Summertime always brings a slew of bright, new beauty options. From nail polish to lipstick and bronzer to eyeshadow, there is little that can make a girl happier than taking a stroll through a make-up store between June and August. One of our favorite recent additions to our daily beauty routine comes to us from Stila. The "In the Garden" eyeshadow palette is versatile and includes a smudge-stick (waterproof eyeliner) in Starfish, a pretty black with gold and dark green undertones that compliments the ten nature-inspired shades.
For most of us, the Avengers premiered with a bang at midnight today. It was one of the most anticipated movies of the year. Not only is it an action film starring superheroes, but it ties together at least 5 films and a ton of characters into one movie. Fans of the comics and newcomers alike were also dying to see whether Joss Whedon’s touch would make the film a hit or a dud. The polarizing Buffy, Firefly, and Cabin in the Woods creator definitely drew a crowd. Midnight premieres across the country were packed with fans waiting to see the film. Some wore t-shirts and accessorized according to their favorite Avengers character. Others went for full costumes.
New face, skin, and season equals overhauling your collection of makeup and tools. We've got great tips and tricks for you from trustworthy make up artists, who've also recommended the following fun and affordable products to get your hands on. So let's begin. It's important to remember when you purchased your current makeup and brush collection, how long ago was it?
Usually, for powder and liquid foundation make up should be able to last between 6 months to 1 year of regular use. During this time your brushes should be cleaned once a week with a gentle soap (preferably non-fragranced soap to ensure zero chance of future breakouts), squeezed (not twisted, watch the bristles!), and laid flat out to dry for a few hours. As for your eye shadows, liquid or powder can last the same time as foundation. The time periods described all depend on the cleanliness and upkeep of your make up in general.
As we stroll the isles of Sephora or the local drugstore for a set of face brushes, one can often wonder what they are used for and how to use them. More specifically, eye brushes are usually misunderstood and used incorrectly. Here is a brief how to and which brushes you need.
Brush #1: The Brow Brush: A stiff, short cut bristled brush cut an angle for the perfect styled eyebrow arch. It's also used for applying some slight "fill-in" color to your brows, giving you a defined look.
Brush #2: The Eye Blender Brush: A semi-long bristled, soft, fluffy brush. Ideal and designed for the perfect application of eye shadow without the crease because of the stupendous blending this brush achieves. You can use this for applying some correcting powder around the eyes also.
Yes! You should cut it! For those of us that are contemplating chopping off our mane. Do it! It's a liberating feeling plus it adds instant edginess and sexiness. Here are some short hair styles that are not boring.
This cut is somewhat daring but can be worn in many ways. One would be surprised at how easy it is to transform this cut, from chic to rock, this style has a ton of versatility.
Our fave latest cut is the Asymmetrical. Bring this cut to your stylist and let them give it their own twist! It looks and feels great plus keeps you cool on these hot humid summer nights.
Purple is a color that works for everyone. When it comes to clothing, it's arguably one of the most versatile colors and compliments practically every skin tone. So why not try purple eyeshadow? Bright colored eyeshadows can look a little over-the-top at times, but purple is one eyeshadow shade just about anyone can pull off without looking like a clown. (Unlike blue -which often goes so terribly wrong, no matter how subtle one applies it.) Remember, application technique and choosing the right tones is everything.
So if you want to add a pop of color to your make-up routine, but aren't sure what color to go with or how to pull it off -opt for purple. You can find it readily available in varying shades and palettes. Rule of thumb: the darker /warmer you go, the more refined it will look. Deep plums and more warm-toned purples are great for daytime, as are sheer lavenders. In the evening you can go more dramatic with brighter tones. Here, we show you how to take purple from day to night. (And if you still need help, we've included a handy tutorial video!)
Sometimes we don't want our eyeshadow to look so obvious. The smokey eye look is great for evening, but during the day, a natural approach is best. Here we'll show you how to define your eyes without looking like you're wearing makeup!
First Things First
Go for soft colors that highlight your eye color.
Define you lashline by using a brown or light black pencil eye liner and trace the top lid softly near your lashes. Lastly, curl lashes and apply mascara. We love Covergirls Volume Exact mascara. It practically doubles your lashes, has incredible staying power and volumizes/defines naturally.
Urban Decay's 'Naked' eyeshadow palette is a must for every woman. It's so good it deserves its own blog. (And I don't say that lightly). The value is actually good considering you get 12 different shades of eyeshadow as well as an eyeshadow base, and a dual-sided pencil of UD's 24/7 waterproof eyeliner in black and brown. It truly has every shade necessary to go from natural to dramatic -and everything in between! You really don't need anything else except a wand of mascara.
We have all seen the bright beauty looks of the Spring/Summer catwalks, and have found Derek Lam’s coral eye to be particularly envy inducing. But can we wear it during the day without looking a little freaky?
Derek Lam used a combination of orange and coral shadow close to the upper lid, accented with stripes of iridescent white highlighter, to achieve this high fashion look. The face was kept neutral, with no more than a nude lip to complement. To replicate this look for daytime, lightly shade in the brows and apply a neutral beige shadow from lid to brow. Next, take a thin angled brush, and wet and dip into a sparkling salmon shadow such as Mac 'Neo Orange' Pigment. Apply in a thin line above the upper lash line and finish with a coat of black mascara. As with Lam’s models, keep the face neutral and clean. Just a touch of coral blush such as Benefit’s 'Coralista' combined with a nude lip such as Mac's 'Myth' completes the look.
We may love to hate them, but we can't deny that our favorite Disney villians have style. With Cruella's daring green eye-shadow and Maleficent's perfect deep pink lip, we can't help but wonder... did Disney hire a make-up artist?
The makers of M.A.C Cosmetics must have been wondering the same thing by the look of their new Venomous Villains line. Venomous Villains, which hit M.A.C counters this week, is inspired by the looks of four Disney villains.
The villains: Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, the Evil Queen from Snow White, Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmatians, and Dr.Facilier from The Princess and the Frog, each have their own line of products including lipsticks, lipglosses, nail polish, eye shadows, and much more.