How to Go Nude
If you’ve ever applied nude makeup you probably know what it means to look washed out, or worse, like you haven’t done a thing. “A lot of women thinks nude means pale,” said Kimberly Soane, Bobbi Brown’s director of global artistry, when nude is actually about highlighting your natural skin tone. Here are some tips on how to get this timeless, goes-with-everything look.
The Best Nude Lipsticks, Glosses and Pencils
Lips
The key to nude lips is choosing a shade with a hint of color. You’re not trying to neutralize your entire face. Needless to say, the color of your skin tone determines what product you choose, but the idea is to brighten your pout.
For pale skin, try a peachy-pink color; for olive skin tones, choose a warm color with gold or caramel undertone, like NARS Buenos Aires Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil ($24; available April 15 at Narscosmetics.com); and for darker skin choose a deep honey or light coffee color.
Nails
A nude polish is a universally flattering color that works with every outfit. Yep, all of ’em. The nice thing about a neutral nail is that you don’t necessarily have to wear polish; if you’re happy with your natural nail, just add a glossy coat.
But a nude nail can look very bridal, and while we adore the classic imagery, it might not be ideal on a day-to-day basis. Choosing a good color depends on how bold you want to go; we like the beige-colored Sally Hansen Smooth and Perfect polish in Dune ($5.50, Drugstore.com). As long as the color appears natural and makes your nails look healthier than before, you’ve perfected a nude nail.
Editor’s Picks: The Best Spring Lipsticks
Skin
The idea with nude skin is to enhance your natural skin tone and draw out your best facial features. “When you create a makeup [look] based on the tones already found in your face, you will, in fact, create your perfect personal nude,” said Soane. Like choosing the right blush: “If you pinch your cheek, that will be your perfect nude blush,” she added.
Also note that your skin’s nude will change with the seasons. What works in winter may not work in the summer. We really like Bobbi Brown Brightening Finishing Powder ($50, Bobbibrown.com). After you’ve applied your makeup, dust this powder across your face lightly to blend colors and add a little evening sparkle to your face.
Eyes
The fantastic thing about a nude eye is that it kills two birds with one stone: hides dark circles and adds a little color to your face at the same time. Depending on the look you’re going for, you can use a nude shadow to conceal a rough night’s sleep. Select a color almost identical to your skin tone and apply generously to your lids.
To draw attention to your eyes and enhance their natural color, follow the same color guidelines that you did for your lips. Try Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips in Nude ($11, Ulta.com), a product with nine shades to help you figure out which one matches your tone.
Have you mastered the nude look yet?
Photo: Frederic Cirou @ PhotoAlto Agency RF Collections
 DailyMakeover.com from Makeover Solutions, Inc., is the web’s leading beauty information site, providing virtual makeover technology and content for women to create personalized makeovers. DailyMakeover.com’s virtual Makeover Studio enables users to see themselves wearing numerous hairstyles, makeup shades and fashion accessories to create their best makeovers, which can be saved, printed, or emailed. DailyMakeover.com is headquartered in New York City. |
5 Long-Lasting Eyeliners
I have a confession. While my blog is centered around my love for mascara, it’s not actually my favorite beauty product. I don’t mind leaving the house without mascara on, but will I ever leave without eyeliner? Heavens no! Eyeliners are fantastic at defining your eyes and making you appear more awake, which is incredibly important if you’re a chronic blogger that can spend 12-18 hours in front of a computer. Check out some of my favorite luscious and long-lasting liners, and see if they don’t become your must-have beauty tool, too!
If your eyes are super sensitive to the products you use, then you will love Tarte’s SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner ($25 on Sephora.com). Aside from being nice and creamy, this eyeliner is paraben-free and has Amazonian clay to moisturize your lids. Oh, and the best part? It also has a smudge brush at the end of it, making it easy to create the perfect smoky eyes.
For an eyeliner that won’t cost you a ton of money, Essence’s Eyeliner Pen in Black ($2.49 on Ulta.com) has you covered. What can you expect from an eyeliner that costs less than $3? A whole heap of magic with a smudge-proof formula that does a great job at lasting throughout the day and goes on precisely every time thanks to the Japanese felt tip. This eyeliner had me at hello.
