Archive for the ‘Cosmetics’ Category

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Clinique Almost Lipstick….

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Continuing with the theme of appreciating the classics….Clinique has updated it’s iconic Almost Lipstick line- and I am here to alert you to this- in case you didn’t already know. I used to be gloss exclusive for years. I wasn’t in a full coverage lipstick place. Not in the lipstick mood. Then one day recently with the change of the season- I wanted more in my lip color. I thought that the time for “real” lipstick was upon me. So I explored some lipsticks and truly had some fun- but I ended up returning to a lighter formula. A sheer tint. Which tends to wear off rather rapidly in the course of a day. You know, I try a lot of product out in my line of work. I always tell people- there are some classics that you will always find yourself returning to….remembering, reminiscing about….and then revisiting….and then you realize that they were always the best to begin with. So….thanks to a GORGEOUS delivery from Clinique….my lips have found their very happy balance- again. I grew up on Clinique….and the iconic Black Honey Almost Lipstick was one of the very first lip colors that I coveted. Not only was it the perfect “your lip color only deeper” tint- it had the perfect formula- not too heavy, not too glossy. It conditioned your lips- made them softer and smoother. Clinique has expanded the colors in the Almost Lipstick line- and there is a color for everyone in this collection. Now, my dilemma is which one to bring along in my makeup bag everyday. Along with Black Honey, you now have Tender Honey, Luscious Honey, Lovely Honey, Chic Honey, Spicy Honey, Flirty Honey and Shy Honey….And I’ve got them all….

http://www.clinique.com/products/1605/Makeup/Lipsticks/index.tmpl#

 

Below….

My favorite colors that I am currently carrying with me  in my makeup bag are: Luscious Honey- a sheer cherry red ( left) and Flirty Honey- a sheer bright pink (right).

 

If you are looking for a perfect balance between gloss and lipstick with real life emollient rich lip conditioning- check out the new Clinique Almost Lipstick collection. Find your own favorite Almost Lipstick color and enjoy!

 

xc

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Happy 2012!

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

Happy 2012 everyone! I’ve been away from the blog for a while. I apologize. I had a very full holiday season with work, travel, guests, cooking, computer issues, you name it- it happened. Back up…. and RUNNING.

I don’t know about you- but I am really excited about 2012. I think people are ready for change. I think people are realizing that they have a choice and a VOICE in that change. A voice to propose change for the better in many aspects of their own lives. I’m feeling it. I’m looking forward to creating a fabulous new year….

Looking ahead- thinking about this time of year and all that it brings to the world of beauty and fashion…..Awards season is coming! Later this month it all begins….I am looking forward to seeing and creating some gorgeous red carpet looks this year. This is always my busy time so I will try to share some good stuff- products, behind the scenes shots, anything I can to bring you in on the excitement!

I have also been exploring A LOT of product over the last month or more- both new brands and classic tried and true and so I have a lot of new favorite things to talk about here and will do so in the upcoming days.

Before I go I wanted to share that in March you can see me on camera again. I’ll be creating makeup looks for the new show Fashion Star on NBC premiering March 13th. Check local listings for the time in your region. The show is hosted by the lovely Elle Macpherson. I am part of the Maybelline makeup team headed up by my friend and fellow Cloutier Remix artist Julianne Kaye. Please visit the Fashion Star site and check out the show! Really looking forward to seeing the show and the final results.

More soon….

xc

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Kusco-Murphy Lavender Hair Creme

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

I am pretty much obsessed with Kusco-Murphy’s Lavender Hair Creme -not just for myself but also for my clients. Personally-I don’t like product in my hair- I really don’t like to put anything in it. Recently, after cutting my hair, my friend and hairdresser Cori Bardo put this through my hair-and now I am hooked. For me, this has the perfect scent with a clean, soft, feel to it. It makes my hair smell like a walk through a lavender field and it gives my hair softness and refinement. It adds compliments to my curls, and also gives me soft, sleek control when I choose to straighten it out. Can’t say enough good things about it. I am a lavender person and this has a true, clean, fresh lavender scent. I love it.

 

http://www.kuscomurphy.com.au/home

 

xc

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In my makeup bag……

Monday, November 7th, 2011

I am in love with Laura Mercier’s Gel Lip Colours. My current daily wear is Dollface which is a sheer bright pink. I love these gel based lipsticks because they are a perfect balance of sheer color saturation with a silky, shiny finish. I alternate between Dollface and Sweet Cherry which is a gorgeous sheer red.

 

 

 

http://www.lauramercier.com/store/shop/Lipstick_Gel-Lip-Colour_prod320006_sku410008

 

xc

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Allergy Survival!

