// SPRING/SUMMER 2012: Beauty Trends//

Flushed Cheeks:

This is one of favorite trends for S/S! Your skin should look dewy and fresh with just a splash of color. This particular trend gives the illusion of spending a few hours in the sun. Glistening rose/bronzed cheeks were spotted on the runways of Michael Kors, DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, and Tracy Reese.

Glittery and BOLD Metallic Eyes:

Metallic Smokey eyes were spotted on the runway for spring, which was a bit unusual to see! Rodarte channeled Van Gogh with beautiful Navy Smokey Eyes. Futuristic Silvers and Bronze appeared to be the colors of choice. The trend was also spotted at : 3.1 Phillip Lim and Just Cavalli. Even some of the Metallics on the runway had just a pop of glitter. Keep it subtle with a glitter eyeliner during the day. Want to try something funky? Play on the trend of Cat Eyes and use a liquid glitter liner. Feeling daring? For a fun going out look, apply Loose Glitter with a brush (I would use a MAC 242 Brush) for your desired look. Both Polished and Messy glitter were spotted on the runways of Fendi and DSquared2.

FRESH Skin: 

Fresh, clean, polished skin was spotted on ALL of the runways this year. My personal favorites? Stella McCartney, Missoni, J Mendel, and Donna Karen.

Romantic Lips (color or nude):

There was an array of red lips spotted on the runway. There were many different shades: Burnt Red, Scarlett Red, Chocolate Red, Corals, and Magenta. Every look was unique, No lip looked the same! Try these colors matte or paired with a high gloss. The trend was spotted at  YSL, Donna Karen, Jason Wu, and Anna Sui.

Beautiful Neutral/Rose stained lips were also front and center for Spring. Rose pinks tend to look beautiful on all skin types- This is a trend that I urge all of you to try! Rose tinted lips were also spotted with same tone cheeks. Want a product that can double as both? Try Benefit’s Posietint! The trend was spotted at Carolina Herrera, Oscar De La Renta, and Balmain. 

Full Brows:

Au’ Natural Brows were spotted on the runways of Derek Lam and Burberry Prorsum. 

POP of color:

All of the fresh faces on the runway had one thing in common. Add a “POP” of color, Pick a feature (lips, eyes, cheeks) and focus on it. The color added a warmth to the face that gave a beautiful finish to each individual. My favorite looks were found on the runways of Derek Lam, MIU MIU*, Fendi, and DSquared2.

// FALL/WINTER 2011: BEAUTY TRENDS!//

ORANGE DREAM:

Burnt orange and autumn colored hues. Eyeshadows, blush, lipstick-anything goes! This trend was spotted on the runways of Rodarte, Prada, and Thakoon. Donna Karen, YSL, and Christian Dior.

BOLD LIP HUES: Intriguing without being too dramatic. 

Red: Burnt, Ruby, Scarlett, Classic, Neon- pretty and punk. Pastels: Bubblegum Pink, Tangerine Orange. This trend was spotted on the runways of Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel, Dsquared2, and Dolce&Gabbana.

Thick Eyebrows: Spotted on the runways of Jean Paul Gaultier, Balmain, Alexander Wang, and Oscar de la Renta.

BOLD EYELINER & Lashes: Thin winged liner, bold graphic liner, or thick lashes. You choose. Spotted on the runways of Anna Sui,  Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Lanvin. Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Pucci, and Armani.

VARICOLORED, Metallic Smoky Eyes: Metallic hues- traditional or daring. Metallic blue smoky eyes were spotted on the runways of Vera Wang, Chanel, and Zac Posen. The more traditional smoky eye was spotted on the runways of Chloe, Dolce&Gabanna, and Fendi. 

// Exfoliating Scrub: Fall Edition//

With beautiful fall fashion and intriguing make-up trends comes dry, chapped skin. Welcome to Fall! Changing your skin care regimen and adding more moisture will be most beneficial to you. Those with oily skin, this includes you! I highly recommend exfoliating once a week (at least) to slough off dead skin cells. Fresh cells absorb, dead cells just keep building. Your skin will ALWAYS be most important factor in your make-up routine; Healthy and moisturized, dry and flaky- the choice is yours!

Oil based scrubs are perfect for fall/winter… exfoliating benefits coupled with the bonus of hydrating oils- love that!

My personal favorite is a Raw Oat Scrub w/Essential oils.

Take three teaspoons of raw oats (pre-cooked not included) and crush them into smaller bits. Mix the dry oats with pure honey (as much as desired) and 1/4 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar until it is smooth. Add one drop of basil oil. For those of you with sensitive skin, substitute this with olive oil. If you have acne prone skin, substitute this with tea tree oil. Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse with warm water.

// Summer Skin.//

The following are some helpful tips to keep your skin looking radiant this summer.

- Are you keeping hydrated? You are losing most of your moisture through perspiration. Carry water with you everywhere…

- Lighten up on your moisturizing routine. Make sure to switch to a moisturizer with fewer emollients. 

- If you can, shower immediately after using the pool. Too much exposure to salt and chlorine will make your skin and hair look dull and lifeless. 

- Tinted Moisturizers, try one shade darker than your skin tone!

