Not The Smoky Eye Next Door

Hi again, gorgeous!

This hot look comes to you from a new artist, and boy does she like to sass up a traditional smoky eye!  Our artist, Noura, had fun playing with depth and color for this dramatic, winged look, which is smoldering when eyes are open, and just plain staggering when they're blinking.  The colors are all MAC (big surprise, eh?), and they look even more daring on our porcelain-skinned model, Katie.  

Note that there is definite attention to detail - the deep rose color extends just to the inner corner of the eye without wrapping under, keeping the eyes from looking tired.  The black is blended out just to meet the edge of the brows, and no further, and it slightly wraps over the rose color to create a defined crease.  Note:  These colors do not work when applied sloppily, so do not attempt this look if you're in a rush.  The right brushes are key for this sort of shaping and blending, so make sure that you have one that is thick and slightly stiff, so that it will pick up plenty of pigment as you lay the color, and then a larger, fluffier brush will be necessary to blend the edges to perfection.  

Without a doubt, you'll want to finish the look off with a slick of black liquid eyeliner (you can't lose with Penultimate Liner) and tons of black mascara (we love the new False Lashes Extreme Black).  Don't neglect the brows with a strong eye look - they'll frame the eyes and elevate the look to a polished finish.  

The choice of the berry lip is controversial - the typical idea is that you should choose one area to use bold color on:  eyes, lips, or cheeks.  Choosing eyes AND lips may not fit into that standard makeup "rule," but seriously... how hot is that combo!  Forget the rules!  It may not be a day-at-the-office look, but it sure is a night-on-the-catwalk look!  Thanks, Noura and Katie!

I See Your True Colors: Volume Two

Look out, lipstick lovers, we've got a frosty shade of lavender that's about to make you think twice about your usual nude.  This one isn't for the faint of heart.  In fact, if you're feeling faint anywhere on your person, you may want to sit down, or get a glass of water.  But if you're itching for a switching, and you're watching our swatching, you're in store for a great treat.  MAC Cosmetics is famous for their wow-factor color choices, and this is a great hue to have in your arsenal, since it's quirky and fabulous on its own, but can easily be incorporated into a work-day look.  For success with this color, you'll always want to line your lips prior to applying the color.  This prevents too much wash-out, and defines lips, an important thing to consider when choosing super light shades.  Since it's frosted, you can skip the gloss if you want, and you'll still have that lip-smacking shine.  You're ready for a night out in just two steps.  Now, to make it work-appropriate, glide a small amount of color on to lined lips, and follow with a pink or peach-toned gloss.  This will neutralize some of the blue, bringing the effect to a slightly more mild roar.  Our model is rocking the shade au naturel.  After all, who needs clothes when everyone's going to be looking at your lips?

Spring Ahead With The Proper Skin Care: Why It's Important & Changing Step 1: Your Cleanser

If you've lived in New England for over a year, you know how taxing the season changes can be on your skin.  Maintaining an even, balanced, healthy complexion isn't exactly rocket science, but it does take a little extra effort in an ever-changing climate.  We're here to take the guess-work out of it for you.

We've finally reached the end of May, and although it was filled with confusing April showers for the bulk of the month, we're starting to see some of those long-anticipated May flowers.  It's almost as if we went straight from winter to summer.  With sudden highs in the 80's, our skin is saying to us, "Uhhhh... what the heck?"  And we must answer appropriately!

Sometimes the season change means that you will, personally, only have to alter your skin care regime very slightly, perhaps with the addition of a mask or scrub that you had forgone over the fall and winter.  But for some people (and yes, we are in the latter category), the onset of spring means BIG changes.

For the past few months, we've been able to use cream cleansers, hydrating toners, brightening serums, moisture masks, and anti-aging day and night creams.  With our generally oily skin, that means that this winter was incredibly dry!  Now that the warmer weather is here, it's time to put those bottles in the back of the cabinet and return to the oil-combatting and blemish-fighting items we stashed there in October.  But not all of those bottles will be coming back out just yet! 

Since it's still fairly early in the season, and our skin is still recovering from those raw winter days, we're going to ease it back down from all that extra hydration.  With our oil glands working harder, we do notice more shine around the T-zone (the area in the center of the face, including the forehead, nose, upper lip, and chin).  So the cleanser needs to work harder too!  We'll be switching to a foaming cleanser, which is much lighter than the cream variety, less likely to sit in pores, and still gentle enough to not irritate the skin that's been punished in the formidable winter wind for months!  Choose a type for your specific skin:  if you're combination, you may want one that has seaweed in it.  The sea algae fibers help to deeply purify pores, while the gentle formula balances skin in areas that are still dry.  Try La Mer "The Cleansing Foam."