Friday, November 4th, 2011

I don’t know about you- but I have been trying to manage some rather annoying seasonal allergies. Living in Los Angeles where our air is certainly not ideal….I have flare ups randomly all throughout the year but the last couple of weeks with the Santa Ana winds and constantly changing weather patterns….I’ve been suffering. I and a lot of people I know here are sneezing our faces off trying to adjust to the stuff in the air. I have a hard time taking allergy medication so I usually go the Neti Pot route. Mere Neti was not enough this round so I have been stumbling around on OTC allergy meds the last couple of days and though I can breathe- it isn’t pretty. I’m a little out of it. You know, like I’m on meds. So, I try to limit the meds. Which means the inevitable constant blowing of the nose. When you have sinus congestion and a runny nose….having to blow your nose a lot….you can really irritate your skin. Obviously, use the softest tissues you can. As a makeup artist I really cannot show up to work with a red, peeling, irritated nose. Be sure to protect that area with moisturizer and reapply if you notice your skin becoming irritated from dehydration and constant nose blowing. Here are a couple of products getting me and my clients through this time….

Murad Sensitive Skin Soothing Serum

 

I dab this onto any area of my face suffering from sensitivity. It calms irritated skin by locking in moisture and goes to work to reduce redness. I use this on myself and professionally on my clients. It works really well under makeup and has saved me in a pinch when an actor has come in with a red, irritated face!

http://www.murad.com/sensitive-skin-soothing-serum.jsp


Benefit Erase Paste


You also might want to blend out discolorations or darkness around the eyes and nose with a brightening concealer. Benefit Erase Paste brightens with melon undertones in 3 shades that really camouflage and conceal imperfections like broken capillaries or dark under eye circles that might be exasberated while suffering from allergies like me.

http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/product/view/erase-paste

 

xc

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Wong Kar-Wai for Shu Uemura Holiday

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

Absolutely beautiful….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rZ8eb0rasxU

 

xc

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Prada Spring/Summer 2012

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

This is video from the Prada Spring/Summer 2012 collection from Milan. I loved this show. I could watch it over and over. I loved the art direction. I seriously need to find out who did the music. The whole thing was beautiful to behold. I  adored the modern simplicity of the beauty….which perfectly complimented the fashion.

 

 

Pat McGrath bleached the models eyebrows out and then recreated them by filling them in with beige or gray.  She used her fingers to sheer out full coverage foundation across the models faces. Barely there cheek. Pastel pink lipstick blended well with concealer on the lips. Black pencil in the rim of the eye, gloss washed across the lid. Guido Palau did an extreme side part and then curled sections with an iron to look like the girls actually set their own hair with bobby pins- for an organic curl-he wanted the girls to look like they did their hair themselves….

 

Prada Spring/Summer 2012 on Youtube

 

Enjoy!

 

xc

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Nail check……

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

Essie polish in Jazz….

 

 

xc

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New Makeup Bag Favorites…..

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

Benefit They’re Real Mascara- This is the first mascara that I have used in a long time that truly does it all. Plus it’s black. Real black. I’ve tried and do try a lot of mascaras- this is what’s in my personal makeup bag now. It’s passed all of my tests. Favorite new mascara.

 

 

Benefit They’re Real Mascara…

.http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/product/view/theyre-real

 

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush- True story, I was doing my makeup the other morning and as I was applying this particular color I thought to myself, “This color really matches my natural cheek flush.” That’s Natural Beauty for you. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Natural Beauty, that is. A personal departure from my usual bright pink- which is also provided to me by Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush- in the form of “Dollface”…..I like to layer the 2 colors and blend them together a lot of the time. For Fall, I’ll probably rock Natural Beauty on it’s own because it’s the perfect rich, red flush that will be my Fall transition cheek color. Putting my best cheek forward for Fall……Thanks to Tarte…..

 

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Natural Beauty…

 

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Dollface….

http://tartecosmetics.com/tarte-item-Amazonian-clay-12-hour-blush

 

Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Liner- I love this smooth, velvety liner. It’s creamy and rich but dries matte and stays in place for hours. The Black is truly black. New favorite in my personal makeup bag and new favorite in my professional kit for work, as well. Love it.

 

 

 

Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Liner….

http://www.lauramercier.com/store/shop/prod130020_prod130020_prod130020?currentSkuId=sku50033

 

xc

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Spider Lashes…..

Friday, August 26th, 2011

Lovers of clumpy lashes- rejoice! This is your time. If Pat McGrath says it’s ok- you’d better believe it’s ok. Think Twiggy in the 60′s. McGrath designed the makeup look for Lanvin’s Fall 2011 collection which featured black shadow painted on and blended out toward the outside edge of the eye framed by clumped together spider lashes. Get ready to see lots of clumpy lashes hit the streets. It’s certainly an easy look to create at home- you probably have already given yourself spider lashes at some point. So, if you get heavy handed with the mascara- don’t worry. You’re in fashion for Fall! I appreciate McGrath’s philosophy about the look she created for Lanvin- ”It’s the girls looking like they’ve done the makeup themselves. It’s all about imperfection.”

Lanvin……..

 

 

 

 

xc

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