NARS Summer 2008: Exotica

Last month, NARS introduced its summer 2008 color collection: Exotica.

Encapsulating the wildness of sensuality, Exotica features a sultry palette of edgy neutrals that evoke intense carnal desire. Nude pigments in luscious textures impart sinful mystique, capturing the essence of the elegant seductress. Shades of matte ecru and bitter chocolate with golden accents enliven eyes with mesmerizing intrigue, while hues of sparkling mauve, succulent cherry red and sheer brandy give lips intense passion.


As the name implies, Portobello Duo Eyeshadow is comprised of two mushroomy shades. The first is a matte ecru and the other, a soft matte mushroom. Neither of these shades showed up well on my tan skin, but they would be gorgeous everyday shadows for lighter ladies.


Unconditional Love Duo Cream Eyeshadow is a matte seafoam paired with a soft shimmering copper. These creams tend to crease, so prep the eyelid with a primer before applying (here’s one I recommend).


Supervixen Lip Gloss is a sheer sparkling mauve – a great universal nude color.


Misbehave Lip Gloss is a sheer cherry red with gold glitter flecks. The glitter is a little bit bigger than what you’re probably used to, so be sure to try before you buy.


Mindgame Lipstick is a sheer brandy. It’s moisturizing, and a great choice for when you decide to play up your eyes and keep the mouth understated, but polished.


Dolce Vita Velvet Matte Lip Pencil combines the convenience of a pencil with the application of a lipstick in a jumbo-size crayon design. If you love the dusty mauve color, but aren’t thrilled with the matte texture, this bestselling shade is also available as a lipstick and a gloss.


Roman Holiday Velvet Matte Lip Pencil is a delicate pastel pink. This shade is feminine and pretty, but how many people can pull off pastel pink without looking like a blast from the past (namely, the 80s)? Not many is my guess.


Last, but not least, is my favorite product from Exotica – one that I know you’ll love a lot-ica. Galapagos Single Eyeshadow is the most divine shadow I’ve seen all year. If I could dream up my ideal eyeshadow, it wouldn’t come close to Galapagos’ bitter chocolate infused with gold. I'm just not that creative. Dust it all over the lid, or apply with a fine brush to line the eye. Galapagos is so hot that you’ll want to buy more than one, just in case.

Free Lip Product For First Timers at Bésame Cosmetics

Bésame Cosmetics has a new First Time Customer Gift Policy...

All new customers receive a free full size lipstick, lip glaze or lip pencil!

To take advantage of Bésame's benevolence, click here. Happy shopping!

MAC Neo Sci-Fi

Out to shock the fashion galaxy with their supersonic ray gun shades and neon orange compacts cases. Spinning glamour into another orbit: a magnetic field of alluring hot fluorescents, modern buffs, beiges flesh tones set against cyber-chromatic array Nail Lacquers destined test laws your style gravity. This is your beauty’s future.


Lipstick
Sci-Fi-Delity: Burnt red with gold pearl (frost)
Pleasureseeker: Creamy peach (glaze)
Astral: Midtone brown with red pearl (lustre)
Electro: Bright orange (lustre)
Sunsonic White gold (frost)
Suggested Retail Price: $14.00

Lipglass
Supreme Bronzed brown with white pearl (frost)
Naked Space Creamy midtone nude peach frost)
Pink Grapefruit Orange with gold pearl (frost)
Soft & Slow Midtone creamy plum (frost)
Suggested Retail Price: $14.00

Eye Shadow
Magnetic Fields: Black brown with silver pearl (veluxe pearl)
Femme-Fi: Frosty golden cream (veluxe pearl)
Evening Aura: Frosty golden pach (veluxe pearl)
Time & Space: Frosty copper (frost)
Expensive Pink: Pink with gold duochrome (veluxe pearl)
Suggested Retail Price: $14.00

