I love getting e-mails that tell me how to get a celeb's look! In this case the look was for Alicia Keys at the "Keep a Child Alive Black Ball", she looks glamorous and natural at the same time!
Her makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff, described the process:
"I wanted to make Alicia look a little more sophisticated and grown compared to years before. I made her complexion a radiant and creamy beige using DermaBlend Quick Stix in Natural to conceal eyes and then sprayed DiorSkin AirFlash Spray Foundation in 400 for a flawless finish. Then I set makeup with BLACK OPAL Invisible Oil Blocking Powder. I wanted to focus on her eyes since she would be performing for two hours so I used Dior Eye Show in White Disco as a base then layered using the Dior 5-Colour Eye Palette in Moonlight. I finished the look with three coats of DiorShow Iconic Mascara in black and Urban Decay Liquid Liner in Oil Slick. I used an entire pack of Shu Uemura's individual lashes to create volume and length. Finally, I used Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect in Linen Beige on the lips."
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Alicia Keys at the "Keep a Child Alive Black Ball"
Friday, November 7, 2008
Allure's Best Party Hair and Makeup Tips
I'm a big fan of the quick tips that Allure offers each month. So, you can bet that I signed up for their Best Party Hair and Makeup Tips as soon as I heard about the program!
Every day you'll get great tips, delivered to your mailbox. Just for signing up you'll be entered to win a spa trip for two to Exhale at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows in Santa Monica, complete with beauty treatments!
I'll be using the tips this holiday season. What about you?
Allure's Best Party Hair and Makeup Tips
Monday, July 28, 2008
MAC's Electroflash: Fast, Easy Eye Shadow!
Perhaps, like me, you were initially scared off from the new MAC Electroflash Mineralize Eye Shadows after the colors looked so bright and just "not you."
Well, lucky you: a lot of people did that because they didn't sell out basically immediately. Even more important: these colors are much more flattering and easy to wear than they appear in the compact. In fact, they are great because they can really help create easy eye looks!
A quick glace at these swatches of my 4 Electroflash shades and you can see that especially the "mixed" side of the shadow is much more flattering than they appear. (Click to enlarge both images)
For me, I've been using these shadows very frequently, especially Love Connection. Love Connection is a beautiful light pink with some gold/coppery shimmer. It's great on it's own as an eye look. I use the shimmery pink side all over my lid and up into the crease, blending up beyond that. I might add some of the gold on to the lower half of my lid or perhaps into the crease. Even without adding the gold the pink shimmer side has enough depth to be left alone. A quick brown eye liner, some mascara and I'm done!
Fresh Green Mix is great as an accent color on my lid (I use a light brown/taupe and then the mixed side as a highlight in the center of my lid or on the inner half of the lid). The mixed side of Odd Couple I'm using very similarly to Love Connection (I'm accenting it with the gold from Love Connection as well). I'll be using the purple side as an accent color, perhaps along my lower lash line, once it hits fall. I have to admit that I haven't really been using Sea & Sky, but I'm not really a blue eye shadow girl. I have a feeling that my sister will know what to do with it though.
MAC Electroflash Eye Shadows
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Your Favorite Celeb's Quick Summer Look
I love this look on Kate Hudson! She looks fresh and sophisticated but without too much makeup. Perfect for summer! Her look and a few others can be found at InStyle
To recreate Kate's look:
• Guerlain Terracotta was used to give her a tan look. The goal is a light shade that isn't obvious, it might take some trial and error to find the right shade for you, for me I've had the best success with Dior Bronze Healthy Glow in 020 and MAC Solar Field Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden
• Dior Blushin Peachy Keen (for some odd reason I can only find Peachy Keen at Neimans)
• Lorac lip polish gives nice long lasting color. They suggest Pink Ice, which is discontinued but still available at Drugstore.com. A more universally flattering (and easier to find) alternative is likely Delicious, a slightly deeper pink.
• Estee Lauder Signature Silky Eyeshadow Duo in Black Moon
Stars' Pretty Summer Makeup at InStyle
Sunday, June 22, 2008
InStyle's Celeb Makeup Match!
I absolutely love InStyle. Why? Because they are constantly feeding into my celeb addiction. My latest enabler? Their Celeb Makeup Match!
You chose your skin tone, hair color (I'm a bit darker then Heidi, but she still comes up as my match) and whether your eyes are dark or light. You'll be matched to a celeb with a similar look! You can then view products and tips that they use for different looks, Heidi has the options of a Day Look, Sexy Look or a Glam Look! I'm already wondering about that Victoria's Secret Sparkling Eye Liner and whether I should pick one up next time that I'm at the mall....
