Sunkissed 70’s Look: Get The Look of Ali MacGraw

I just want summer to be here! Here’s a very easy to wear sunkissed 70’s look. It’s a nice look, but man, I hate 70’s hair…

FACE: Apply a no-fuss tinted moisturizer to clean skin. I like the formula and color selection of Bobbi Brown SPF Tinted Moisturizer. Dust a natural looking bronzer like Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder all over the face. Apply a little more to the cheeks to use as a blush.

EYES: Brows are thick and very natural. Apply a clear brow wax such as Anastasia Brow Fix Clear Wax Pencil. Apply a cream eyeshadow with your finger tips to the entire eye lid. I like the color of NARS Single Cream Eyeshadow in Corfu, a slightly glimmering taupe. Line top lashes and bottom lashes closely with a soft liner pencil like L’Oreal Le Kohl Pencil Smooth Defining Eyeliner in a charcoal shade like Smoke. Apply a black mascara to top and bottom lashes.

LIPS: Lips are a pale taupe. MAC Lipstick in Tanarama is the perfect shade for this look. Apply it to lips and then blot on a tissue to finish this laid back look.

This really is a simple, quick look that works blondes, brunettes, redheads, anybody with a warm, tan complexion. You can even be like Ali and not wash your hair for it…

 

Avon Candid Perfumed Skin Softener Lotion

Weekly Cheap Secret:

I love these little old school highly fragranced body lotions. I hope Avon realizes that this “retro” packaging is what sells these Perfumed Skin Softeners. Well, at least it does for me. I like to have them out, there isn’t a logo, a label. They are just in a “sphere”. They really look nice in a boudoir. They retail for about $5 and are frequently on sale for about 99¢ on Avon’s website.

Candid is a nice fragrance for those that like a classic late 70’s floral oriental type fragrance. I love a late 70’s oriental. It’s a dated blend of heady jasmine, red roses, woodsy but feminine sandalwood with vetiver. It manages to smell “fresh” and clean, I guess because of the vetiver. The scent isn’t very complex. It’s all blended together to make a feminine, fresh oriental scent. I find that it does mix well with pure fragrance oils of any of the scents mentioned above. I love to wear it with either jasmine or rose to bring out the feminine quality. I can make it more masculine and zesty fresh with a spritz of L’Aromarine Vetyver or Guerlain Vetiver. Since the product is heavily scented, I can still smell it wearing very closely to my skin after all day wear.

The lotion is thick but not buttery. I still find that at night I need to apply a heavier cream to keep from being ashy in the winter. I just use this skin softener for the nostaligic novelty. And it does wear nicely with fragrance oils and some of my more “classic” fragrances.

 

Get The Look Of Stevie Nicks

Such talent and style! I love Stevie Nicks. I find that she is one of my accidental style icons. Somebody that I’ll see a picture of and realize that I wore an outfit very similar without even knowing. It must be that closet gothness that we both share. To get this look:

FACE: First apply concealer where needed, Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Concealer. Apply a satin, light-weight foundation like Bobbi Brown Oil-Free Even Finish Foundation in your shade. Dust a translucent powder over foundation to prolong wear and absorb oilies, Almay Pure Blend Loose Finishing Powder. Cheeks are very nude with a slight hint of color. Take a fluffy blush brush and apply a color like Estee Lauder Signature Silky Blush in Nude Rose.

EYES: Well, we really can’t see the brows in this picture but I can imagine that they are groomed into place with a clear wax like Anastasia Brow Fix Clear Wax Pencil. Eyes are all about looking awake and wide-eyed. Apply a slightly tinted eyeshadow base like Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Shadow Base all over the lid. From lash line to crease apply a white eyeshadow like Clarins Single Eyeshadow in White Marshmallow. Take a warm brown eyeshadow and lightly blend it into the crease and on the bottom lash line, something like Covergirl Eye Enhancers Eyeshadow in Brown Smolder. Apply a pencil eyeliner very closely to the top lash line in a dark brown shade. I like the smoothness of Clinique Quickliner for Eyes in Dark Chocolate. Apply a few coats of mascara to top lashes and one coat to bottom lashes, a formula like Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara will do.

LIPS: Lips are shiny and a rusty bronze shade. Apply a lip gloss in a bronze shade like Pur Minerals Pout Plumping Lip Gloss in Bronze Sassolite or Iman Luxury Lip Shimmer in Copper Tone (not pictured), whatever you use, it needs to be super glossy.

That’s it. Oh, don’t forget those finger tips! use something like SpaRitual Nail Lacquer in Inner Sanctum or Butter London Nail Lacquer in Aston (not pictured). I think this look demands an ambery perfume. I’m thinking something like Regina Harris Amber Vanilla Perfume Oil, doesn’t the bottle just look like something Stevie would have?

