Fashion Savvy - Fashion, Beauty, & Style » Eye Makeup

Three beauty looks to get ready for the holiday party season

fashion — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:24:08 +0000

(ARA) – With the season of soirees upon us, the ultimate look is needed to stand out among the crowd of little black dresses. With a few simple steps, it’s easy to have the appearance of professionally done makeup without emptying your wallet. Be your own makeup artist by trying these three looks from the pros to accent your best features.

Smokey eyes
International makeup artist, Jemma Kidd recommends a dramatic smoky eye to pump-up the glam.

Step 1 – Sweep a light highlighter shade over the whole lid to the browbone.

Step 2 – Apply a dark and intense shade along the lashline, blending up and smoking outwards to the socket line.

Step 3 – Smudge eyeliner across upper and lower lashline; use black for ultra intensity.

Step 4 – Finish off with dark, black mascara, and for a full on look, go for false eyelashes. For an ultra-modern take, add a touch of glitter to lower lids and lashes.

Tip: To finish off the face, use a nearly-naked base, with barely-there flush on cheeks and a nude color for the lips.

Natural perfection
Petra Strand, makeup artist and creator of Pixi, firmly believes that makeup should make a woman look like herself – only more gorgeous.

Step 1 – Prime the skin with a primer – skin will look youthful, glowing and hydrated.

Step 2 – Switch to a base that is sheer and use a concealer for those areas that need a little extra help. Your complexion will look naturally flawless.

Step 3 – Use a cheek gel instead of regular blush to give an instant “lift” with a transparent touch of color on the apples of the cheeks.

Step 4 – Switch from full coverage lipsticks to a tint of color that has both the moisture and treatment of a balm for a perfect pout.

Tip: The next generation of powders is here with a diffused matte finish that is truly perfect to “set your makeup” so that it goes the distance yet you look “fresh as a daisy.”

Sophisticated glamour
For classic holiday glam, celebrity makeup artist Napoleon Perdis recommends being bold and brilliant.

Step 1 – Prime your skin for a flawless canvas for makeup application and follow with your perfect foundation match for full coverage and matte skin.

Step 2 – Make a lip statement. Red lips are the most glamorous trend of the season. Pick your favorite red and make sure to always apply lip liner to prevent bleeding. To give the illusion of fuller lips, dab some gloss only on the center of the pout, over lipstick.

Step 3 – To perfectly complement your bold lips, keep the eyes neutral. Use a neutral and easy palette of taupe eye shadows for a seductive eye.

Tip: Complete the look with black mascara – always remember that three coats is the magic number, and a look is never complete without show-stopping lashes.

Don’t have all that’s needed for the ultimate glam look to show off your best assets? Relax, Target has you covered. Pick up premiere makeup products at budget-friendly prices from Pixi, JK Jemma Kidd and NP Set at Target stores nationwide and at target.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Beauty basics to help you embrace autumn

fashion — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:05:03 +0000

(ARA) – Fall is a time of transition. Not only do you need to prepare your skin for the cold months ahead, but it’s time to transform your look from light and airy to soft and classic.

Focus on a few beauty basics – skin, make-up, fashion and fragrance – and you’ll have all you need for a fantastic fall.

Great skin is always in
As the weather gets cooler and drier, your skin needs extra moisture to keep it supple. Keep warm weather memories alive with a scent reminiscent of summer and try Coconut Milk Body Lotion from The Body Shop. Treat yourself to the finest ingredients – ethically sourced community trade virgin coconut oil from Samoa – and get soft, smooth and deliciously scented skin.

Pucker up
Autumn lips are washed in soft color. International make-up artist Chase Aston says this fall is all about the perfect pout and recommends Colourglide Lip Color from The Body Shop.

Aston shares his tips for luscious and gorgeous lips:
* Use a lip liner for added definition and to help prevent feathering.
* Enhance the natural color of your lips by gently gliding on lip color. For added pout power, use a lipstick/concealer brush.
* Look for a shade that complements your skin tone. With 37 shades, you can easily find Colourglide Lip Color that works for you.