Celeb Makeup Match!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
More from SKINN Cosmetics
I don't know about you but I love watching a pro at work!
In this episode Dimitri used the Patina Eye Shadows, and the Highlight, Blush, Bronze & Sculpt Kit used in the previous episodes is now available on their site. I know you could easily recreate with other products, but if you want that great palette here's the source!
Don't forget to run over to It's a Glam Thing and enter to win the eye shadows used!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
More Looks from Skinn Cosmetics
Recently I showed a video from SKINN Cosmetics with Dimitri James showing how to use their Highlight, Blush, Bronze & Sculpt Compact. Here's another great video, plus great news about a contest!
Until May 31 you can run over to It's a Glam Thing and enter to win one of five eye shadow palettes for summer!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Prescriptives Summer 2008: Urban Heat
On counters now, Prescriptives Summer 2008 collection is called Urban Heat and the collection is a beautiful combination of extremely wearable neutrals and brighter colors such as blue. The collection really is rather large with Colorscope lip glosses and lipcolors, two new kohl eye pencils and a huge array of eye shadows!
On the site Prescriptives has four different looks, for warm and cool tones, day and night looks are available. While I'm cool toned, I really loved the look of this warm toned look. I know it might be a bit Sharon Stone (maybe it's just the model's hair, but that really is who it reminds me of), but I still loved it!
While the warm day look is primarily done with eye shadows, I tried a faster version with the blue grotto eye pencil. I simply lined my eyes with the pencil, filled a bit of the outer 1/3 of my lid in with the pencil and then smudged with my finger. A simple eye shadow look with matte tan afterwards on the lid completed the look. It only took a few minutes!
The Colorscope Lipglosses in this collection are also fantastic. I tried out Sassy, which was a beautiful peachy rose shade. It was perfect for completing this look. The gloss is not at all sticky, has nice shine and is long lasting. It lasts through drinking my coffee and several hours afterwards. This is definitely a great gloss if you haven't tried it out yet!
Prescriptives Urban Heat
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Quick Red Carpet Look from Global Goddess
I absolutely love the look at that Shalini Vadhera recently created on Emmanuelle Chriqui at a Beverly Hills event. It is both exotic and fresh faced at the same time, I really think that the key to this look is in the eyes! They gave me the low down on how this look was created:
Shalini prepped and brightened Emmanuelle’s skin with Global Goddess Beauty Upgrade Complexion Face Primer and then applied Complexion Perfection Foundation to give her skin a flawless finish.
South Pacific Shimmer Bronzer served a dual purpose as an eyeshadow base and to warm up her cheeks. It’s one of Emmanuelle’s personal faves!
The Sizzling Serengeti Tribal Quad Eyeshadows in Mombasa helped to make her eyes pop. A layer of black and shimmery brown Cairo Eyes Liquid Liner and Exotic Eyes Blackest Mascara set the look.
Lastly, Shalini applied Sandstorm Lip Veil to gloss up Emmanuelle’s lips and Floating Diamonds Face & Body Shimmer for an all-over glow.
Global Goddess Beauty is available at Global Goddess Beauty, QVC and Victoria's Secret!
I've been using a few products this week, so you can look forward to a few very favorable reviews sometime soon!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
shu uemura's Sky, A Great 15 Minute Look!
click to enlarge
Created by shu uemura's Principle Makeup Artist Jason Hoffman, this look is being shared just with us! I asked them for a colorful spring look with the same feeling as the great spring looks currently featured on their site, but with fewer steps for those of us with less time each day.
To create this look, they started with great skin, but they do recommend more of a matte look to compliment this look.
Eyes
Pressed Eye Shadow- Spring Breeze: Place on lid and blend up to the brow
Tri-Color Eye Pencil- Aqua Flow: Line the upper lid with grey and blend into Spring Breeze
Tri-Color Eye Pencil- Aqua Flow: line the lower lashline with the green and fade into the skin
Fiber Xtension Mascara- Black: Apply to top lashes, lightly on bottom lashes
Cheek
Glow On- Tranquil Pink
Lip
Rouge Unlimited- Serene Pink Read More......
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Fast and Easy Red Carpet Beauty
On Thursday Victoria's Secret held a great event in Hollywood! They had experts in Hair, Beauty and Fashion (together with my beloved Heidi Klum, LOVE HER!) gather at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. There they revealed secrets for the Red Carpet.
Who was there?