 

Get The Look Of Bianca Jagger With Kevyn Aucoin Products

To get Bianca’s look with Kevyn Aucoin products:

FACE: First even out complexion with The Liquid Airbrush Foundation in your shade. Apple concealer where needed, try The Sensual Skin Enhancer. Apply a light dusting of powder like The Gossamer Loose Powder. Apply a powder blush to cheek bones, a deeper rose brown such as The Pure Powder Glow in Neolita. Apply The Sculpting Powder into the hollows of the cheek. Blend and blend.

EYES: Bianca’s brows are thick but well managed and sculpted. Fill in and brush brows into place with The Precision Brow Pencil in your shade. Use The Essential Eyeshadow Palette in #2. Take the peach shade and apply it from lash line to brows. Take the medium brown and blend it into the crease. Take the charcoal black shade and blend it around the lash line both top and bottom. Apply a dab of the ivory shade right under the arch. Curl lashes and apply lots and lots of  black mascara.

LIPS: Lips are glossy with full color. Apply foundation or concealer over the lips to create a blank canvas. Take the Flesh Tone Lip Pencil in Bare, a warm brown, and trace your lip line. Apply The Liquid Lipstick in Ondine, a patent red shade. The foundation/concealer will help this glossy shade stay on longer. Have I mentioned that I love this shade?

I have always imagined Bianca wearing YSL Rive Gauche EDT. I really think with a spritz of this, you’ve completed this disco ready look.

 

Naté & Nice: Revlon Jean Naté Entire Bath Line Review

One of my favorite things about summer (other than lots of time off and the mild climate of the Pacific Northwest) is that I get to use my entire bath line of Jean Naté. Busting out the Jean Naté means that summer is here. It’s fresh, clean, citrusy and not fussy, making it a perfect summer must have.

Jean Naté or Jean Nate as my grandmother would say (like blue “jeans” and “nate” rhymes with “late”) was launched in 1935 under Charles of the Ritz, now Revlon. This is a best selling bath line. It was a hit then and continues to be so. Every generation of women in my family has used this stuff. It’s timeless despite the lame 70’s ad campaigns that my mother was exposed to. The scent is one of my favorite scents ever. And to my benefit this product is inexpensive, available at drugstores all over the country, and has the cutest vintage packaging (got to love that font).

The trademark is “clean never felt so fresh”, OK, not very brilliant but I promise that the products are. Overall the fragrance is a super fresh blend of citrus, bergamot, and lavender. But, each item has its own “special” quality and scent that it plays up. It’s like if you use the body wash you have the top note, the lotion you have the middle note, and with the splash you have the base. They all work together wonderfully.The scent is light and refreshing and really reminds me of very, very expensive European EDT/colognes.

Moisturizing Body Wash: This is my favorite body wash of all time. It is so fresh. It leaves my body clean all day. It’s my girl version of Irish Spring, making it a summer must have, especially here in Washington with no a/c. This body wash is “sparkling” and almost effervescent and bubbly in fragrance. This reminds me of a “top” note used in fragrance. It is heavy on the lemon and bergamot. I love it. It seriously leaves a faint scent on my skin all day. It lathers nicely and is everything I want in a shower gel.Unfortunately this is a very hard product to find. When I find it I pick up a few bottles because it is my favorite shower gel of all time. It goes for $6-$10.

Hydrating Body Lotion: The texture of this lotion is lightweight and perfect for summer. It isn’t greasy or sticky. It is very fragrant but less effervescent than the shower gel. This has the lemon and bergamot but with more lavender making this is a very refreshing and soothing product at the same time. Plus, you can pick up a fresh, dewy floral such a geranium. It is lovely.This goes for about $6 and you can sometimes find a very large bottle for $10.

After Bath Splash: I would say this is the most popular product in the line. This hit it big in the 70’s and 80’s when “light” fragrances were all the rage. People were simplifying their routines. The After Bath Splash is now available in 3 sizes in a convenient spray bottle. I love the old school splash with the big black spherical top, but since I pretty much bathe myself in this stuff the spray bottle is much more functional. The scent is so refreshing and much more herbaceous than the other products. It is lemon rind, bergamot, and English lavender. It is simple and refreshing and has a slight almost patchouli dry down. This reminds me of a classic Guerlain EDT such as Mitsouko, refreshing herbaceous Provincial inspired colognes like Potter & Moore Lavender & Italian Lemon, Hierbas de Ibiza Agua de Colonia Fresca, Satellite Paris L’Ombre, and even Lubin L’Eau Neuve. I love this stuff. It’s what I want in the summer. It is light wearing, I mean it is a body splash with a high alcohol content. Sometimes in the summer this is all I want. But, if I want more I will layer it under the fragrances that I have mentioned above. Hint-Put it in the fridge for an extra refreshing, cooling spritz. The prices for this range from $6 to $10 depending on size.

