A picture of some flowers (poppies?) in front of Castello di Amorosa Winery in Napa. The entire Napa Valley region has this magical natural light that makes everything look so vibrant and rich!
The Best Light
Castello di Amorosa Winery in Napa Valley
Yesterday I hit up the Castello di Amorosa Winery in Napa Valley for a wine tour and tasting. It was a lot of fun!
The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed
Okay, so, yesterday’s mud bath was…interesting, ladies. 🙂 I don’t regret giving it a try, but I won’t be making a followup appointment anytime soon. Let’s just put it that way.
The weirdest part wasn’t that it felt like I was sleeping on wet dirt in a barn but that I went in thinking it would be a private thing, like at a regular spa where you get your own room. Nope! It was a big @ss room with mud troughs and lots of boobies hanging out, including mine. Not the most relaxing experience, LOL!
But more on that a little later in the open thread…
As for this week in makeup, the highlight for me was Smashbox Eye Illusion because of how much more I liked it than I thought I would. Honestly, it doesn’t look like much in the pan, but the moment I layered it on top of Urban Decay Rockstar liner, I knew it was something special.
I hope you had a good makeup week. Any awesome new finds or hauls you’d like to share?
While I prep today’s open thread and try to forget how traumatic my mud bath was, here’s a quick look at some of the topics we discussed.
SMASHBOX EYE ILLUSION
EQUALS MORE OPTIONS
Every makeup junkie has at least a few of ’em — sad, neglected eyeshadows and liners tossed into a miscellaneous junk drawer or lost at the bottom of a long forgotten makeup bag (aww!).
Smashbox must have felt terrible about all of that wasted potential because they designed their latest Smashbox Eye Illusion ($28, available at Sephora stores and Smashbox.com) trio to breathe new life into second string colors. When layered on top of other eyeshadows and liners, its sheer, iridescent blue, pink and gold change the hue of existing products and add a metallic finish. Read more…
BRIGHT GLOSSY LIPS
TIPS & TRICKS
I swear there’s a magic dial behind makeup counters that associates can use to crank up the brightness of their lipglosses because shiny shades of red, coral, fuchsia, neon orange and hot pink are blossoming right before my eyes!
Bright, glossy lips are among my favorite things about summer. Here are five hot tips to get your pretty kisser primed and ready to glow!
TIP #1: Prevent pigmented glosses from drifting past your natural lip line. Once I spent an entire day sightseeing in San Francisco without realizing I had bright red lipgloss smeared all over my chin… I’d assumed folks were staring because they wanted to be friends, but when a highly pigmented gloss creeps past your natural lip line, it’s like wearing a big sign on your forehead that reads, “WHEE! LOOK AT ME! I LOOK LIKE A CRAZY!” Read more…
CLARINS INSTANT SUN LIGHT
EYE QUARTET & LINER
Cute black shoes, jeans that make my bum look good, pictures of men with rippled abs, and wearable neutral eye palettes — these are some of the things I love.
Cue the band!
The Clarins Instant Sun Light Eye Quartet & Liner Palette ($36) has a lot to offer ladies who love warm, blendable neutrals. With four smooth, pigmented powder shadows and an accompanying cream liner, it’s ready and waiting to help you rock a range of casual to dressy eye looks.
Now available at Clarins counters and online, it’s part of the eight-piece Instant Sun Light summer collection. Read more…
HOT SUMMERTIME LIPS
FROM URBAN DECAY, LANCOME & ILLAMASQUA
Red often gets pigeonholed as a holiday color, but it can look great any time of year. In summer, I like reds with orange, coral or rose tones and a shiny, high-gloss finish. Bright lips can be tricky, but they’re well worth the work. Pair that pucker with a neutral eyeshadow (here I’m wearing colors from the Clarins Instant Sun Light Palette), and you’re good to go! Read more…
URBAN DECAY
SUMMER OF LOVE SHADOW PALETTE
I wish I could be a butterfly on the wall at Urban Decay HQ and watch the creative peeps plan the brand’s summer lineup. Do they huddle around a big table smoking blunts and eating brownies, hotboxing in a board room until someone proclaims, “Whoa! Like, Eureka!”
