Back to Beauty Blogging!

Uhhhh yeaaaa! I know - I've been gone for a LOONG time. So I'm going to be completely honest with you all! I'm not a consistent blogger (as you can tell). I really don't think what I have to say about makeup or trend is all that interesting to take up 5 minutes of your life once a week or once a month. However, my web designer, Kirsten said "MIA!! You have to BLOGGGG!" So here I go;)..... 

There is a lot going on in the world of fashion and trend. Let me run down the list briefly since I've been gone for a while.....

Marsala-Pantone 2015 color of the year

Marsala-Pantone 2015 color of the year

We have a NEW color for 2015, (which I'm sure you already know) MARSALA! Yes we like to cook with it, I prefer to drink it. Yet overall, it is such an amazing color. When I'm looking for a color in my kit that will flatter ANY SKIN TONE, Marsala is it. It's one of my cant-go-wrong/go-to colors that is great for makeup, nails and hair.

Fall 2015 Fashion Week 

Fall 2015 Fashion Week 

AND YESSSS!! FASHION WEEK!! As you are reading, the models are strutting down the cat walks of NYFW A/W 2015! The Fall season of 2015 is the season of cool, earthly neutrals paired with bold color statements. We will get more into that makeup color palette in upcoming months. 

And if you've visited your favorite clothing website lately (I ❤️️citychiconline for us curvy girls) you've probably noticed swimsuits or bikinis on the home page, which means it's SPRING. So even though you're probably still wearing your earmuffs and thermal long-johns, it's that time to get the Spring wardrobe together, for Makeup that is.

The classic black liner and mascara paired with minimal skin.

The classic black liner and mascara paired with minimal skin.

So the question is, what direction is the makeup trend going in for Spring 2015? Makeup has received a "downgrade" so to speak. It's an understated kind of makeup. Its no longer about trying too hard or wearing too much - that look has been passe for some seasons now. Makeup NOW is a more wearable makeup - a more lifestyle makeup. It's more acheivable (especially when we talk about technique).

Let's start by focusing on the backbone of eye makeup: black eye liner and mascara. Black eyeliner is classic, modern, and still very glam. As far as mascara - well what can I say... There is no happy-medium when it comes to putting on mascara this season. Lashes are jam-packed and fully loaded & coated with mascara.

Maybelline Great Lash & L'oreal Infallible Eyeliner

Maybelline Great Lash & L'oreal Infallible Eyeliner

Pairing this eye look with skin that has a "no makeup" type of look is key. Foundation and powder is minimal, brows are gently groomed, highlights are sheer and lips get a touch of lip balm.

Laura Mercier Oil free tinted moisturizer, NYX Tinted Brow Mascara and Rosebud Salve.

Laura Mercier Oil free tinted moisturizer, NYX Tinted Brow Mascara and Rosebud Salve.

I decided to create a similar look while pushing the envelope a bit. I created a wide-eye look by using graphic lines. To create this look, I used almost the exact same products listed above. However, I did substitute the pencil liner for Inglot's Gel liner using a MAC 210 brush. And of course nothing is complete in my life without a little sparkle and 3D glitter from MAC Cosmetics 

Stay classic, modern & GLAM! XO💄💋

Is Your Makeup Wardrobe Ready for Spring & Summer 2014? - Part 1

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If you live on the East coast like I do, you have experienced a wild ride with the weather. We have had snow stroms, ice storms, mild tempertures and freezing weather. With temps below zero, we usually like to wear more clothing and MORE makeup. More makeup is trendy in the Fall and Winter: fuller coverage on the skin, stronger contours on the cheek and deep colors on the lips. Autumn and Winter are the seasons when we can over-accessorize in clothing AND in makeup and get away with it. However, the reverse concept applies for Spring and Summer (S/S 2014). IT'S THE SEASONS TO WEAR LESS CLOTHES AND LESS MAKEUP.

For S/S 2014, the skin looks healthythe eyes have a very feminine detail. Think of eyeliner that is blurred and thick. The cheek is all about arrangements of highlights and shadows using color. There is a definite change in makeup!  RECHARGING SIMPLICITY -thats what this season is all about.

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Let's talk about skin first because there is a global obsession with obtaining beautiful, natural-looking skin. When approaching the face, its all about the nuances. The details of the skin goes back to how well it's hydrated and prepped BEFORE foundation. When the face is hydrated with serums and moisturizers it allows the skin to look supple, plumped and radiant. Priming the face allows for an optical diffused look and a smoother canvas. Imagine how paint looks on walls primed vs unprimed. The walls are smoother, the paint adheres better, and you can use LESS product. Now here is the trick for acheiving S/S 2014 skin: ITS ALL ABOUT USING LESS COVERAGE! SHEER FOUNDATIONS AND POWDERS. Think of how your legs look in sheer pantyhose vs. tights.

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The texture of the skin this season is matte with a seemingly glazed finish. The skin almost looks "photoshopped" without the Instagram filter. There is alot of detail in clothing this season so the MAKEUP IS MORE OF A WHISPER. You won't see a lot of shading and sculpting on the skin, but you will see spontaneous, yet strategic placement of highlights. Flashes of gold and silver, glitter and shimmer. Its beauty that looks diffused yet real.

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As we say goodbye to the  prominent contour, we are saying hello to blush. YES, there is a return to BLUSHing. The color palette is pinks and peaches. Many of us are used to styling the face by adding dimension with bronzers. However, cream blushes have emerged this season to help stylize the face. The structure of blush flushes up and out. If you start down in the hollow of the cheek, where you would normally contour, pull the color up onto the cheekbone. 

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Its more of a sporty yet feminine lookIts not about matte bronzey-browns on the cheek but more about a dewy pinky-peach on the cheek. Here's a tip: When wearing a "skin and cheek" look (like described above), there is sheer color on the eye and lip. The lip and cheek should harmonize to create a monochromatic color story.

But maybe you are more of an eye and lip girl?? Want to know what should be in your makeup bag to be prepared for this Spring and Summer? Stay tuned for MAKEUP WARDROBE PART 2! 

 

Tips, Tricks & Techniques- Winter Trends 2014

 

LAST SEASON, MAKEUP WAS ALL ABOUT A SIMPLE, UNDERSTATED, UNFUSSY MAKEUP! For  2014, makeup has a more moody and mysterious feel but still has a soft side! This season is more punk and grunge, yet still very alluring. If you haven't noticed the direction makeup is going in, it's not your everyday, pretty pin-up makeup we are used to. The trend isn't about putting your face through a metamorphose, yet it's about magnifying and amplifying the person that's wearing the makeup!

If you're playing up your eyes this season, they should be strong, tough, dark with ALOT of blacks and blues.

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At the same time, the eyes can also have a very ghostly feel to them.

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When it comes to your lips, if it's not red - don't wear it. Whether matte or glossy, a deep rich ruby or a bright red-orange, it's all about that RED lip.

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Finally, the lips and eyes have to be pulled together by perfected skin. It's all about that luminous-glowy skin with seamless highlights and a glossy sheen texture.

 

 

Just in case you didn't know, makeup is BACK this season!!!!!