Ultra-modern eyes
This fall, dramatic smoldering eyes are what’s fabulous.

To achieve fall’s hottest eye looks, Aston gives these sizzling tips:
* Smudge together forest green, shimmering grey and lilac to create a chic, modern, smoky eye.
* To create an intense, sultry eye look, look for a palette that features a warm trio of rich brown, golden copper and shimmering sand hues.
* Try a metallic eye definer. Alone, it can be used to line and define or use it to complement your favorite eye shadow. “Choose shades that contrast your eyes to make them pop,” says Aston. “Apply color to the eyelid or along the lash-line as an accent for impact.”

Bundle up
Classic, “back to basics” clothing was all the rage on the fall runways. This season’s must-have piece is the crisp white jacket that works with everything from jeans to a little black dress. The key accessory to sport is perfectly fitting with the chill in the air – gloves. Half gloves, fingerless gloves and long gloves are gracing the arms of starlets walking the red carpet and go with everything from rugged parkas to dainty and ladylike skirts. If you’ve got a special occasion to dress for, or if you’re just plain feeling glam, the gold dress, inspired by the rich tones of autumn, is the choice for your holiday parties.

For more information on fall beauty basics, visit TheBodyShop-USA.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Top 5 must-have summer beauty essentials

fashion — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:45:21 +0000

(ARA) – Summer means making memories with friends and loved ones. There are more cameras at summer events than there are at a movie premiere, and you’ll want to look your best while you beat the heat.

Fortunately, a handful of products that should have a spot in your beauty bag can protect your skin while giving it a sun-kissed glow. Here are the top five affordable luxuries you should have in your makeup kit this summer to keep skin looking healthy, glowing and gorgeous:

1. Bronzed beauty
Just a few years ago, women spent hours soaking up the sun without the protection of sunscreen. Today, we know the dangers of the sun’s UVA and UVB rays and their potential to seriously damage skin. Instead, try Bronzing Powder from The Body Shop in a shade to match your skin tone. Each shade contains the antioxidant vitamin E to protect your skin and Community Trade marula oil, a highly effective moisturizer. Apply bronzing powder over foundation or add shimmer by wearing alone on the face and cheeks.

2. Mascara that stands up to summer
The heat of summer can lead to less-than-beautiful raccoon eyes, so it’s important to have a good waterproof mascara in your toolkit that can stand up to the ocean, the pool and even an afternoon running through the sprinkler.

3. Bright eyes for hot nights
One of the most affordable ways to update your summer look is with eye color and this season’s hottest shades are intense. Celebrity makeup artist Chase Aston recommends Hot Brights Eye Color (available at BodyShop-USA.com). His favorite color combinations? Violet Sunset — a flirty pairing of dusky pink with rich mauve and Pearly Sky – a vibrant deep aqua combined with earthy cream..

“Violet Sunset is the perfect color palette for summer smoky eyes. For both the day and night, smudge this intoxicating color palette around the eyes,” says Aston. “These satin soft shades in Pearly Sky glide onto the eyes, creating a burst of color that shimmers in the sun for fresh, flirty hues for those hot summer days.”

4. Cool and refreshing
Whether you spent your day at a barbecue or the beach, it’s likely you’ll need a quick cool down at dusk. The Body Shop’s Peppermint Cooling foot spray refreshes and revives hot and tired feet and legs in seconds with Community Trade peppermint from England.

5. Vacation beauty
If a vacation or quick weekend getaway is in the cards, make sure your travel kit is packed with travel-sized essentials like mini body butters, scrubs and skincare travel kits from The Body Shop. They save room in your suitcase and provide a beautiful summer glow no matter where you jet off to.

With your summer beauty bag packed, make sure you’ve got other essentials covered. Rock the retro look with a pair of candy-colored, 80’s inspired sunglasses. A stylish and oversized black straw hat looks at home on the runway or shading out the sun and a brightly colored sarong that can go from beach cover-up to casual dinner wear will having you feeling like a gilded goddess.