You know what I mean, right? And they must know, too. Those cheeky references to herbal refreshment — nope, I’m not talking about Celestial Seasonings — aren’t foolin’ anyone.
Your honor, let the record show that this year’s Summer of Love Shadow Palette ($29) is a little less obvious in its references than last year’s incredible Get Baked (LOVE!) was, but it still has that same vibe.
The palette’s been available online and at Sephora since March, but I only just recently took the time to explore its many charms. Read more…
MAC MASCARA X
LASH LENGTH, VOLUME & GLOSS
I love the look of big, bold tranny lashes, but I can’t wear them all the time (no matter how much I’d like to!). Now, when I need to look more professional than partygoer, I can reach for MAC Mascara X ($13). It delivers the perfect amount of lash volume with great separation and length.
Available for a while as part of the MAC permanent makeup line, it’s one of five mascaras designed to enhance lashes while maintaining a (somewhat) natural feel and appearance (Pro Lash, Splashproof Lash, Pro Longlash and Dazzle Lash are the others).
For volumized lashes that appear long, lush and separated — but still within the realm of possibility — I’ll apply two to three coats of Mascara X. It glides on smooth, dries to a glossy finish and leaves my lashes feeling light, flexible and soft. Read more…
TOKIDOKI CHROMATICO
EYE PALETTE
Okay, so, most of us probably need another eyeshadow palette about as much as RuPaul needs another blonde wig. Perhaps that’s why the marketing mavens at Tokidoki decided to up the ante by adding an alluring treat to each of their three impossibly cute Chromatico Eyeshadow Palettes ($25 each).
Bastardino, Adios and Diamante come with a tiny charm tucked away in the bottom compartment. Aww! They’re like Happy Meals without the calories, but instead of a burger, fries and soda, you get four coordinating shades with vibrant pigmentation. Read more…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
10 Wedding Makeup Tips from a Wedding Makeup Artist
Wedding season is here! Every bride wants to look her best on her wedding day, so here are some tips to help get that glowing bride look.
1. Avoid using products that contain SPF
I wouldn’t normally advocate this, but products that contain SPF can photograph weird because of the zinc oxide found in many moisturizers and foundations. It causes that paled out face look that shows up in photographs, but not in person. So your best bet is to avoid products with SPF on your wedding day (but don’t forget to wear SPF on your honeymoon!). I like using MAC Face And Body Foundations ($32).
2. Go light on the shimmer
A highlight on cheekbones or browbones is flattering, but too much shimmer doesn’t photograph well. Shimmer has light reflecting particles that the camera picks up as white streaks or shine. Try doing a complete run-through of your makeup before the wedding, and take pictures. If you see shiny or white streaks where you’ve applied a shimmer product, you know where to tone down.
3. Wax three days before the wedding
Redness can be tough to cover, and some people stay slightly swollen for a couple days post-wax.
4. Skip lip gloss if you’re wearing a veil that comes down over your face
It’s a magnet for the fabric and will make the veil stick to your lips the second you put it on. The gloss and any lipstick you’re wearing will transfer to the veil, making for a messy situation.
5. Don’t stray too far from your usual look
I’ve had minimalist makeup girls request a red lip vintage look for their trials and had brides who normally wore a lot of eyeliner ask for a natural look, but they usually don’t feel right when it’s done. I’m all for playing around with makeup, but this isn’t the day to do it. If you want to try a smokey eye for the first time, save it for your bachelorette party!
6. Bring oil blotting sheets with you
I always include these in my bridal touchup kits. It’s a long day and most people get a little shine, but these papers keep it at bay. I prefer them to powder because powder tends to cake up after multiple applications. I use CVS Oil Absorbing Sheets (about $5). They’re cheap, and they work great!
