Beauty Blog

Right now, Sephora is having a major discount on selected Smashbox eyeshadow. This is a top of the line product and the dual colored eyeshadow is typically worth $25, but Sephora’s offering a mark down for only $5. Amazing. It’s a dark brown and light brown complimentary duo that’s perfect to create darker eyes.

The best way to apply this eyeshadow is  to first apply the lighter shade to the corners of your eyes as well as the area right below your eyebrow. This will accentuate the darkness of the rest of your eyes and make them look bigger as well. Next, apply the darker shade in the creases of your eyelids, but make sure you blend the outer corners of your eyes so that there’s not dark brown line visible. This method will create a dramatic, smokey eye effect.

If this isn’t a color that you prefer–there’s also this eye shadow quad by PlantLove you can get that’s originally priced at $25, but is now on sale for only $5. You can choose from four fun colors, which are all a little earthy-toned so it won’t look to overdone. These colors won’t exactly work for smokey eyes, but you can sweep one of the four colors across your lids for extra shimmer to light up your eyes. These deals are great!

Image sources: sephora.com

I read in Cosmo this month that, according to one study by MIT, men are are naturally more attracted and drawn to women whose eyelids are darker than the rest of their face. It’s really the only form of makeup that guys care about–so you should accentuate your eyes to look darker and deeper.

Dark eyelids are associated with femininity. That’s why the smokey eye look is always so sultry.

You might have thought that guys typically like the natural beauty–and this is true as well. Apart from the exaggeratedly luscious eyes, guys don’t like it when you overdo the foundation. A little goes a long way.

Also, if you notice, your eyelids are actually naturally a darker shade than the rest of your face in natural light as well. But, it only adds to the effect to use smokey eye makeup. You can stick to the traditional black palettes, but the attraction still works if you opt for fun colors–as along as you coat a dark layer around your eyes first to set the right tone.

I’ve found that Stila’s smokey eye palette is all you need. It’s $40 at Sephora and there are a variety of color schemes available. Sephora’s website even has an audio for instructions.

Image sources: Sephora.com, sheknows.com

I do love when cosmetic companies issue out some neatly packaged new color palette that basically has the right amount of everything you’ll need for three or four months, even longer sometimes.  I used to indulge frequently in seasonal beauty palettes because not only do they boast great new colors in one set, (along with fancy makeup brushes and pint size lip glosses) but they are also reasonably priced for getting all of that product.  Right now if I were to shell out for one, it would be this Tarte Spring Greening Reusable Straw Palette ($20).

The packaging on this is so cute and summery!  It is a sustainable and reusable straw palette that is filled with a bamboo eyeshadow brush, six new shades of mineral eyeshadow and three lip glosses.  The tray inside is made of post consumer waste and can either be recycled when you’re done using the shadows. The products themselves are all paraben free and the lip glosses are infused with acai, pomegranate, and gogi berry.

Use coupon code 3SJ9HQ at checkout at Sephora.com and get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $25.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more makeup and cosmetics.

Bold colors will be big for the remainder of spring…usually summer palettes fade into lighter, shimmery shades to compliment the suntan you’ve gotten on your face.  I like bold colors for the face, its fun to do a little risk taking when it comes to makeup and current trends.   You’ll make yourself the freshest in the bunch. I will admit that I’m not one usually drawn to blue eyeshadow, at all, but blue eyeshadow and nude lips are a new look meant to go together.

The secret to this look is to not coat your eyelid with blue shadow, but instead smudge on some navy eyeliner, and then top that with a bright blue shadow like Revlon’s Venetian Blue ($4.99), keeping it on the center of the lids, not the entire lid.  This will keep it from looking like a bad 80’s makeover.

Revlon Matte Eyeshadow in Venetian Blue: $4.99

MAC’s Eye Kohl in Blooz would be good to start with, it will go on smoothly. Don’t spend a lot on the shadow, Revlon will do the trick with its matte formula. If you accidentally over-do it on the eyeshadow, pat lightly with your ring finger to even it out…this usually works for me.

MAC Eye Kohl in Blooz: $13.55

Now for the lips…a good shade of nude or light pink will do for this.  Benefit Cosmetics has created a new line of Full-Finish lipstick for Spring ‘09. Try the “Ladies Choice” shade.

Benefit Full Finish Lipstick in Ladies Choice: $18

Combining the bright blue eyes with neutral lips is perfect.  The lipstick balances out the boldness of the eyes and will actually have you looking quite chic.  I don’t know if I would wear this look in the daytime, but it would certainly make for an excellent “night out” look when you want to be a bit more adventuresome with your beauty regiment.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more blue eyeshadow and blue eyeliner.
Discounts on MAC cosmetics and Benefit cosmetics.

Hello gals, and Happy Holidays!

Perhaps you’ve already picked out your holiday outfit, and if you have, then you are way ahead of the game than I am. Usually I have a dress in mind and then the night of, I mysteriously will change my mind. Again. And then again. And then again. My boyfriend will attest to this agonizing ritual.

The dress I have in mind is babydoll black with gauzy overlay and silver threads. It’s short, it’s rocking and I wore it last year but it’s coming out again. I had so much fun at New Year’s in it and it was so comfortable, I have no qualms about it appearing again this year.

Ok, so I bring this up only because I think that Rihanna’s eye (above, done with Nars Duo Shadow, color Joulee Poupee) is such a refreshing look. It does have an 80’s bent but I think the look will look wonderful with a vibrant red dress (as long as the rest of the face is nude). This is to avoid the spangled glitterball one might become once we go crazy on silver and gold eyeshadow. Why not do something a bit unexpected and try a fresh strong color on the eye?

Also I totally dig Jessica Biel’s strong pink lip. It’s an alternative to the classic red lip. It looks so pretty, don’t you think?

Nars lipstick in Funny Face is a good pick. My personal favorite is Nars in Niagra (coral peach).

A good example of glitter overload versus glitter chic is the photo below: Same dress, two different looks.
Mary Kate keeps it simple and understated with loose hippie hair and no accessories while Carrie (though I love her) turns it up a wee bit too loud with fussy hair and dark tights and accessories galore).

Hope your holidays are sparkly!!!