Silkening Body Powder: I love a dusting powder because I am an old-fashioned kind of gal. The powder comes in a cute yellow container with a nice puff. I only wear body powder in the summer so I happy it is available in this scent. This is a floral herbaceous blend that smells like the after bath splash in powder form.It’s soft and easily mixes with other fragrances you may layer over it. It retails for $10. I love to use this after one of my very late evening summer strolls. Or to freshen up in the summer midday if I don’t have time to shower before going back out.

A cologne spray is available but I have not tried it but I hope to soon. Since this product is a classic you can find good deals on it. For example, limited edition jumbo sizes for summer where you get 30 fl. oz. of bath splash for $10. Many say that the formula has been tampered with in 2007 and that it isn’t close to the original. I’m sure the formula has been changed but I think it is all a matter of opinion. My family members declare that what they buy today is what they remember it being like. I’ve been using it pre-2007 and post-2007 and find it the same. But, with classic products it is a touchy game. Old customers tastes could of changed but they would never admit it. But, I’m not going there. I just bought a new batch of every item I mentioned for this summer and love them all. There is an old commercial on youtube here that further emphasizes the “exhilarating” aspect of the product. It’s funny but warning, video quality isn’t so hot.

 

More Jean Ranting: Levi’s Re-Issued Vintage Jeans

What do you know? I purchased jeans on-line again and I am disappointed. I am a huge fan of Levi’s. Many of their products have been of the highest quality and have a nice fit.  I have a few pairs and have sworn to only purchase Levi’s from now on because I love the pairs that I have so much. I was so super siked when I found the Re-Issued Vintage denim on Levi’s website. I am a huge fan of vintage. I’m a huge fan of Levi’s. And I’m a huge fan of vintage Levi’s. Match made in heaven? I purchased the 1966 Skinny Jeans pictured above and the 1974 Bell Bottoms pictured below. Both retail for $49.50. There were what I needed, I thought. I misunderstood somewhat. These are “based” on the Orange Tag denim of the 60’s and 70’s, so I got “based on a true story” ripped. But, they claim to be an “authentic reissue” based on the company website. No way, these are nothing like I’ve had before. In the past (and my super thin teen days), I had a pair of early 60’s jeans and a pair of early 50’s Levi’s. Amazing stuff, thick, sturdy, and went over my belly button. This is what I wanted again. I am a classy, vintage loving lady. No more low riding jeans, please! High waisted pants are much more flattering on me. Both of these jeans claim to be “hi-rise”, sounds good. Hi-rise is supposed to sit just below your natural waist, belly button I take it. Nope! The 1966 “model” sets 4.5 inches from my belly button and the 1974 bells set 3 inches. This isn’t very hi-rise. I mean my Levi’s 526 jeans are 2 inches from the belly button!

The washes are dark. I got the “Rachel” in both, made to look dark and like rigid denim, you know thick stuff. It is “Italian denim”, whatever that is. This stuff isn’t “rugged”. It is strangely shiny and super thin denim. It looks like “novelty” denim that you would get from somewhere like Forever 21. I imagine that instead of looking better with time through multiple washes that it would look worse, perhaps even piling. I was really disappointed by the poor feel of the denim. It did have some stretch if you like that. But, you could definitely tell it was “stretchy” because it looks a bit shiny and spandex-y.

Now on to my other complaints (as if the crappy denim and too low waist line wasn’t enough). The length is outrageous! I was going to have to pay like $50 to get these hemmed. Maybe I should disclose my size to you. I’m not too big, an 8 and 5 foot 9 inches. I’m tall. I wear heels on top of that. These were so long. They claim to be 34 inch inseam. When I measured both of the inseams, they are 36 inches! That is so long. I had the bells on with 4 inch Via Spiga wooden platforms and I was still stepping on about 2 inches of fabric. You may need a 36 inch inseam and that is fine but to have that as the only option is insane!

And the jeans do not have the Levi’s logo on the waist! And the pockets are stupid looking, too; large and make the butt look dumpy and pear like.

Also, my order did not come with an invoice or a RS label! Just a silly ad for Docker’s! That’s right, Docker’s. I had to call the company and it is going to cost me 7 bucks to return these. I knew that, that is their return policy but should I have really recieved a package without those essential items?