For more information on summer beauty essentials, visit www.theBodyShop-USA.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Fall for a new makeup look

fashion — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 21:40:13 +0000

(NC)-Crisp autumn air may be beckoning your cozy sweaters out of storage – but that doesn’t mean your hot summer look has to cool down too. Celebrate autumn’s arrival with seasonal shades that effortlessly update your look.

“Continuing from spring and summer, one of the big beauty trends this fall is colour” says Lynda Rose, vice president of sales and marketing for Mary Kay Cosmetics Ltd. “That’s why we’ve created our limited-edition Colour Fusion Collections for eyes and lips.”

Designed for all skin tones, the sets are packaged in deliciously appealing chocolate brown compacts that feature a clear window for easy shade identification and easily slip into party purses.

For eyes, mattes mix with pearls, and pastels mingle with both neutral and plum shades – perfect for creating day or evening looks. Lip duos feature three gorgeous combinations, in a moisturizing formula that lasts up to six hours.

“Fall is also a great time to switch-up your fragrance,” says Rose. “While a lighter fragrance is perfect for summer months, fall is a great time to opt for a more substantial scent.”

Bella Belara Eau de Parfum – a new addition to Mary Kay’s fragrance lineup, that builds on their popular Belara brand – is a fruity floral fragrance that includes notes of apricot, Moroccan jasmine and creamy blond woods in a flirty pink bottle.

So while you’re choosing which fall fashion trends to add to your closet, don’t forget to add something fresh to your beauty routine. With so many warm scents and spicy new shades to choose from, you’re sure to heat up your look straight through to the holidays.

You can locate an Independent Beauty Consultant online at www.marykay.ca or toll-free at 1-866-455-5454.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

An Eye for an Eye: How to Make Those Peepers Pop!

fashion — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 01:06:35 +0000

5 Ways to Bigger Eyes

They say that eyes are the window to the soul. Some women, however, are just not blessed with big picture windows. Small eyes can be a problem if you want your eyes to stand out, but there are ways to solve the problem. The proper makeup techniques can help you make those small peepers pop.

The first place you will want to look in order to create bigger, bolder, and more expressive eyes is to your eyeliner. Eyeliner can be the cure to your small eye blues, but only if you use the correct techniques. First of all, you will want to line the entire top lash line and then extend that line slightly at the corners of your eye. If you like, you can also line the bottoms of your eyes, but make sure you concentrate color only on the outside third of the eye and extend is just slightly past the edge. Don’t be too dramatic, but just a slight line beyond the outside edge will do the trick. Keep in mind that a soft and smoky look will open your eyes up more than thin hard lines of liner will. Use dark and neutral colors with just a little hint of black for lining, since bright shades are what will make your eyes look even smaller.

The other place to concentrate your eye enlargement efforts would be on your lashes. Eyelashes are a great eye opener. Before you ever apply mascara, you will want to curl your lashes three times: once at the base, another half way up, and a third time at the tip. This will help to create a gentle, rounded curl of your eyelash. Then, as you apply your mascara, take care to fan out your lashes as you go. Do so by brushing the inner third of your lashes toward your nose. Pull the middle third straight out. Then, take the outer third of your lashes and brush them toward your temples. By exaggerating your eyelashes in this manner, you will be able to draw attention to your eyes and help them to stand out. The more they stand out, the bigger they will appear to be.

Thirdly, look to your eye shadow. Use caution when doing so, however. Though it is a commonly held belief, dramatic eye shadow will not make your eyes stand out. The truth of the matter is, it will do just the opposite. Too much dramatic eye shadow will cause your eyes to shrink by shading them back into your face. If you do have small eyes, you will want to keep eye shadow really simple. Use only light-colored shadows first of all. Secondly, never wear more than two shades at one time. Remember, simplicity will be your friend here. Brush a light, subtle base color form your lashes to your brow. Next, use a slightly darker shade to create just a subtle definition in your eyelid’s crease. By keeping your shadow simple and subtle, you can enhance your eyes and avoid hiding them on your face.

