Color, Color Everywhere

Maybe it’s my spring fever that has me totally inspired and seeing pops of color everywhere, but I had to bust out the camera and catch a few things I’m loving lately.

Top left; My careless application of SpaRitual polish in Spellbound, a classic Ruby Slippers shade that gleams in the sun and beckons tons of compliments.

Middle Left; Iman Cosmetics Luxury Liquid Liner in Onyx too pretty to save for special occasions, so just in case you’re wondering yes that’s me buying bananas at Whole Foods with my glitter liner blazing.

Bottom Left; My 17″ MacBook Pro that I look at so much I had it colored a slightly sparkly lavender shade with a graphite apple.

Right; NYX Cosmetics Grinding Blush in English Rose, a sheer enough shade that’s a perfect pink for all skin tones (and ages).

Click to enlarge

Smashbox Spring 11′ Collection; In Bloom

I’m loving In Bloom, the spring collection from Smashbox that is filled with feminine, flirty, cheery shades that will slowly draw you in until you’ve nabbed the whole collection up.

I’m mostly obsessed with their Creamy Cheek Duo, one of the best cheek cremes I’ve ever used. Its sheerness allows you to build up mistake-proof color that’s flushy, natural, an super sexy. I’ve been dabbing a bit on my lips too for an easy monochromatic look, just add a few swipes of mascara and that’s all you need for an easy weekend look.

If you liked their Artificial Light lotion, then you’ll love the new powder version. A small, spongy applicator allows for precise application to the brow bone, cheeks, and your eye’s inner corners for a perfectly balanced sheen that tops off any look.

Check out this vid from Smashbox Lead Artist Lori Taylor who shows you how to get a look that’s In Bloom and just right for spring.

Revolution Organics; Natural Formulas for Lips and Cheeks

Grow baby, grow!

Revolution Organics is the little line that could, starting with 3 core products, one being their Skin Cream I reviewed 2 years ago that has 22 different uses from hair glossing to stretch mark prevention. I loved what they were doing and I knew hoped to see an expansion into the world of color, which they’ve done by introducing organically formulated glosses and color-rich balms.

I try to choose formulas that are on the natural side for my everyday lip glosses since they end up being eaten away. Their 100% natural (85% organic) Freedom Lip Gloss feels more like a rich balm than a gloss because of its soft feel and complete lack of stickiness. I love the easy formula that gives lips a casual coat of color, and the texture is something I’ve come to favor over my usual balms.

Of course being the masters of multi-tasking they had to make their Freedom Glow Beauty Balm more than just a cheek color. These tinted sticks do give cheeks a good flush of color, but you can also use them on eyes, lips, decloté, and even arms and legs. They’re formulated using olive and coconut oils so they’re hydrating and smooth into the skin really well. They’re also surprisingly long-wearing, similar to a stain but with way better blendability that’s easier to apply than most powders.

If you’re pregnant, have sensitive skin, are going through chemo, a mommy wanting  to multi-task, or just a nature girl at heart like I am, check out Revolution Organics. Their safe line of Makeup Artist approved basics won’t leave you disappointed.

Revolution Organics

The Beautiful, Blushing Bride Kassie with Photography by Studio JK

When one of my favorite brides of all time chose one of my favorite photographers of all time, I knew I was going to love the end result. This picture is by Studio JK, the excellent-as-always photography duo here in Colorado from a recent wedding where I was the Makeup Artist.

Kassie and I decided on a punched up eye using neutral brown shadows and black liner, a deeper-than-usual variation of her daily routine. Her big beautiful eyes also allowed my to use my favorite wedding lash, Ardell 120 for a dramatic, feathery lash that’s perfect for pictures.

Now this is a bride.

Nothing says ‘bride’ like rosy pink cheeks, so I swept Estée Lauder’s Pink Kiss Signature Blush across her cheeks focusing on the apples to give a blushing look that isn’t too precision.

Stila’s Long Wearing Lip Colors are still my go-to for stay-in-place color that doesn’t dry your lips out. It’s so dry here in Colorado, so chapped lips are a standard year-round event. These will stay on for hours without bleeding or fading while adding a good amount of moisture that isn’t typically present in a long-wearing formula.

I can’t wait to share more photos as they come in, but if I were you, I’d click HERE to see photos of a recent wedding shot by Studio JK. I wasn’t their Makeup Artist and I have no idea who the couple is, but the pictures are stunning (double rainbow and sunset shots, incredible!) His photography is epic, we’re lucky to have him here in Denver (and I was lucky that he photographed my recent headshots.)

When considering wedding makeup, remember to be as bold as the gown, the day, and the event itself. Don’t hold back, let that glamour flow.