7. Use a foundation and eye primer
The number one question brides ask me is “Will my makeup stay on all day?” With good primers, it will! I prefer Smashbox Photofinish Primer ($36) for skin and Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($17) or MAC Paint Pots ($16.50) for eyes.
8. Consider using false lashes
For weddings, I prefer flares (individual bunches of 6-8 lashes) to full strip lashes. Because you can put on as few or as many as you want, you’re able to control how natural or dramatic your look is. I use the Ardell flare lashes (about $4).
9. Use waterproof mascara
This may seem like a no-brainer, but brides have a million and one details to worry about, so this can get overlooked. It’s a big day, and if you get emotional, you want to make sure your mascara doesn’t show it. My favorite is Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara ($24).
10. Set your foundation with loose powder
Not only does the powder give the foundation a soft finish, but it takes shine out of the skin. Cameras pick up shine, but starting with powder and touching up with oil blotting sheets will keep you shine-free. Makeup Forever HD Powder ($30) is my number one pick.
MAC Viva Glam V: An Unsung Makeup Hero
Have I got a thing for bright lipsticks, HELLO! But sometimes I don’t want the hassle they can bring. Sometimes I just want something easy and effortless on my lips — something like the perfect pink.
That’s where today’s entrant in the MAC Unsung Heroes series shines. She’s MAC Viva Glam V lipstick ($14), and she happens to be one of the most wearable neutral pink lippies I’ve ever met.
Shimmery like a pearl and with a shiny finish, the color’s one Goldilocks (of Three Bears fame) would love, because it’s not too cool or too warm. It’s one of those products that seems to be juuuust right for almost everyone.
And it doesn’t just look good on the lips; it feels good, too — rather, it makes me feel good to wear. 🙂 Since its introduction (Viva Glam V came out in 2004), the proceeds from its sale and those of MAC’s other Viva Glam lipsticks have gone to support men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS. Millions have been raised since the program’s start in 1994, much of it one tube at a time.
[Continue reading…]
Saturday Surfing
Mornin’, ladies! How’s it going out yonder way? I’m over here trying to figure out what to wear to that spa I mentioned. Seriously, what does one wear to a mud bath?
The place is about an hour north up in Napa. Two of my good friends are taking me as sort of a pre-birthday present (my actual bday’s on Wednesday). It’s been ages since we’ve hung out, so I’m really looking forward to it. Let’s hope the mud bath goes well!
Before I hit the road, how’s about a quick dip? Grab your e-board because surf’s up! 🙂
Random acts ‘o beauty…
- Icy blue eyeshadows 101
Tips and product recommendations for light blue eyeshadow looks, with suggestions for skin tones from pale princess to dark-skinned diva. [BellaSugar] - Go ahead…give those nails a good sniff!
Revlon is coming out with their second collection of summer scented nail polishes. They say each scent lasts from four to five days on the nails, and you can even smell ’em through a top coat. [Stylelist] - Because hip hop stars aren’t the only ones who wrap
You’ll totally extend the wear time of your manicure with this step-by-step tutorial. [All Lacquered Up] - The grays and nudes of Guerlain’s fall/winter collection
Yeah, you read that right — fall/winter already! I can’t bear the thought of winter, but I can’t help but lust after these four new palettes for eyes. [British Beauty Blogger] - 10 reasons it would rule to date a unicorn?
The title says it all, ha! [Mingle2] - For all you keyboard shortcut enthusiasts (I’m one of you!)
This necklace should come in handy when you want to “undo” something, hardee har har. [Unplugged] - Stylish kitteh beds for the discerning pet parent…
Actually, I wouldn’t mind one of these egg-shaped beds for myself. 🙂 [Modern Cat] - Slip, sliding away!
No, it’s not makeup, but I loved these before and after pictures of rock formations succumbing to erosion. [WebEcoist]
I watch this when I want to relax…
Have a lovely Saturday, and I’ll see you soon!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Tabs for Chanel
Urban Decay Eyeshadows at Sephora
Six new Sephora exclusive eyeshadows from Urban Decay, $17 each.