Back in 1989, I was into De La Soul, baby doll dresses with cowboy boots and 21 Jumpstreet. Yes, I know I’m old. This was also the time I was introduced to high end cosmetics. A bit much for a fourteen year old but it’s small when you compare that with the eight year old with an iTouch or your fourteen year old cousin showing off the iPhone she got for her birthday.  Since technology was dormant in the late 80′s my mother spoiled me with clothes and makeup. Our favorite makeup choice was Lancôme and if MAC made it’s debut in 1989 instead of 1994, I would have saved my mother a lot of money!

Another reason I was a fan: Isabella Rossellini: I adored this woman (and still do). She personified everything I found glamorous. Also, I yearned to sport a chic, short cut but my face isn’t perfectly sculpted like hers. I love that her daughter, Elletra is currently a feature Lancôme ad model.

You know how much I love and obsess over NARS cosmetics? Well this is how I was with Lancome back in the late 80′s – early 90′s. I was so obsessed that when we had to write predictions on our classmates in ten years in Creative Writing class, everyone wrote that I’d be some big shot makeup executive for Lancôme. Well at least they predicted that I’d still be obsessed over makeup ten years later accurately.

Unfortunately, I lost interest in Lancôme when I began to make my own money and eye other newer, shinier brands coming up around that time: Bobbi Brown, MAC, Urban Decay, NARS…I just fell out of love. You know when you experience your first love but then you realize it was lust because you had a wandering eye, then you stray and then you accept that you were immature and then you want to make nice again?

Okay maybe that’s just me but that’s exactly how I felt when I came across the new Lancôme lipstick collection – Rouge in Love. Cute packaging doesn’t hurt either!

It consists of eleven shades and categorized by three different moods: Jolis Matins (day wear), Boudoir Time (before cocktail hour) and Tonight is my Night (shades for full on glamour and seduction). This is a long wearing lipstick. New generation polymer guarantees up to six hours of featherlight, color rich intensity. It feels like a balm on the lips due to concentrated oils while shiny silicone provides glossy shine.

On my super sensitive lips, it dried down comfortably while leaving a rich violet stain. I got four hours of wear before reapplying. I do drink lots of water and coffee at the office so anything lasting over two hours is a big win for me. I don’t get a lot of irritation on my lips the next day after wearing but this does leave an intense stain after removal the night before. I probably will reserve this shade for date night, drinks with the girls or just when I need extra sass at the office. I am looking into another shade, perhaps from the Jolis Matin collection so I can wear it to work more than once a week.

The color I was drawn to is part of the Boudoir Time mood: #381B Violette Coquette and how could I pass up that sassy name?

(Photo taken with flash just so I could show the vibrancy of the color)

It’s a dramatic, cool tone red-violet. Normally, I would walk past this type of shade because it’s out of my nude pink comfort zone but I was looking for an alternative to the Summer orange lip and I was in the mood for a sultry night time lipstick.

I love this shade with a lightly lined eye (nude lids and black liner) or a very slight charcoal smoky eye. Also, I would pair with a berry toned blush. For extra definition, I lined my lips with MAC Vino (intense violet purple) lightly and blend on my lips then layer the lipstick straight from the tube. You should probably use a lip brush for neatness points but I’m lazy so that’s why I always lip liners.

This is a winner for me and perhaps the perfect way to lure me back to Lancôme but we would be friends with benefits because I am not ready for commitment just yet.

Retails for $25/USD and is available at all stores that offer the Lancôme cosmetic collection.

For more information click here.

Looking for a great new lipgloss that will not break the bank but will leave a lasting impression on your lips? Give essence a try the next time you are at your local Ulta. The color featured is: kiss kiss kiss – a cherry red shade.

The texture is creamy with a pretty medium thick consistency and it’s not as sticky as a MAC Lipglass. and this is surprisingly pigmented.  I layered this on top of a brick red lip liner for a more intense color, but honestly I could have used this without any lip pencil assistance.

The lip wand has a special shape for specific application. It was a bit awkward at first but I am assuming the applicator is shaped this way to contour the lips, while the rounded tips glide along the natural lip line.

I’m a traditional girl – I love the basic doe foot applicators. But I will say that by the time I reapplied after lunch, I got the hang of using this wand.

I was quite surprised that this lasted longer than some of my favorite glosses. After morning coffee and water, I still felt some of this gloss still lingering on my lips. I made it to almost four hours before having to reapply again. If you are sensitive to scents, beware as this does have a cherry bubble gum scent. However, it doesn’t last very long.