Cremestick Liner
80%: Deep, deep cocoa
Buerre : Dirtied plum
Summerfruit : Pale coral
Suggested Retail Price: $14.00

Plush Lash Mascara
Plushblack: Deep black
Suggested Retail Price: $11.00

Sheertone Shimmer Blush
Spaced Out: Shimmery peach
X-Rocks: Shimmery dirty mauve
Suggested Retail Price: $17.50

Nail Lacquer
Metalist: Neutral coppertone with white pearl (frost)
Plasma Blu: Turquoise blue with mathematic white pearl (frost)
Neon 8: Bright orange with matching pearl (frost)
Phosphor: Bumble bee yellow (frost)
Suggested Retail Price: $10.00

Neo Sci-Fi is now available now at maccosmetics.com.

Bobbi Brown Quick Face Collection

Do you go to work looking like the undead because you’re short on time in the AM? Me too. Oh, don’t look so shocked. For me, when faced with the choice between waking up early to apply makeup and hitting the snooze button one time too many, I'm always going to pick option B.

Thankfully, Bobbi Brown’s new Quick Face Collection allows me to embrace my inner sleepyhead, yet look polished and awake even when I’m tight on time. These products for cheeks, lips and eyes were designed for those on the go, so you can apply before you leave for work…or en route.

I’m particularly fond of the Lip Crayons – which I swipe on while riding the bus. This chubby pencil is available in four limited-edition shades that look like a better version of your natural lip color.

The finish isn't chalky at all. In fact, it's creamy with a smidge of shine – and the crayons have an unexpected, but much appreciated, hint of mint.


Lip Crayons (left to right): Naked Pink, Nude Berry, Red Plum, and Warm Rose.


Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow (left to right): Slate, Stone, Navajo, and Malted.

Fashion Week Part Deux: Thuy Fall 2008 Collection

I woke up on Saturday morning and headed to the Exit Art Building for the Thuy Fall 2008 Collection presentation. A presentation is different from a runway show, in that there’s no actual runway – just models strutting their stuff amongst us mere mortals. The show was very impromptu, which I really enjoyed. Though after waiting almost an hour, it began without warning (I attended with Amber and Marina – Marina was somewhere getting juice when the show finally began).

Romero Jennings, Head Makeup Artist for MAC, was responsible for the models’ ethereal eyes and lengthy lashes; he lined the inner rims with shimmery white pencil and applied a few coats of black mascara for definition. Jennings polished off the look with a strong matte mouth. Lips were lined and filled in with Brick Lip Pencil (intense golden red), then Brown Lipmix (a MAC Pro product) was applied on top of the pencil.

To balance the bold lip, Liam Carey, Senior Stylist for Ted Gibson, pin-curled the models’ hair. Then, keeping it soft, he styled tresses into dreamy side-ponys and updos*.

Amber, Marina, and I walked away from the Thuy show with a goodie bag filled with, well, goodies. Of the beauty treats, I am most excited to try Ted Gibson’s Beautiful Hold Hairspray; its fool-proof formula allows it to be layered depending on hair styling needs, and it has a sophisticated gardenia fragrance.

*Marina was so enamored with the models’ curly tresses, she accompanied me back to my hotel so she could use my T3 Medium Duality to re-create the look. Unfortunately, in the short period of time she had before her next appointment, she couldn’t figure out how to curl with the flat iron – so she straightened her hair instead. And it looked fabulous nonetheless.

Look at the models giving me face. I felt like Mario Testino.

America The Beautiful

Lancôme read about how I adored America Ferrera’s SAG look...so they sent me her red-carpet makeup recipe.

Celebrity makeup artist, Vanessa Scali used the following Lancôme products on America for the awards:

Eyes
Color Design Artist Palettes in Couture Warms and Stylish Neutrals
Artliner Precision Point Eyeliner in Noir
CILS Booster XL (super-enhancing mascara base)
High Definicils High Definition Mascara

Lips
Le Lipstique in Rasinberry
Color Fever Gloss in On Fire

Red Alert

What’s the secret to Gwen Stefani’s red lip? Apparently, it takes three products to create her signature shade. Try MAC Lip Pencil in Cherry, MAC Pro Lip Mix in Crimson, and Guerlain KissKiss Lipstick in Exces de Rouge.