If you're experiencing all-over oil or acne, don't be shy about diving head-first into a more mattifying type!  Choosing a wash suitable for oily to blemish-prone skin will make all the difference in how your other products sit on your skin.  A clean face is the perfect canvas for other products that you'll want to add, with other benefits.  For example, you may be a grease-ball like me, but you may also want to the skin-tone evening results that accompany richer serums and creams.  Don't be afraid to tack on a heavier treatment product once or twice a week to achieve that end result, as long as you're cleaning your face properly beforehand.  A great tip for oily customers is to choose a wash that is either gel or foam-based, and laced with a 2% salicylic acid formula to dissolve oil, makeup, and other impurities.  This pick from Erno Lazlo is their "Beta Wash," an antiseptic angel that will leave you feeling fresh.

If your skin is still too thirsty to even think about switching from your cream cleanser, then by all means - don't!  You know your own face better than anyone, and if it's still tight and dry in the warm weather, there's no reason to switch!  We highly recommend trying the Lancôme "Crème Douceur" Cream-to-Oil Massage Cleanser. Just make sure that you're exfoliating at least once a week to get rid of the dead or dry skin patches that can build up.  TOP TIP:  Use your cream cleanser with the Clarisonic Skincare Brush to get the best of both worlds.

For sensitive skin types, you may fall into either category of the dry and sensitive or the oil-prone and sensitive.

Choosing a natural product with soothing ingredients like aloe vera or vitamin E can boost your skin's tolerance and even redness, and generally those washes are available in gel, foam, or cream options to cater to all types of sensitive skin.  If you suffer from Rosacea, a fragrance-free option is always best, and choosing something without preservatives, dyes, soap, or alcohol will also be beneficial.  We love the Christian Dior Gentle Cleansing Milk.  You'll want to stay away from any physical scrubs, but using a natural exfoliant will pick up excess skin cells and keep your complexion clear.  We love Bare Escentuals Pure Transformation Night Treatment.

Whichever route you choose, just remember that no matter how oily, acne prone, dry, mature, or sensitive your skin in, you ALWAYS want to follow your cleansing routine with a good moisturizer.  What makes it good for you will depend on your specific needs, but across the board, it can't be too wimpy, it can't be the same kind you used 30 years ago before your skin changed, and if it's the only thing you put on your face before embarking on your day, it MUST include sunscreen.  But sunscreen is a whole other animal, and we'll save that for another post.  

Now go forth and de-grime your faces, people of Earth.  As they say, "Cleanliness is next Hottieness."  Or... something like that.

xoxo,

the lipgloss ladies

I See Your True Colors: Volume One

Playing with matches is dangerous.  
Playing with emotions is mean.  
Playing with dolls is frowned upon as an adult even if you have the Barbie Dream Car... (OMG how cute is that thing!?)


But playing with color?  Well, that's just downright fantastic.  And nothing says "We've had a long, horrible, dreary winter, and now we're ready for some fun," like a pop of color on that gorgeous face of yours.  So put away those boring plum and brown lipsticks you've been wearing since October (yes, even that one), and get on board with the veritable rainbow of possibilities in store for your pout this season.


You've seen the chili-colored Mambo lipgloss from Guerlain featured as our Lipgloss of the Week.  What you HAVEN'T seen is its spicy long-lost cousin, Laura Mercier "Portofino Summer Collection" Creme Lip Color in "Sunrise."  It pairs ultra-rich color with plumping ingredients in the ultimate lip-loving tube.  Ready to see it in action?  I hope so.  

This summer-ready riot grrrl is rocking the Sunrise lip color, with a thin layer of Mambo over it for sheen.  Pictured with a fairly neutral eye (rimmed with Smashbox Limitless Onyx Liner and doused in Diorshow Blackout Mascara, of course), we give it a "Hot Tamale!"  

TOP TIP:  Covering up those eyes with a pair of sassy shades?  

You'd better have a super sizzling mouth to match!

Arriba!  Hop in your Barbie Dream Car and drive to the nearest department store to try this hot look for yourself!  Oh, and you may want to wear a helmet to protect that lovely head of yours.  And look twice before you cross a busy street. 

We love you!

xoxo,

the lipgloss ladies

The Bluest Eye... Shadow!

Okay ladies, it's 2011.  Why are some of you still afraid to rock blue eyeshadow?  We know it was laughable in the '80s... and then there were the '90s... and Mimi on "The Drew Carey Show"... but really, guys, you're missing out on all the fun.  Some of the biggest names in the industry are flooding the runways and magazines with cobalt shadows, cerulean liners, and azure mascaras!  Just off the top of my head, I know that Dior, MAC, Yves Saint Laurent, Estee Lauder, and Lancome all have blue mascaras out right now.  And guess what.  You can make it as bold or as subtle as you like.    


