Mascara:
Lancome Virtuouse in "Black"

Lipstick:
Tom Ford Beauty lipcolor in "True Coral"

Can't Work Without You

2010-06-07T22:25:00.000-07:00

One of the tools you will always find in my kit, and lots and lots of other makeup artists for that matter, is the Beauty Blender. The first makeup artist I worked regularly as an assistant trained me to use a natural sea sponge to blend foundation. She loved the way it seamlessly blended the foundation into the skin. And I applied foundation that way for years. (And then one day I just stopped, preferring to use a large flat squirrel hair brush to blend it out.) Danilo, the amazing hairdresser, was the first person to tall me about the Beauty Blender. He and Kathy Jeung were working on the studio next door to me and she was using it. I tried one shortly there after and have been using it ever since.

What's special about it is how perfectly it fits in your hand, how malleable it is, and how perfectly it blends the foundation. Unlike using a latex sponge, it's reusable. And unlike a sea sponge, the surface is smooth and evenly rounded so blending is a snap. If someone has skin that needs more coverage you can "bounce" or stipple the foundation on with it, making it a bit thicker where you need it, but still letting you have seamless edges.

I mix my foundation in the palm of my hand, which warms it a bit and helps it melt into the skin, and then use a synthetic foundation brush to swipe the foundation where I need it; usually the cheeks, forehead, a touch on the chin and a dot on the nose (using more or less depending on the skin type/finish I want). Then using a rolling motion I blend the foundation outward, towards the ears, away from the center of the face.

Try it and you'll fall in love with it. Promise. Plus it's super cute in your kit. Everyone who hasn't seen one before wants to know what the adorable pink tear drop shaped thing is. And then when they see how beautiful their foundation looks they want one too!

Check it out here:
www.beautyblender.net

Color Me Inspired

2010-05-31T13:06:00.000-07:00

*Whew*. It's been a while and I apologize. There was the trip to Tokyo (I am working on getting those pictures and story together--it's an epic task) and then a trip to Vancouver for a music video, and then day after day of work. So here I am on Memorial Day, taking a minute to update my blog, before I have to go to work this afternoon. Beauty knows no holiday.

I've really been thinking about color a lot lately. Maybe because you don't often get to seriously play with color on the red carpet or on celebrity. But god I love a little color! The blue on Anne V's lips above is so pretty with the lavender eye and bleached white brow. And the gold and purple eye in the second picture literally makes my mouth water.

Is anything sexier than a deep bronzy skin tone (artificially achieved of course!). Daria's skin here looks soooo chic with that red lip and sparkly green eye. It makes me want to do a full face on the next person that sits in my chair.

Just as strong, but surprisingly simple, that lavender lips and big black brow look so beautiful on Sasha's paled out skin. None of these looks are really wearable, but that's the fantasy of makeup. Plus a little soap and water and it comes right off. I'm going to dip into my colors the very next chance I get!

Dying for It

2010-05-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

I am gagging to get my hands on the new Tom Ford lipsticks (a collaboration with Estee Lauder). That man has such an incredible eye for detail, and I can't wait to see how that translates into a lipstick. He did a small capsule line with Estee Lauder a few years back and the colors were total perfection. I expect these lipsticks will be equally amazing and the colors wonderfully chic.

The Beauty of Geishas

2010-05-08T12:36:00.000-07:00

I am heading to Tokyo this month and am beyond excited. It's been over a decade since the last time I went and even then I was only there for 48 hours, so I am thrilled I get to be there for 5 whole days. That's still not a lot of time, but it's all I could sneak in--this is a very spontaneous trip and I am basically going for the sole purpose of makeup shopping. Of course I will be posting LOTS of photos of all of the Harajuku girls and hopefully will be posting video too. Just to whet my appetite I've been pouring over images of geishas, as well as watching lots of Japanese films..... Can't wait to report back on all of the amazing treasures that Tokyo has to offer!