Irresistible En Rojo

Get the Latin Grammy look at Clinique...
Fresh, flirty color for day - made sexy for night. All starring irresistable lips in Angel Red.

Day
Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Spicy
Cream Shaper For Eyes in Egyptian or Brown Sugar
High Definition Lashes Brush Then Comb Mascara
Up-lighting Liquid Illuminator in Peach or Bronze
Blushing Blush Powder Blush in Sunset Glow
Quickliner For Lips in Bon Bon

Night
Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Spicy
Brush-On Cream Liner in Deep Brown or Smoky
Cream Shaper For Eyes
Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Almond Blossom
Full Potential Lips Plump and Shine in Cherry Bomb

Doing It Well

Jennifer Lopez, and her rumored unborn twins, have been very busy lately. To promote her sixth studio album, Brave, Lopez has appeared on Good Morning America, The Late Show with David Letterman – and most recently, Dancing With The Stars.

But Jenny from the block isn’t satisfied with conquering the radio and small screen. She’s also on newsstands now – showing off her pregnancy glow on the November issue of Allure.

For Lopez's Allure cover look - dramatic false eyelashes, dewy skin, and glossy nude lips - her longtime makeup artist Scott Barnes drew inspiration from 1960s model Marisa Berenson. "I understand Jennifer's face so well I could do it in the dark. I have," he says. "She's my muse beyond a shadow of a doubt."

Recreating JLo’s makeup is as easy as 1, 2, 3:

1. Fill out the upper and lower lashlines with clusters of false lashes; they give a more natural effect than full lashes. Swipe a stroke of black liquid liner along both lids to camouflage the falsies. Brush black mascara on the top and bottom lashes.

2. Fill in the lips with a pale, nude pencil.

3. Add a layer of shimmery, clear lip gloss. Makeup artist Scott Barnes always uses his fingertips to apply the maximum amount.

To learn how to replicate the best beauty looks from the pages of Allure, go to Allure.com.

Primetime Emmys 2007 - A Retrospective

It’s the day after the 2007 Primetime Emmys…so without further ado, I bring you the obligatory red carpet recap.

Dude, Where’s My Makeup?

Rebecca Romijn looks like a beauty bandit snuck into her house and stole everything but her pastel makeup. Smart thief…I would have left it too. I really like Rebecca – she seems to be down to earth and unpretentious, but she’s a former model...so she, of all people, should know what looks good (and what doesn’t) in pictures. I would recommend a slightly stronger lip for Rebecca, such as Clinique Colour Surge Butter Shine Lipstick in Poppy Love. If I were her makeup artist, I would also coat her lashes with a few coats of Lancome Hypnose Custom Volume Mascara and use Benefit’s Gilded Eyeliner on the inside of lower lids to make her eyes pop.

Scarlet Fever

Like a timeless black dress, red lips never go out of style. So it should come as no surprise that we were seeing red last night, as more than a few starlets decided to match their lip color with that of the carpet.

Hot mama-to-be Christina Aguilera, and Katherine Heigl channeled old Hollywood - smartly pairing bold lips with lengthy lashes. I kinda wish Christina would have shown us a softer, less sultry side - but this is Mrs. Bratman's signature look...and she's gonna rock it 'til the wheels fall off.

As for Miss Heigl, "Congratulations" are an order. First she gets engaged, now she's an Emmy winner. She's come a long way since My Father the Hero.