• Linda Hay; Victoria’s Secret Makeup Artist
• Helena Faccenda; Hairstylist to Heidi Klum
• Heidi Klum; Victoria’s Secret Supermodel
• Mary Alice Stephenson; Contributing Fashion Editor, Harper's Bazaar
While I didn't have a chance to attend (I have to work sometime!), I was able to submit three questions via e-mail. The advice they gave was fanatastic! Exclusive for 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic, here are their tips!
(As always, click each picture to enlarge)
1) What is the fastest way to get red carpet hair?
Helena Faccenda: A messy bun always looks great and is so easy to do by yourself. If your hair is dry and you have 5 minutes, blow dry hair with So Sexy root-boosting spray for a little volume, back-comb at the crown, and gather into a pony tail. Pin the hair around the elastic into a bun and you have instantly sexy red carpet hair.
2) Is there an easy smoky eye that anyone can do?
Linda Hay: No smoky eye is complete without layers and layers of mascara, so the first step is to curl the lashes before you begin applying liner and shadow. I like Victoria's Secret's new Very Voluptuous Mascara, which gives me the look of three coats of mascara in one application.
Next step is the eye liner, but a fabulous smoky eye is not just black eyeliner that's smudged; the secret is in the blending. Take a black or brown eye pencil and line the lash line around the entire eye - top and bottom - except the inside quarter of the lower lash (it looks too severe and aging if lined here). 
Then, take a coordinating palette of 3 - 4 powder eye shadows, like Very Sexy Mosaic Eye Shadow in Smitten. Apply the darkest shade, like a charcoal grey shade, on top of the eye liner and blend up and out. Blend in a brownish shade into the crease of the eye. Don't take the shadow above the eye crease to the eye brow. I like to take a light shadow, either a silver or gold shade, and apply to the lower lash line for a fresh and sexy look that makes the eyes look open and awake. And there you have it - a simple, sexy smoky eye.
3) What is the most fool-proof way to have that radiant, glowing skin?
Linda Hay: Whether it's the red carpet, a runway show or a photo shoot, glowing, sun-kissed skin always looks gorgeous. I always ask my client to exfoliate the night before or morning of the event so we start with a fresh and smooth surface (check out the VS Stimulating Body Scrub).
I like to apply a 50/50 "cocktail" of Bare Bronze Gleaming Self-Tan Tint (for instant bronzing) with Bare Bronze Daily Glow Moisturizer (for moisturization and a fool-proof self-tan).
I top bronzed skin with a shimmer powder like Sexy Little Things Ooh La La, drawing a line with the fluffy shimmer brush along the front of the arm from shoulder to fingers, and on the front of the leg from thigh to toes. This will help visually slim and make the skin glow when the camera's flashbulb pops. The secret to a good shimmer powder application is drawing an imaginary line from the shoulder to the fingertip and the top of the thigh down to the toe. Don't apply shimmer all over the arms and the legs because the light will reflect like a big mirror and objects will appear larger than they really are!
All Images- 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic and Victoria's Secret
Friday, February 1, 2008
More Winter Skin Tips from Jake Bailey and Max Factor
My post last week with Jake Bailey's Quick Foundation Tip was an incredibly popular post. Jake Bailey just spent some time at Sundance, and decided to share some of his tips from the cold and wind with us!
Foundation and Powder
• Use a light liquid foundation that won’t create creases in cold weather
• Choose a lightweight translucent powder such as the MAX Factor ColorGenius Press Powders, so that your makeup doesn’t look to heavy or tired
Blush
• Wear blush in the winter because it warms up your skin tone. Stick with a rosy blush (MAX Factor ColorGenius Blush is perfect) to play up the rosy, frost-bitten cheek look we already get in the cold weather
Eyes
• Because of snowfall and winds, it’s important to use waterproof mascara in winter so that it doesn’t run
• Eyes are the most low-maintenance feature to play up in the winter
1. Try a shimmery metallic shadow, a big trend out of Sundance, such as the MAX Factor Vivid Impact Eye Shadows in Two Cents or Domino Effect to make eyes pop
(Note- I've just received a few of these Eye Shadows and will hopefully review them soon! I have a lot of eye looks from Jake that I'll be sharing soon as well!)
2. With all of the coats, scarves, and hats coming on and off during winter months, brows can get messy and it’s important to keep them in place with a clear brow gel
Lips
• Stick with sheer glosses as they keep lips looking moisturized and healthy
• Berry-colored glosses are also good because they warm up skin tone making lips look luscious and skin glowing and flawless