Here's how we created our look:


We began with a rigorous cleansing by massaging a pearl-sized amount of Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser into wet skin.  The tamarind fruit acid lifts away pore-blocking dry or dead skin cells.  


A swipe of Shiseido "Pureness" Anti-Shine Refreshing Lotion on a cotton round will refresh skin, and the added powder in the formula will prepare you for a day free of extra oil-blotting.


To speed up the skin-tone evening process, smooth on a layer of Estee Lauder "Idealist" Even Skin-tone Illuminator.  This will give an instant glow and redness reduction, and the oil-free formula is actually proven to improve skin-tone in just two weeks.


For a lightweight hydrator that's no "light-weight," follow with La Mer "The Moisturizing" Gel Cream, ideal for warmer weather.  Antioxidant-rich and damage-repairing, this light-as-air whipped topping will leave skin feeling renewed and conditioned.


And you can't say I didn't warn you - the eyes have it!  Never skip your eye cream.  To dramatically depuff and hydrate, we chose two products:  Clinique All About Eyes De-Puffing Eye Massage, followed by Bliss "Fabulous" Every Day Eye Cream.  You'll reach nirvana with this dynamic duo that can tackle any eye issue you bring to the plate.


Apply a pearl sized amount of Guerlain "Meteorites" Light Diffusing Perfecting Primer.  Its color-controlling elements use a trick of the light to banish imperfections even before you've picked up a brush, and your makeup will last well into the night while clinging to its sheer base.  Best of all, you'll keep your lit-from-within look even after covering with foundation.


On to the makeup!  For this look, you want to start by completely perfecting the complexion.  A pop of blue on the eyes will look ravishing as long as it's not being drowned out by a bright red blemish or an inky dark circle.  For a flawless look, start by targeting darkness under the eye with the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit.  This dual-sided magician's assistant comes with a creamy cover that won't settle into lines, and a yellow-tinted finishing powder to set and illuminate.


To hide a multitude of sins, discover the veiling power of Smashbox "Camera Ready" Full Coverage Foundation.  This cream-to-powder semi-matte is buildable, and comes with its own brush for portability.  We like to use the Smashbox Foundation Brush with it at home, though, for more control.  Stipple the product onto areas where you desire the most coverage, and blend it downward with light strokes for the rest of the face.  Remember, kids, less is more.  Adding is much easier than subtracting.


To add shading and dimension, apply Trish McEvoy Dual Matte Bronzer.  Its pair of warm, Snooki-free tones can be blended together or used separately.  You'll be sunshine-ready with the natural matte finish that won't leave you resembling a Christmas decoration.  


Blush is a must, and you don't have to choose between bronze, red, rose and pink in Lancome "Desert Rose - Summer Collection" Blush.  Sweep your brush over the whole palette and across  the cheekbone for a kiss of color with a subtle shine that looks like you just stepped out from the garden.


With a to-die-for complexion like this, you can really step up the intensity of your eyes.  Always begin with an eyelid primer, and we love bareMinerals "PrimeTime" Eyelid Primer in Original.  As an added brightening step, sweep bareMinerals Well-Rested Shadow Base SPF 20 over lids and up the brow for a quick pick-me-up that screams "I GOT MY EIGHT HOURS!"


Blues and purples are natural co-conspirators, and they look youthful when used in a smoky eye.  For a lid color, we chose Hematite from La Prairie.  The rich, stay-true color will really add pizazz to those peepers.  Blending it up to the brow bone lets it peek just over your opened eye, and when you blink - WHOA!  Let's just say, we just figured out Blue's Clues.  Indulge your playful side by smudging a small amount of Estee Lauder's Purple Passion "Pure Color" Eye Shadow into the crease.  Blend, blend, blend.  For this look, you want the edges of your colors to taper off like a soft breeze.  No harsh lines here, ladies!


Now grab a Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner and a Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush, and rim those eyes with a healthy dose of blue, extending the outer line past the corner for a slight cateye.  Me-ow.


Over the liner on the bottom lash line, press a little of the Hematite shadow.  This will give it extra shine and depth.  


In the inner corner and under the arch of the brow, press a bit of Laura Mercier Matte Eye Colour in Blanc.


Load the lashes with Christian Dior "Diorshow Maximizer" Lash Plumping Serum.  This lash primer will not only condition and fortify lashes, but it also thickens and extends them on contact, and whites out color in the lash so that the color of mascara you choose will be truer.


Follow with a generous dose of Diorshow Mascara in Azure Blue.  This glamor staple delivers length, thickness, curl, and vibrant color.  Coat the top and bottom lashes.