So, another lesson learned. These are not for me. The 1966 Skinny was not good looking on me. Nothing special about it all. Their other “skinny” jeans look much better. The 1974 was an OK cut if you could ignore the length. It did have a crease plus amble and roomy bells. I would imagine that if you were 6 feet tall and smaller than a 4 and all legs (no hips), then you could wear these. But, if that is you, then you’ll look good in anything!

 

Hot Pink: Get The Look of Tanya Roberts

Who doesn’t want a completely made up look every know and then? I love Tanya’s look here. This angel is all made up and it is all about product. Every feature features color. I love it.

FACE: Even out skintone with a foundation such as NARS Balanced Foundation in your shade. Apply concealer where needed. I like the creaminess of Prescriptives Flawless Skin Total Protection Concealer. I like to apply it with fingertips since the warmth of your body helps it to melt and look natural.  Apply a light dusting of Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear Loose Powder in your shade. This helps with shine and wear. Don’t be scared of the blush. You want a flush and the only way you can get it is with a bold blush. Try NARS Blush in Desire, a matte hot pink. This is one of my favorite shades ever. Take a large fluffy brush and swipe up the cheekbones. Layer as much as you need depending on your skintone.

EYES: Apply a brow powder such as Bare Escentuals Brow Color in your shade. For the eyes, use Estee Lauder Signature Eyeshadow Quad in Blue Smoke. Apply the lightest gray, blue shade from lashline to just above the crease. Apply the slightly deeper shade, the one next to the lightest in the compact from lashline to crease. Apply the carkest shade in the crease, blend well. Take the darkest shade and it apply it along the bottom lashline for a slightly smoky look. Line eyes (top and bottom) with Avon Glimmersticks Waterproof Eyeliner in Midnight Blue. Coat lashes with a mascara with extra volume. Something like Avon Supershock Mascara in Black. Apply a few coats to bottom and top lashes.

LIPS: Line lips with a pink lipliner such as L’Oreal Infalliable Never Fail Lipliner Pencil in Pink. Apply a blue based pink lipstick to lips, try a moisturizing formula such as Covergirl Continuous Color Lipstick in Pink Chic Shimmer. Apply a hot pink lip gloss over the lipstick. Try Lancome Color Fever Lip Gloss in Volcanic Pink.

This cool toned look works best with blue, green, and brown eyes (any eye color really). Those with “cooler” undertones, blondes, brunettes, and gray hair.

 

Get The Quick & Easy “Natural” Look of Jaclyn Smith

Sometimes you just want a “natural” makeup look. It is more of a “neutral” look because you wear cosmetics but nothing “screams” out. I really love this look, sometimes. I usually will do one bold thing so it is nice to have a 70’s laid-back but polished look. Pair this with a big floppy hat and you’re ready for summer. I’m using Revlon cosmetics to create this look. They’ve recently came out with a “Beyond Natural” line that really reminds me of some 70’s cosmetic’s trends.

First even out the complexion with a light foundation or powder depending on your skin type. The Beyond Natural Skin Matching Makeup is nice for normal to dry skins and the Mineral Foundation is nice for normal or oily skins. Apply concealer where needed, try Beyond Natural. It also has a nice highlighting cream which is a great addition for this look. Jaclyn’s skin is “glossy” above the cheekbones and down the nose. Normal to dry skins should blend this on the cheek bones and down the nose. Cheeks are warm. Apply Beyond Natural Blush Bronzer in Nude. There are also darker shades for darker skintones, try Plumberry.

Brows are natural and shouldn’t be filled in. Apply a brow gel if you have super unruley brows. Otherwise, leave them be. Eyes are simple. Take a large fluffy brush and apply Matte Eyeshadow in Vintage Lace, soft beige, from lashline to brows. Using a light hand, blend Matte Eyeshadow in Rich Sable, chocolate brown, into the crease. If you are super pale, you could leave the Rich Sable step out. To give the illusion of thicker lashes, line the top lashline with a soft black liner pencil such as Matte Luxurious Color Kohl Eyeliner in Black Truffle. Apply the line thinly and use a soft hand. Apply mascara, a bunch of layers to top lashes and one to the bottom. Try a product like Beyond Natural Defining Mascara in Black.

Take a bit of the highlighting cream included with the concealer and dab it over the top lip and blend upward.This will give a “pouty” look and keep color from running. Apply Beyond Natural Cream Lipgloss in Spice or Deep Spice for deeper skintones (both are warm nudes). It is shiny and provides medium coverage. (If you must have a lip liner try, Colorstay Liner for Lips in Nude.)

It sounds like a lot but it isn’t. A look like this should take less than 10 minutes, especially if you leave out lip liner and brows.