CoverGirl LiquiLine Blast Eyeliner ($7.03 on Drugstore.com) is definitely one of my favorite eyeliners simply because the pigments are so intense. It comes in six different colors from Green Glow to Blackfire, but my favorite is Blue Boom which has a metallic finish and looks stunning on the lower lash line. For those days when you don’t feel like wearing an eyeshadow, these liners will make your eyes pop with minimal effort.
One liner that I will forever repurchase is Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero ($18). Even if my eyes water up due to allergies, I accidentally rub my made-up peepers or I fall asleep without washing my face (the horror!), this eyeliner won’t go anywhere. The price is a little steep, but with quality this good I just can’t live without it!
Sally Hansen’s Natural Beauty Forever Stay Eye Pencil ($7.95 on Drugstore.com) is a paraben-free liner that really surprised me! It has a stellar formula that not only feels good on the lids, but lasts all day, too. It can be really difficult to find affordable paraben-free eyeliners that also work well, so this baby is definitely one to grab—and fast!
Do you love eyeliners? Which of these is your fave? Which beauty product do you never leave the house without?
-Brittany Thomas for ClumpsOfMascara.com
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Carmindy Shares Her Best Blush Tips
Super chic fashion make-up artist, Carmindy, from the hit show What Not to Wear and author of Crazy Busy Beautiful, Get Positively Beautiful, and The 5-Minute Face, shares her tips and tricks for making the most out of your blush this fall.
It’s time to put away the bronzers and self-tanners because fall is here. Though don’t think you have to be basking in the sun to get a gorgeous glow. Blush creates a fresh and youthful look, and while it’s universally flattering on everybody, you may find yourself spending hours trying to find the perfect shade for your complexion.
Choosing the correct shade of blush for your skin tone is key to achieving that perfect flushed look. Carmindy recommends pink for fair skin, coral for olive skin, and terra-cotta-ish for dark skin. We love NARS Super Orgasm Blush, (Sephora, $27.00), the perfect mixture of shimmering pinky/peach, not to mention flattering on all skin tones.
Achieving a natural-look with blush is all about the application. “Use a big fluffy powder brush to swirl on powder blush and use upwards sweeps starting at the apples and working back to hairline,” she says. Carmindy recommends using a big powder brush for powder blush (a regular size blush brush picks up too much color often resulting in inconsistencies in coverage). Carmindy also recommends using a synthetic dome brush like MAC 197 Duo Fibre Brush (MAC, $42.00) or even your fingers.
For applying cream blush, the tools are very simple-“For cream blush use your fingers and apply in circular motions the same way,” she says. We love the Blushwear Cream Stick (Clinique, $19.00), an easy-to-apply blush in flirty colors Rosy,Peachy, Glow and Shy.
When it comes to her favorite brands of blushes, Carmindy has no problem naming her top picks- “My Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Sheerest Cream Blush is the best there is,” she says. Another favorite: “I love the powder blushes by MAC for their color range,” she says.
With all the various types of blushes (powder, creme, and cheek stains) out on the market, it can be tricky to pin-point which is the best for your skin-type. “Powder blush is great for more intensity and for oily skin,” she says. “For drier skin and mature skin cream blush looks a but more natural and dewy.” Athletic women should turn to stains to achieve the best look- “stains are best for really active sporty women who need a waterproof or sweat-proof color,” she says.
For more fabulous tips on blush or makeup,visit Carmindy’s website.
Fashion Week Favorite Beauty Round-up
Hair:
We loved the effortless look with a new “twist” Ted Gibson created for Lela Rose: “The new braid for Spring!” We can actually do this one ourselves.
We think textured, beachy So-Cal hair like the looks created by curl expert Ouidad backstage at Timo Weiland will be an easy trend to create at home this Spring and Summer. Try a loose updo topped with a sporty backwards baseball cap.
We saw a chic, sleek pony styled by Renato Campora for Frederic Fekkai at Marchesa. Dress it up by wrapping a section of hair around ponytail to conceal the band.
Make-up:
The look at Rachel Zoe was a heavy eye with natural lips. The lipstick from her new Exude line was used on the models in Nude.