To find a red that's wearable, use your complexion as a clue to finding your perfect hue. Blue-based reds give pale skin a boost - try Maybelline New York Moisture Extreme Lipcolor in Candied Apple. Gals with medium skin should choose orangey reds, like Nars Lipstick in Heat Wave. Ladies with dark skin can wear any red, as long as it's bright enough to show up. MAC Lip Pencil in Brick and Lipstick in Lady Bug is a winning combination for me.

Choosing Sides

Did I miss the memo? Did all of the attendees call each other on Saturday and coordinate their hairdos? I thought the point of these shindigs was to outdo the next girl, not be her carbon copy. Rashida Jones' makeup is beautiful, but her "side updo" falls flat...the bangs and side wisps look a little deflated and defeated.

Kate Walsh's do isn't exactly a don't - but between the red hair, lips, dress, and nails...it's just too much. So who am I siding with in the battle of the side updos? I'm crowning Heidi Klum the champ. The perfection that is Project Runway may have gone unacknowledged, but Heidi looked every bit the winner last night.

Not only did she choose the right makeup, she created her makeup! The collection is called the Heidi Klum Very Sexy Makeup Collection and will be available at Victoria's Secret in October. For more on the makeup Heidi wore, visit BellaSugar.com.

Life on the E List

Kathy Griffin is now an Emmy winner - but unfortunately, my favorite crazy comedienne has seen better days. First things first, Kathy - grow out those bangs...a nice side-swept bang would look so nice on you! And I would trade that nude lip for a soft rose-gold - try Clarins Lip Colour Tint in 19 Wild Berry.



Uh-Oh

Sandra, are you even wearing makeup? News flash: even the natural look requires makeup. Your Bottega Veneta dress, however, was gorgeous.



Pump Up the Volume

One of the series I'm most excited to return this fall is Heroes. So it pains me to be critical of Ali Larter, whose character is so fun to watch every week. Her skin looks flawless, and you can tell from her expression, that she's genuinely enjoying herself and excited to be there. But her hair is neither here nor there...looking at this and subsequent photos, it's clear that Ali's limp locks could use a little lift. A product like Phytovolume Actif Maximizing Volume Spray would add body to her fine hair.

The Sopranos

Who hit high notes last night? In my humble opinion, Eva Longoria looked anything but desperate - and set the bar high. She didn't pull any punches...instead opting for a look we've all seen before, but one that always delivers. As Rupert Everett says in My Best Friend's Wedding, "Love the bag, love the shoes, love everything!"

Honorable mention is awarded to both America Fererra and Hayden Panettiere. In a sea of reds and neutrals, it was so refreshing to see America in cerulean. And although her hair may have looked a little prom-ish from the front - trust me, her 'do was fierce.



Hayden didn't win high fashion marks with me, as her Marc Bouwer gown swallowed her petite frame. But her skin was youthfully dewy, her eyes sparkled, and she had this lit-from-with glow to her. Some of the vets could learn a few things from this newbie...when it comes to putting her best face forward, she's wise beyond her years.

Do you agree? Think I'm snarky cuz I'm jealous? Who do you think took top honors? Leave a comment below.

Sweet, But Tarte

I’m a marketing gal, so I can understand the appeal of Tarte Lipgloss. Each dual-ended gloss has one sheer side, one shimmery – the duo can be snapped apart so you can customize your ideal gloss pairing. And with adorable names like Romeo & Juliet, Cliff & Clair, and Baby & Johnny – who could resist?

But while the packaging is cute and clever, the truth is that Tarte Lipgloss is somewhat lacking in the lipgloss department. I have to admit that the non-tacky formula is refreshing and the color pairings are nice...unfortunately, the gloss falls short in many key areas.

First, the color payout is rather disappointing. If you’re looking for a very sheer gloss, then maybe this works for you. But I find that I need to coat my lips in a layer of sheer lip pencil, like Stila Glaze Lip Liner to get the color I originally thought came in the Tarte Lipgloss tube. Secondly, the gloss doesn’t last long; when I wear it, I constantly find myself having to re-apply. At first, I assumed this was a result of its non-sticky texture – but I have since purchased similar formulas (e.g. - Fresh Lip Shine) with superior staying power. Finally, if you’re going to call your product a gloss, then it should actually be glossy, right? Tarte Lipgloss is more creamy than glossy.