 

More 70’s Makeup Trends: NARS 2009 Spring Collection

It’s more 1970’s makeup trends. When I first saw this one I immediately thought of Guy Bourdin. Good, that was what Mr. Nars was going for. This is the 70’s “death under the eyes” look or a bit of the heroin chic. Not my favorite thing and in my opinion one of the ugliest periods of fashion ever. That being said, the collection isn’t too bad but I am not wild about the look. At least for a spring collection, it isn’t too soft.

FACE: There is a Multiple Bronzer in Cape Vert which is a warm dark bronze. It retails for $37. It is nice for contouring. There is a Highlighting/Blush Duo in Hungry Heart. This is a champagne pink with gold shimmer and a golden ivory. It retails for $37. There is a LE Multiple Duo in the best-selling Orgasm and South Beach shades. These retail for $45. I really want this compact. There are Duo Concealers in a few shades and they retail for $30.

EYES: There are two new Duo Eyeshadows. There is Egea which is a light sage shimmer and light icy lilac shimmer. There is Hula Hula which is a pink with gold shimmer and brown with gold shimmer. These retail for $32. There are  Single Eyeshadows. One is Baby Girl which is a baby pink with gold shimmer. There is Grenadines which is a matte reddish burgundy. Not that red and not that great.  There is Night Sun which is a yellow disco gold shimmer. These go for $22.

LIPS: There is a Lipstick in Shrinagar. This is a jammy shimmery raspberry. It retails for $24. There is a Lip Gloss in Sweet Revenge which is a sheer pink shimmer. It retails for $24.

Everybody is raving about how easy red is to wear because of this collection. I disagree. The model looks like crap. Her eyes look tired and a bit druggy. The burgundy is going to be pretty unflattering for most people. I just don’t like the look. I wear red eyeshadow, thank goodness I do not have an allergy to red pigment. I love the look. I pair it with gold and a black liquid liner and get tons of compliments. I wear it with confidence but I don’t go around recommending it for everyone. It isn’t for everyone. The colors in this collection aren’t for everybody. They shouldn’t be worn together in my opinion. I love each of them separately but together, it is too muddy in a healing a bruised trauma-ed face way. Not sexy and not fun.

 

Birds of a Feather: Get the Look of Farrah Fawcett

Every now and then I go through a 70s phase. Or at least what I thought was glamorous of the 70s, things like tans and jumpers. I guess I am feeling a bit washed out here in the Northwest. So I just want that 70s ideal of a “healthy” and “young” look. Yes, I have even considered going to the tanning salon even though I know that is horrible for you skin, etc. I’ve never done such a thing before but of course I was living in the South and there I actually saw the sun and felt the warmth of its rays every now and then. I didn’t even know I could get so pale. I mean I’m right there with Dita Von Teese. And I wore sunblock when I lived in the South. I wore that stuff daily and I still had “color”. Anyways, enough of my complaining and back to this Farrah fab look.

I look this look but Farrah looks a bit dry, maybe all that sun? I would suggest applying a tinted moisturizer for a bit of dewy complexion. One can’t look “healthy” without being a little dewy. Use something like Clarins Hydra Care Tinted Moisturizer if you are fairly dry with cool undertones. If you aren’t either or these then use something else. Follow with bronzer. My all time favorite is NARS Bronzing Powder. Apply with a large bronzing brush and apply where the sun would “naturally” hit. You guys may have to remind me of these points since I live like in the Artic Circle and seem to forget these sorts of things. Brows are pretty natural and soft. Just brush them into place with a clear brow gel such as The Body Shop Brow and Lash Gel. Apply a nude eye shadow from lash line to brows. Apply the lightest shade from Bare Escentuals Meet The Nuts kit; this shade is Pistachio Light which is a sheer nude. From the lash line to crease apply the medium shade, Pecan Medium, and blend. The eyes are dark. Apply the darkest shade, Chestnut Dark, around the lash line, smudging outward for a perfect smoky eye. I love a brown smoky eye. It really makes eyes pop and is usually OK to wear all the time. Line the eyes with a black eyeliner for extra drama (if needed), use something like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Zero. Apply tons of mascara. You need dramatic lashes to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays 🙂 Now to the blush. Apply Cargo Beach Blush in Cable Beach to cheeks or you can apply more bronzer to cheeks. I do like a little bit of  “color”. Lips are nude and natural. Apply a balm such as Revlon Beyond Natural Protective Lip Tint in Nude. For fragrance I am thinking of Origins Ginger Essence for some reason. Maybe because it is spicy without being too heavy? Now, to hair, no, maybe not.