This comes in six different colors ranging from a milky nude to this sultry red – I hope more colors will soon follow. You can find the essence cosmetics line at your local Ulta, Fred Meyers and H-E-B stores. This retails for $2.29/USD. If you are a gloss fanatic, like yours truly, buying all six shades really won’t break your bank!

As you can see it gives decent coverage (shown without lip liner) making this an office friendly look for those too shy to sport a full on red pout. I would also pair this with a nude eye and a red creme blush for a flirty look.

This was sample was sent to me for review.

I love Marc Jacobs, no I really LOVE Marc Jacobs. I paid attention to his talent since he designed for Perry Ellis. I even forgive him for his ill fated grunge collection in the early 90′s. Until I can afford a MJ signature Stam bag, I will rock my Super Sonic Snake Embossed PVC Hillier hobo bag and small fabric makeup pouch from his secondary line, Marc by Marc Jacobs. That said, I always pay attention to every Marc Jacobs runway show.

But most of all, I love when he collaborates with NARS for his runway shows – Francois Nars was the lead artist.

The beauty trend featured luminous skin paired with a dramatic eye. “Marc didn’t want the makeup to look to couture, and with the hats by Steven Jones framing the face as they did, we needed to focus on one aspect” said NARS Founder and Creative Director Francois Nars. “We really wanted to create really fresh, radiant skin, no blush and a heavily lined lower eye. The shape is round and a cloudy color, taking reference from 1920′s Italian style icon and muse Marchesa Casati.”

The following key products were used to create this exclusive look:

FACE

·         Aqua Gel Luminous Oil-Free Moisturizer (New for Fall 2012!)

·         Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF30/PA+++

·         Loose Powder

EYES

·         Pandora Duo Eyeshadow

·         Bali Single Eyshadow

·         Black Moon Eyeliner

·         Larger Than Life Lengthening Mascara

·         Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara

I know this look is a bit severe but do understand that this is a runway look. The makeup helps tell the story of the woman that inspires this look. For the most part it is theatrical. But can this be translated for real life?

I take the beauty challenge and here’s my real-life translation:

I darken my brows with a cool toned charcoal brown shadow (MAC Showstopper, limited edition). I have really bad flashbacks of heavy black eye brows I sported in high school, therefore I wanted a really dark – almost black-brown eyebrow instead. When you have naturally light eye brows and you are a cosmetic novice at 15, you think that a black eye liner would make your brows look better. I am just glad I learned that mistake early in my cosmetic career! The rest of the eyes are super simple: (using NARS shadows) from the lash line to brow bone I used Abyssinia (delicate pearl sheen) and layered (lid only) Alhambra (golden champagne side of duo). I took a densely packed pencil brush and smudged the matte black side of the Pandora duo on my lower lash line. I finished with multiple coats of Armani’s Eyes to Kill Mascara. I also used NARS concealer duo Custard/Ginger under my eyes.

I left my cheeks bare and applied the Ginger concealer on my lips to neutralize my natural lip color and applied NARS lip gloss in Sweet Revenge (sheer grapefruit) for a touch of gloss.

Although my look is softer, I’m still not sure that I would be comfortable enough to sport this at the office. I would keep this on reserve for bar hopping with my girlfriends or going to a concert or art show openings with my husband. I like it because it’s a bit edgy but because of the lack of blush and bright lip color, it is also effortless.

NARS/MJ – never disappoint me!

I just learned the Francois’ beloved french bulldog and mascot to the brand, Marcel passed away on 2/22, RIP…

Just because Valentine’s Day dinner may be at home but that doesn’t mean it’s sweat pants optional! But no, I’m not suggesting to pour yourself into something uncomfortable and looks like it should stay on the pages of a Frederick’s of Hollywood catalog either. I will show you a makeup trick that takes less than ten minutes and really helps me fake dewy, luminescent skin.

Such a gorgeous look, especially in candle lit situations! This will definitely help set the mood and when eyes are looking at you with gorgeous “lit from within” looking skin – those eyes will have a hard time looking away.