So if you’re looking for a sheer creamy balm, then this “gloss” is perfect for you. But for my money, I’d rather the manufacturer put a little more thought into the product and spent less time on the packaging.

Resurrecting A Classic

In 1939, Constance Frances Marie Ockelman made her motion picture debut in a film called Sorority House. Director, John Farrow, noticed how the unknown actress’ hair always covered her right eye, creating an air of mystery about her and enhancing her natural beauty. Ockelman was later introduced to Paramount producer Arthur Hornblow Jr., who renamed her Veronica Lake - “Lake” being inspired by the blueness of her eyes, and according to Hornblow, the name Veronica suggesting a classic beauty.

For fall 2007, everything old is new again. On runways and red carpets, old Hollywood reigns supreme with billowy waves and crimson lips reminiscent of Lake.

"Female icons of the '40s were strong and independent yet always flawless," says Pat McGrath, who channeled the decade behind the scenes at Gucci and Valentino.

To replicate this femme-fatale look, consider the following tips.

Lake-like Locks in Six Steps

Step 1: Protect ends, which receive the most exposure to high heat, with serum or a thermal styler. Step 2: Set the entire head in rollers. Step 3: Use a blow-dryer on the highest possible setting, to lock in the curls with heat, and follow with a blast of cold air. Step 4: Undo the rollers, flip your head over, and shake out the curls. Step 5: Define the curls with a large round brush and blow-dryer, paying special attention to the hair around the face. Step 6: Set with hairspray. Try Coiff Bouffant Lifting and Texturizing Spray Gel by Frederic Fekkai.

Cat Eyes Simplified

Look in the mirror, with your face turned at an angle. Pull your lid taut at the corner with your free hand. Then, starting a quarter of the way in, draw a thin line all the way out to your outer corner. Keep the line as close to your lashes as possible. Don’t panic if it’s a little crooked - you’ll be able to fix that later. When you get to the outer corner of your eye, draw the liner out and up to create a little wing, then go back and thicken up the line to correct any mistakes. Follow with two coats of volumizing mascara. Dramatically lined eyes are simple to achieve with CoverGirl Line Exact Liquid Liner Pen in Very Black (it's smudgeproof, easy to hold, and it has a precise tip) and Diorshow Mascara.

Screen Siren Smooches…Made Easy

To keep lipstick from bleeding, coat lips in red liner beforehand," says Lancôme Artistic Director Gucci Westman, who applied a chocolaty red at Peter Som. Get the look with Nars Lipstick in Fire Down Below and Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella.

On Cloud Nine

On August 23rd, MAC debuted Smoke Signals, a color collection of smoldering lids paired with sultry lips. That same day, beauty addicts were on cloud nine thanks to the simultaneous unveiling of Blue Storm.

On fall’s horizon, a new formation of hues: stratus blues, dense billowing pink-tinged cumulus, set against deep, rolling, overcast grays…a thunderclap of shades so intense, deeply pigmented and atmospheric, they take your eye to the heart if the storm with a look that is sophisticated, well-rendered, and paradoxically, calm. For the lips: light-filled bolts of clear silver, dusky pinks and red-sky-at-night plums. Forecast to last all fall and winter.