- If you are someone who insists on wearing full coverage foundation, make sure that you prime your skin (Smashbox ‘Photo Finish’ Foundation Primer) and use an oil-free foundation! Also, try mixing a liquid highlighter into your foundation (try ‘Moon Beam’ by Benefit! it’s a personal favorite). Skip the powder for fresh, dewy skin!

// Here Kitty Kitty…//

Simple, Sexy.

Tonight’s trick: The Purrrfect Cat Eye

Tools: An eyeliner brush, brown eye shadow, your favorite gel or liquid liner, lash curler, black mascara

-Your first step is always going to be to prime your lid. Use your ring finger to stipple the concealer/foundation/eye primer of your choice on to your upper and lower lid, crease, and brow bone. After you are finished, apply a nude/bone color eye shadow (I’m using Brulé by MAC) from your lash line to your brow bone. 

-Take your liner brush and brown eye shadow, draw a line from the inside to the outside corner of your eye. From the outside corner of your eye, “wing”  the line at angle toward the end of your eyebrow. This is just a little trick to ensure that your line is perfect! Note: It doesn’t matter how long the line is… it just depends on your personal preference. 

- Curl lashes

- Take your liquid liner and trace the line that you have just created. You can make the line thicker than you originally planned, 75% of the time- I do!

-Take the brown shadow (I’m using Center Stage by MAC, you can use black for a more dramatic look), trace under your lash line to the inner corner of your eye. Make sure that you connect the line to the beginning of the wing! If you desire more of a smokey look, take the shadow and trace along the waterline of your lower lid. 

-Apply Mascara to your top and bottom lashes

There you have it! If this is your first time, do not get discouraged! Practice makes purrrfect ;)

// Switching Moisturizers?//

I’m looking at switching daily moisturizers, I have pretty normal skin, not too oily or dry, but an SPF or at least 15 is a must. Will you make some recommendations? (Currently I’m using Mary K, and it just feels greasy gross). Budget? Up to 20-25 would be okay with me. I’m all for higher end, sometimes I buy from Nordstroms but sometimes something from Walgreens is just as good!- Amanda, Oregon.

-Aveeno, Positively Radiant SPF 30, $12-14

 It’s oil-free, hypoallergenic, and has UVA/UVB protection.

-Cetaphil Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15, $14.99 *personal favorite

Light weight, not greasy, and a personal favorite! I wish the SPF were higher…

-Philosophy, Hope In A Jar SPF 25, $20-50 *personal favorite

Nourishing, fights against free radicals, light weight, UVA/UVB protection.

Hope this helps! xo

*High end list will be posted tomorrow

// Natural “Pop”//

On a daily basis I wear powder, blush and mascara. I would like to know how to apply neutral brown colored eye shadows and anything else I can do to make my eyes pop more. For eye liner, I only wear a line of liquid on the top lid if anything (I don’t like it on the bottom ever.) -Jessica, California

Jessica,  First, make sure to start with a good base. Use a dab of concealer or an eye-shadow primer. Using your ring finger, lightly, stipple the product onto your eyelid. Follow with ‘Brule’ eyeshadow from MAC, it is as nude and neutral as it gets. Now that you have your base set, depending on your desired look, apply your next shadow. My suggestion: ’Woodwinked’ eyeshadow from MAC. It is neutral brown tone that is a little bit warmer in color. Warm hues will contrast those beautiful baby blues! Take a larger blending brush and color wash it directly on to your eyelids or blend into the crease! Also, Instead of a liquid liner, try a gel/cream eyeliner for a more natural look. I prefer it! Always curl your lashes first, apply desired mascara last…

// Foundation on a Budget//

I am on the search for some good foundation or even a face powder something to even my tone and hide blemishes. Problem is my skin is crazy. One day it is dry! Super dry then I wash my face and put lotion and the next day it is so oily. Any recommendations? Oh, and I’m on a budget! -Heather, Utah.

Heather, I’m not exactly sure what your budget is… The following are two drugstore brands that I actually carry in my kit!

Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Liquid Makeup, $14.49

-This product has a beautiful finish. It eliminates redness without the look of a ton of product.

L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Makeup, $10.99

-This is, hands down, my favorite drugstore foundation! It is a full coverage foundation, which I usually recommend to anyone looking to even their skin tone and hide blemishes. If I were you, I would mix it with your moisturizer to thin the product. This way, you get the full coverage with the look of a tinted moisturizer! 

*Heather, I am so sorry that this is late- here you go, honey! Hope this helps :)

// Lip Care 101//

At the request of a friend, Here are some tips to keep your lips smooth and pucker friendly this Winter. 

I keep a child’s size toothbrush next to my regular toothbrush. In the morning, after I brush my teeth, I wet the small toothbrush and gently rub in circles (to slough off dead skin cells). You can also use a dab of Vaseline instead of water. When I am finished exfoliating, I generously apply Smith’s Rosebud Salve (http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P42204) to my lips. I do this once in the morning and once before bed.

*You do not have to use this product. You may also use: Vitamin E oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Kiehl’s lip balm, and so on. I do advise against Carmex.

Keep Hydrated, Moisturize and Exfoliate, DAILY. It’s that simple :)