All you need are two products to begin with (apply on top of clean, moisturized skin):

Foundation primer and a highlighting cream (NARS Illuminator in Copacabana, soft pink pearl)

I start with applying the primer by itself on my forehead, jawline and chin. Then I blend the two together on my hand:

And blend together:

I am a NC42 and find that this pearl shade works well for me. For fairer skin, I recommend NARS Orgasm Illuminator (peachy-pink). Don’t worry, this amount is not too much since you will then apply your foundation or tinted moisturizer on top of this layer. I like to concentrate the amount on the tops of my cheeks (cheekbone area), down the bridge of my nose and also I blend upwards between my brows. I would then apply a light layer of foundation, then contour my cheekbones with bronzer and apply a touch of peach blush at the apples. You should see some radiance through the foundation (granted you’ve applied a light layer).

However, if you feel you need more of a glow, take some of the highlighting liquid (shade of your choice) and gently dot along the top of your cheekbones working your way to the outer edge of you eyes. Take your ring finger and gently tap. Why the ring finger? It just happens to be the finger with the least amount of muscle so it’s also the preferred finger to use to apply your eye cream. Or instead of liquid, add extra sparkle with highlighting powder, I love NARS Miss Liberty (soft shimmering peach).With a tapered brush, I apply the powder on my cheekbones up the the outer corner of my eyes. Take a densely packed pencil brush, dip into the highlighting powder and apply to the inner corners of your eyes. The light shadow helps brighten and makes my eyes look bigger.

Feeling super sassy? Take a bit of highlighting cream and apply a touch at the bow of the top of your lip line and the inner corners of your eyes.

Your gorgeous face is now ready for that candlelight dinner even though it’s just Chinese takeout on a paper plate. Actually any time is good for lovely, dewy skin!

Mascara sales seem to sky rocket each year. With bigger brushes, longer wands….curved or spherical brushes and even vibrating brushes – at this rate of innovation, mascara will never go away. Make-up Designory (MUD) introduces mascara in another innovating package – squeezable tube.

This squeezable tube is perfect for professional makeup artistry and also perfect for the beauty artist in us all applying in our bathroom mirrors. MUD’s Mascara is less likely to spoil or dry out.

This is offered in two different versions – the one below is the Cream Mascara:

The picture on the top right is my eye with bare lashes and the bottom features a heavy application of cream mascara on my lashes. I concentrated most of the pigment at the base of my lashes and moved the wand in a horizontal back and forth motion then I moved the brush up to the tips. It did a decent job of curling my lashes without the use of an eye lash curler.

The cream brush has a great thick wand. Actually it reminds me of my current mascara love:

Giorgio Armani’s Eyes to Kill mascara wand on the left and MUD’s Cream mascara wand on the right. I love these types of wands because it packs on the pigment. I am a bad mascara applier at times – I don’t always wipe off the excess from the brush. I layer it on and if it clumps, I take a eye lash comb and pick it out. Now, I wouldn’t say that this mascara is a certifiable dupe for Giorgio Armani’s Eyes to Kill but it is a great alternative at a fraction of the price – MUD Squeezable Mascara goes for $14/USD vs. GA’s EtK goes for $30/USD. Also, it’s nice that the Cream brush is tapered at the tip making it easier to grab the inner corners of your top lashes. I don’t always do my bottom lashes but that tapered tip will make defining those shorter lashes easier to darken.

The second mascara I tried was the Volumizing Mascara:

I applied this the same way I applied the Cream Mascara. This gave great separation of my lashes as well as length. I find the name somewhat misleading because I found this to give me more length then it did volume.

I was impressed that it kept the my lashes curled the entire work day. It also did not flake or smudge. Also, I hope you have great eye makeup remover on hand because this formula is pretty pigmented that it takes some work getting it off!

The squeeze tube will take some getting use to but I can see it being tossed into my gym bag for weekend workouts. I also like that it takes up less space in my makeup bag. Speaking of the gym, I’m happy to announce that this mascara didn’t run at all and lasted through an entire sweaty spin class. I think that’s the best test barometer for any makeup/hair product staying power.

This is a great mascara for a price that is comparable to MAC’s Plush and Zoom lash ($15/USD).

You can purchase these at select MUD shops and boutique locations or www.mudshop.com

Samples were sent to me from Make-up Designory for consideration.

**MUD is a private post secondary institution that provides international training every year to students aspiring to become makeup artists in film, print and television. Specialties include beauty make-up artistry, hairstyling, portfolio development, character make-up and special effects. The school has two locations – Los Angeles and New York. The school has it’s own cosmetic line with items ranging from $8 – $26/USD, with retailers and distributors in the US, UK, Spain, Turkey, Japan, Australia, West Africa, Mexico, Guam and the Dominican Republic.**