The Blue Storm collection includes:

Tinted Lipglass: Lightning (white silver w/ silver sparkle – frost); Lull (pink lilac – frost); Atmospheric (rich grape w/ red and gold pearl – frost)

Eye Shadow: Blue Storm (cool royal blue with blue and silver pearl – frost); Stormwatch (deep teal); Thunder (rich blue w/ purple pearl - frost); Cumulus (creamy gray w/ silver pearl – frost); Cloudburst (black w/ blue pearl – velvet)

Kohl Power Eye Pencil: Feline (rich black – frost); Mystery (rich black w/ green and teal pearl – frost);

Zoom Lash Mascara: Zoomblack (rich black)

Nail Lacquer: Whirlwind (metallic royal blue w/ green, blue and purple pearl – frost); Rainy Day (metallic gunmetal gray w/ lilac pearl – frost)

Thank you, MAC. I now have a blue crush.

Insider Tip: MAC shares your commitment to the environment, and accepts returns of its primary packaging through the Back to M·A·C Program. By returning six primary packaging containers to a counter or maccosmetics.com, you receive a free lipstick of your choice as a thank you.

Smoke Gets On Your Eyes

From yesterday's NY Post...I couldn't say it better myself, so I won't try...

When James Gager, Senior VP and Creative Director for MAC Cosmetics worldwide, was creating fall’s sultry Smoke Signals line - a collection of rich lipsticks, metallic brown and aubergine eye shadows, and dark purple and black nail polishes - there was only one woman on his mind: legendary Harlem-bred songstress Eartha Kitt. “This collection was inspired by jazz clubs in the ’30s and ’40s, and the idea that people are getting dressed up again. It’s a sense of glamour that has a little retro influence,” he says.

Gager said visions of Kitt performing in smoke-filled cabaret clubs while wealthy, well-dressed people sat in the audience is exactly the vibe he hopes customers will get when they use the new products.

“The smoky eye works beautifully with fall’s gray fashions, punctuated by purple and blue. A dramatic eye with a nude mouth, a little Veronica Lake, or with a red or burgundy mouth, like Eartha, is feminine but still glam,” he says. “This isn’t a look that’s so over-the-top that women can’t relate to it, or do it themselves.”

But while Kitt rocks a full face of makeup, including lengthy fake eyelashes, the still-working 80-year-old with remarkably good skin says she likes to stick to a more low-maintenance regimen.

“I never go to bed with makeup on. I wash my face with Oil of Olay soap with oil in it,” our favorite Catwoman says. “Then I squeeze real lemon juice, which works as a natural astringent, onto my face and hands. And I finish with olive oil as a night cream on my face and in my hair. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to look good.”

She even shot a music video - the MAC original “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” will be playing at all MAC stores.

“I feel like this collection was made for me, for women my color and even my age,” she says. “This lipstick ‘Burnin’ is my favorite, because I’m 80 and I’m still burning, baby.”

Colors featured in the Smoke Signals Collection include:

Gentle Fume Eyes Quad: Features three limited edition shades (Waft, Gentle Fume and Rondelle) matched-up with Carbon.

Smoking Eyes Quad: Features three limited edition shades (Next to Nothing, Smoking, and Showstopper) complemented by Satin Taupe.

Lipstick: Brew (creamy beige - lustre); Barely Lit (pink sand w/ gold pearl - lustre); Sparks Can Fly (creamy rose - frost); Mellow Flame (warm coral pink w/ red pearl - lustre); Burnin’ (rich wine - amplified)

Tinted Lipglass: Illicit (cream natural pink - cream); Soft & Slow (soft rose w/ gold pearl - cream); Bare Truth (warm caramel - cream); Bizaarish (burgundy w/ pearl - frost)

Kohl Power Eye Pencil: Orpheus (intense black w/ gold pearl - frost); Raven (intense black w/ red pearl - frost)

Powder Blush: Ablaze (deep dirty coraly rose - frost); Emote (gray brown - matte)

Pigment: Silver Fog (metallic mid-tone dirty silver - frost); Smoke Signal (rusty deep maroon - matte); Dark Soul (charcoal black smoked w/ gold)

Nail Lacquer: Wildfire (black w/ red pearl - cream); Nocturnelle (black as night black - cream)

Smoke Signals is now available at all MAC locations and at maccosmetics.com.