A fourth way to enhance your eyes is to work on the area around them. For instance, dark circles will make your eyes look even smaller than they are. If you have deep circles around your eyes, they can even make your eyes look sunken. To fix the problem, use a concealer that is just slightly lighter in the dark circle areas. By simply ridding yourself of the circles, you will be able to enhance your eyes.

Lastly, think about the shape of your eyebrows when trying to enhance your eyes. Your eyes will seem smaller and closer together if you have brows that are too close together or heavy. To help spread out your eyes and open them, tweeze your eyebrows further out than you might normally. If possible, it is best to get your eyebrows about an eye length apart if you can.

Large eyes may be a blessing, but small eyes are not a problem. By simply understanding where to concentrate your efforts, you make those small eyes pop and look great. Practice your makeup techniques and taking care of the skin around your eyes and you will find that opening and enlarging your eyes is easy and even a little bit fun.

Mascara: The Equivalent of the “Basic Black Dress” in your beauty repertoire

fashion — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 09:43:51 +0000

Few people can deny the power of mascara. Everyone knows that the “basic black dress” can be worn for a variety of occasions, formal and semi-formal. Sometimes even casual. Likewise, mascara is always there, always in style. A black dress is timeless in its fashion, and mascara, too, is never out of date. And, just as that black dress is versatile, matching everything and infinitely malleable to the situation in a variety of styles, mascara, too offers a great deal of versatility and options.

The reason that mascara is so necessary is because it enhances the eyes. Many people agree that the eyes are the most attractive feature, and mascara’s sole purpose is to call attention to the eyes and accent them, framing them with long, thick lashes. Mascara works by coating the lashes with a cosmetic that causes them to curl up and away from the eyes. This leaves the eye looking more open and wider. Additionally, the coating also creates a thickness on the lashes. This serves to better frame the eye and draw attention to this “window.”

Even if a woman does not have time to meticulously apply eye shadow, she can help enhance her eyes by quickly applying mascara. Eye shadow is not even strictly necessary when one has mascara. It is a quick beauty tip that can help the eye look more beautiful without having to “over dress” it with shadow. Just like the basic black dress, it adds a simple and almost natural elegance that can actually be marred by greater flamboyance.

Another thing that is great about mascara is its adaptability. You can choose different types of mascara depending on your mood or your needs. There are different styles of mascara that you can choose, depending upon how your natural lashes look. Just as the cut of a dress can help enhance how you look, choosing lengthening mascara or thickening mascara can help you fit your choice to the needs of your eyes, much as you match a dress to the needs of your shape and figure. And of course, it is possible to do the basic black dress one better when you use mascara to dress the eye. Mascara comes in a variety of shades and colors so that you can get a more natural look by wearing something closer to your natural hair color, or create dramatic effect by wearing blue or purple mascara that can serve to further enhance the look of the eye.

Mascara comes in two main varieties: regular and waterproof. Each of these has its own benefits. Regular mascara is easier to remove, and it can be less irritating to the eyes. Waterproof mascara, on the other hand, is advantageous because it allows you to look great at the beach or at a pool party. It stays on much longer, and it is resistant to smearing and streaking, even when tears are shed. If you plan to be working out or being near water, waterproof mascara can be a great choice.

But, just like anything close to the eye, it is important to use mascara with caution. Carefully apply it, taking care to avoid getting it in your eyes. You should never apply mascara while in a moving vehicle, whether it is a train or a car, and you definitely should not attempt its application while you are driving. Suddenly stops, turns, or jolts can result in serious eye injury. There are also health concerns when using mascara. You should never use someone else’s mascara. The germs that others have and live with are different from the ones that your body is used to. The eyes are very sensitive and can easily be infected by foreign organisms. Most mascara is only good for use for about three months. After that it tends to be contaminated and dry. Try to buy a new tube every three months, and avoid moistening the mascara with your saliva or with tap water. Again, this can cause eye infection.

Using mascara properly as a member of your beauty repertoire can help you feel better about yourself and easily enhance your most attractive feature: you eyes. The fact that it can be used along to affect a significant change in your look is enough to secure mascara as the “basic black dress” of cosmetics.