We are so obsessed with the retro matte eyeshadow topped with black liquid liner we saw backstage at Alice+Olivia, created by Sarah Lucero for Stila on Beauty.com. Perfect!
Buy Now, Stila Matte Eyeshadow, $18
Buy Now, Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, $20
Brows are going to be huge for Spring! The models at Altuzarra sported minimal makeup but with serious brows created by MAC make-up artists. They were also responsible for the major brows backstage at Proenza Schouler and paired them with pretty flushed cheeks.
Statement-making brows were the theme backstage at Cynthia Rowley too, where Make-up Forever artists used shadow to fill them in.
Brows were a big part of the look created by Francois Nars, founder of NARS cosmetics, for the Marc Jacobs show. A strong brow was paired with major lashes and nude lips inspired by Amy Winehouse.
Buy Now, NARs Eyebrow Pencil, $21
Nails:
We spotted pretty and preppy pink striped nails at Rebecca Minkoff. To get this look, paint vertical stripes using essie’s bright Pink Parka over essie’s Below the Belt white.
Buy Now, Essie Below the Belt White, $3.44
Sally Hansen’s natural looking Parchment Complete Salon Manicure polish was used to create the natural-looking nails backstage at one of our favorite young designers, Alexander Wang.
Buy Now, Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Polish, $6.99
Poppy red nails looked fresh on the models at Jason Wu. Their nails were polished with OPI’s Monsooner or Later.
Buy Now, OPI Monsooner or Later, $7.50
Check out our backstage photo albums from fashion week on facebook:
Fashion Week Spring 2012
Pamella Roland Presentation
Rachel Roy Presentation
Rachel Zoe Show Backstage
Check out our Fashion Week Flashback: Best Beauty Tips for Fall/Winter 2011:
Perfect Manicure & Pedicure:
Best Colors & Products for Summer+Giveaway
When it comes to summer style, some of the staples that first come to mind are a chic bikini, breezy sundress, and great pair of sandals. But one of the most important accessories for summer is a perfect manicure and pedicure. We’ve picked the hottest polish colors and products to get your hands and feet looking their best this summer.
Polishes:
For the natural girl who likes a subtle, sheer shade, Essie’s Petal Pink
If you’re looking for beachy brights, we love Essie’s Mod Squad
Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure polishes have unique flat brushes that allow polish to go on smoothly and effortlessly, perfect for anyone who finds that her self-applications tend to be either streaky or bubbly. There are tons of great colors to choose from, such as Casting Call, a flattering pink coral for cool skin tones, or Fever, an orange coral ideal for warm skin tones.
If you’re a fan of classic red, Sally Hansen’s Runway Red-y can’t be beat, and neither can the drugstore prices! Both of these shades are summer limited editions (available at drugstores nationwide).
It’d be impossible to write a round-up of the best nail polish shades without including a product by Chanel. The intriguing Paradoxal is the perfect shade of deep purple (with a hint of sparkle that is only visible in direct light). This is a great color for all seasons.
Products:
A few new nail products have come out recently making at-home mani-pedis super easy. You can get a professional finish at home with Kiesque Liquid Palisade. It looks like lavendar liquid eyeliner, and you put it wherever you don’t want polish. It works as a shortcut for French manicures or trendy half-moon styles, or you can just put it on your cuticles and around your nail edges and peel it off when dry to reveal a perfect polish job.
Essie Quick-E Drying Drops might just be life changing. We’ve all tried so many top coats that claim to make polish dry faster, but none works as well as these drops. Plus, the dropper application spreads evenly and penetrates nail polish, causing it to dry almost instantly and leaving a great layer of shine.
Ever plan on getting a pedicure after work, only to realize you don’t have flip-flops to change into? Or wished you had a comfy pair of flats with you to relieve the pain of your sexy pumps? CitySlips CityFlips have you covered. This make-up case contains a pair of foldable flip-flops and doubles as a tote to carry your heels in. It’s easy to carry in your bag at all times. Now you won’t have to tip-toe around with wet toes in those salon-provided paper sandals.
Have a hand-and-foot obsessed friend? Forward them this article!
To enter for a chance to win a mani-pedi gift bag, including a pair of CityFlips, like us on Facebook!
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color, $4.99
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Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color
Our favorite: Petal Push (04) Price: $4.99 |