So Long Matte Face: Rules for Radiant Cheeks

You’re probably tired of me talking about adding radiance to the skin, but it’s so key in getting a healthy look that I can’t stress the point enough. Even if you’re oily matte is not your friend, the look adds years and it’s so 90′s. Getting your daily dose of radiance is as easy as sweeping on a little blush with a hint of glow that will have all eyes on your beautifully lit cheeks.

First though, I want to illustrate exactly what I’m talking about when I say radiance.

Matte vs. Radiance.

Jennifer Aniston was the poster girl for the 90′s matte makeup trend. When the skin’s natural finish is overshadowed by matte makeup, it looks flat and dull.

Jim Smeal, Wire Image

And here’s Jen now sporting the modern look of luminous skin. The difference is made with the weight and finish of the makeup, she’s still getting great coverage but with something that highlights her skin instead of covering it up. She’s 9 years older in the second pic, but looks younger and fresher.

Kristian Dowling, Wire Image

Makes sense now seeing it that way right? Good, now let’s see some radiant cheek colors.

The Supernatural You Make Me Blush from Philosophy is a bronzy blushy combo that dances along the cheekbones to softly highlight them using a light-yet-well-pigmented mineral formula. In the light, you can see the soft gold tone in the shades that give the skin some serious dimension.

happy/healthy is the color pictured

Laura Mercier’s Mineral Cheek Powder also uses minerals to jazz up the complexion. It’s the nature of minerals to add depth to the skin, and to never look chalky or harsh. It’s a formula that serves up a light dose of initial color that can be built up as much as you’d like. This shade (Coral) looks really orangey in the pot, but it took several layers to look this dark against my fair skin. Translation: it’s hard to over-do it.

Makeup Artist Christopher Drummond uses finely milled mica in his Sateen Blush collection for the most radiant look out of the bunch. I got 2 compliments the first time I wore it, which never happens with blush. Build the color on slowly and apply it in natural light, you’ll probably use a lot less blush than you normally do because of how great your skin will look using the slightest amount.

Alluring Apricot is the shade shown
Just remember, weight is key when finding a radiant blush. Something that has a sheen and a heavy weight to it will translate into a frosted 80′s mess. Minerals are always a good option, and so is choosing a color that isn’t too light which can also look a little frosty because the sheen will show up more than the color – another big no-no. 
Beautifully accentuated cheekbones are always in style, so give them the punch of radiant color they deserve.

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Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Collection Spring/Summer 2010

Spring must have sprung because Estee Lauder’s Bronze Goddess Collection has officially been released. This year Lauder introduces a (limited edition) line of makeup, fragrance, and skincare that will transform you into a tropical beach babe.

Here’s a shot of me wearing the collection.

Oh wait, that’s actually not me at all, but it sure does show the magic of their Liquid EyeShadow in the sizzling blue Aqua Flash shade. Ultra Violet is pretty eye-catching too and both nicely compliment the remaining two universally flattering shades; Sand Shimmer, and Molten Bronze. These 4 tubes have sponge-tip applicators (like a lip gloss) that you dab on your lids and either pat in with your fingers or blend it with a brush. I like the unique texture of the shadows which feels like a weightless mousse that settles nicely into the lids- even mature, dry lids because of the light formula. They don’t cake, crease, or smudge and they wear a really long time.

Here’s a shot I took that shows the colors well.

Here’s another shot where the writing isn’t visible so you can see the shades a little better.

The brunette bombshell above is sporting their Coral Look which consists of these products below. You can find the full color lineup of what was used for the look HERE.

Exotic Orchid is their other look, bright and pinky with a shot of bronze which uses these products shown below.

It’s a fun collection and a look that’s tropical, exotic, and eye-popping so you can kick-start spring with some splashy color.

But it wouldn’t be a Bronze Goddess collection without something to get us all bronzy would it? Their well-loved sunless tanning  formula comes in a base of gelée, milk, or a lotion that will get you that deep, even, safe tan.  I use the Milk, which is colorless, but the tinted gelée for the body has a little bronzer to it so you can see exactly where it’s going for a fool-proof application with zero streaking.

Within the past few months I’ve become a bronzer junkie. I don’t know why I wasn’t bronzing before (I always bronze everyone else) but now I rarely leave the house without a light dusting of the sunny powder. Their eye-catching  Exotic Bronzing Blush, combines the two so you can balance out rosy with bronzy- a big trend right now. I’ll be using their Bronzing Gel with a little moisturizer on my neck which is way lighter than my face. It’s a perfect bronzy shade that isn’t too dark on its own, but you can cut it with moisturizer to lighten it up for natural looking color.

One of the reasons I love Lauder is because they value tradition. They keep products they know are well-loved even if they aren’t mainstream anymore. Bronze Goddess is another tradition I look forward to getting year after year. It’s timeless, it’s sexy, and it never disappoints.

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess

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