For the mischievous and adventurous, add false lashes over this look to build drama.  We chose a pair from For Love 21 in blue!  Glide on a teensy amount of Duo Lash Glue and press the lash directly onto the lashline, as close as possible to the actual lashes.  Hide the seam with a super skinny line of Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink.


For the brave at heart, line the inner rim with Yves Saint Laurent Black Waterproof Eyeliner.  Is it me, or did it just get smoldering in here?


Never neglect the brows!  To tame and tighten, we love Smashbox Brow Tech.  The double-end powder and wax gives you two color options to achieve the perfect shade, and an invisible wax to set and control shape.  Apply with the Smashbox Brow Brush.


Last but not least, we hit the slopes (of the lip, that is) with bareMinerals "Pretty Amazing" Lip Color in Courage.  This all-in-one liner, color, and gloss lasts all day and feels smooth and cushiony on lips.  

Here's Kara wearing the whole look:

So get out there and flaunt it, girls.  You've got all the tools to create a look that will wow the paparazzi, and you'd better be camera-ready, because of course they'll be mistaking you for Beyonce....  "Oh, Ms. Knowles!  I mean... Mrs. 'Z!'  Can we get a shot of your blue smoky eye?!"

Wink wink.

xoxo,
the lipgloss ladies

Lip Glosses of The Week! 5/9-5/30

It's official, guys!  Spring has sprung, and not a moment too soon!  After a cold, rainy start to the season, we're finally opening our windows without fear!  Oh, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and... what??  You're still wearing your winter lip gloss?!  Not so fast!

Our first favorite May gloss in this series comes from an illustrious line called Guerlain.  With three blazing hot neon tones in their new collection "Terracotta - Terra Inca," these colors wrap your lips in pigment-heavy, sparkle-free shine. Our favorite thing about it?  It's totally non-sticky!  (also known as KISSABLE!)  And talk about luminous lips!  The "it" color for us is "Mambo."  Dance the night away in this hot-to-trot burnt-orange glam-shade, senoritas!  Ai ai ai!

But no makeup bag is complete without our second May pick:  Philosophy's "Fresh Peaches With Cream" Lip Shine.  This flavorful treat hydrates deeply while delivering a soft shine and a neutral wash of color. Taste the fresh, sun-ripened peaches and sweet cream; it's a zero calorie dessert you can eat all day, every day - what a fab way to get that beach body!  (And yes, that means you can wear it to the gym too!)

Gloss #3 is a no-brainer, as it comes from the always-hip, always current MAC.  Now this one is especially important to stock up on, since it's a limited edition product.  Ride soft waves of sea-worthy shine with the "Surf, Baby!" Suntint SPF 20 Liquid Lip Balm.  A great defender against sun, wind and salt, never hit the sand without it!  We love the lavender shade, "Lilt of Lily."  Wear it alone or over a lipstain for day-to-night foxiness!

Now here's a decadent treat that will leave you wondering, "Is this stuff for real?"  Introducing the Bare Escentuals "Pretty Amazing" Lip Colors.  You're a busy girl, and when you run out the door in the morning, you don't want to spend a lot of time on your look, but you DO want it to be perfect, from morning til night.  This appropriately-titled new-BFF-to-all-womankind will transform lips with one swipe!  Close your eyes.  Imagine, if you will, the definition of a liner, the pigment of a lipstick, and the silkiness of a gloss.  Now, add the famous bareMinerals natural formula, and you've got something that's... well... Pretty Amazing!  This incredibly long-wearing, highly saturated hue will stay through your coffee, your lunch, your mid-day croissant... just reapply a gloss when the shine dies down, and you've got all-day, no-fuss color.  Are we cheating when we just call this a "Gloss of the Week?"  Well... is it cheating to call J-Lo an awesome singer even though she's an incredible actress, dancer, and model too?  I didn't think so!  Oh and by the way, the one color that every girl needs in her morning routine is "Fearless."  This delicately blue-toned mauve helps to give the illusion of whiter teeth and will be seen in hundreds of prom photos this year - it's the perfect slightly-pink hue for every day, but looks dazzling when paired with a smoky eye.  Trust us, we'll show you!

Thanks for visiting us for this installment of Makeup For Lost Time!  Be sure to stop back soon and check out the hot new spring and summer trends we'll be debuting on our models!  As usual, we'll walk you through the application so that you can recreate them at home!  

Oh, and last but certainly not least, HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!  Profound thanks to all our troops, past and present.  We think you're pretty amazing.

xoxo,

the lipgloss ladies 

Hello Again, Hotties!

Holy smokes, folks!  Has it been a whole month since our last post?!  I hope you all had a nice busy May like we did!  I daresay you've earned four weeks' worth of favorite glosses and weekend looks!  So get ready, guys, cause here they come!  And maybe we'll throw in a sneak peek of some SIZZLING summer pieces too!  Stay tuned!