Happy Halloween!

This Halloween has really crept up on me between my job being stressful, the renovation, training a smushed faced puppy, and every other little thing that kept coming up. It’s one of my favorites. I was unable to even decorate the new home because the exterior is still a bit “under construction”. It looks spooky as is.

I love Halloween but it is the one day that with my cosmetics I tone it down. I wear very dark lips or dark eyes. I can’t do it on Halloween because I realize just how costumey it can be.

I hope everyone has a very glamorous Halloween, playing it up or playing it down! Have a great one! And don’t you just love this 1920’s flapper goth look by Make Up For Ever. I’ve been swooning over it for sometime. I’ll save for it a non-holiday day.

 

Get The Look Of Star Trek Isis “Cat Woman”

I’m getting in the mood for Halloween here. I love Star Trek for all of their retro babes in ridiculous, cheesy costumes. To get the look of this minor role, major babe:

FACE: Even out blotches or under eye circles with a concealer that can do it all like Covergirl TruConceal Concealer. Apply foundation where and if needed. I suggest a dewy finish foundation such as The Body Shop Moisture Foundation. If you really love a dewy look, I suggest following up with an illuminating powder like Bare Escentuals Illuminating Mineral Veil. I really think this look calls the perfect peachy pink shimmer of NARS Blush in Orgasm.

EYES: Obviously brows are trying to be ridiculous. Even I agree that this look isn’t for everyday wear. I suggest styling brows in a natural arch with a clear brow gel like Revlon Brow Styling Gel. Apply a cream shadow with a peachy glow like Laura Mercier Satinee Creme Eye Color in Peach Organza all over the lid. This provides a nice glow and lots of hold. Next take a smokey gray with lots of shimmer, something like Milani Runway Eyes Eye Shadow in Black Out (dry not wet). Take the color from the top lash line and fill up to crease. Then in a “cat eye” like motion, sweep the corners outward and up. Apply it this way, as dramatic or as tame as you desire. Apply a black eye liner like Almay Intense i-Color Liner in Black Pearl to top lash line. Of course I say to go all out and apply crazy lashes. Especially if this is a party look. If not, apply lots of black mascara to top lashes and less to bottom lashes.

LIPS: Lips are very simple. Apply a pearly pinky peach lipstick like Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Silver City Pink. Dab the center of the bottom lip with a peach lip gloss, Burt’s Bees Super Shiny Lip Gloss in Juicy Peach.

And is there a fragrance any better than to complete this look for the bottle alone? Nope, stick with Cartier Panthere EDP.

 

Tons & Tons of Black Liner: Get The Look of Françoise Hardy

Françoise Hardy has it all. Talent, brains, beauty. That’s why she is one of my favorite style icons. When I had my blunt bangs and a haircut much like this one, I used to wear heavy eye makeup like this. It was such a cool look. The eyeliner isn’t easy if you’ve never done it before. I suggest practice. Once you get it down, you can get this look in under 10 minutes from my experience. These are the products that I use to get this look:

FACE: The complexion is pretty fuss-less but it needs to be evened out. Apply concealer if and where needed. Clinique All About Eyes Concealer does great under the eyes. I like to use MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation to even out the entire complexion. Use a bronzer as blush and apply with a fluffy brush. I like the shade and price of Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sun Light.

EYES: Luckily my blunt bangs covered my messy brows. Brush less than perfect brows into place with a clear brow gel like Revlon Brow Styling Gel. Apply a tinted eyeshadow base such as L’Oreal De-Crease Eyeshadow Base. This will keep your liner from budging. There are many products that you can use to get this thick liner look. I personally prefer the following: Clinique Water-Resistant Eye Liner in Natural Black (not pictured) or MAC Fluidline in Black Track. Both are very versatile items with no flaking or wandering. The Clinique one is a softer, matte black. The MAC one is a bit deeper and has a more consistent texture. First, “draw-in” your line. I line closely to the lashline and flick out like a classic cat-eye. Then under the crease I draw a desired line. I then fill it in with the liner on the brush. Everyone has a preferred liner brush. I am more comfortable with a fine point liner and not the slanted kind. It is all about what you are comfortable with. Remember to let it dry before blinking or completely opening lines. Sometimes I would take a shadow brush and apply a matte black shadow Larenim Eye Shadow in Ashes to Ashes to “set” it. You can also take the black powder shadow and line bottom lashes closely. Apply lots of black mascara like L’Oreal Voluminous Original Volume Building Mascara in Blackest Black.
LIPS: Lips are nude. If your lips have a bit of color and don’t appear washed out, just apply a slightly tinted lip balm like mark Tinted Sheenstick Lip Balm in Fanciful. If you need a bit of color use a color like Estee Lauder Signature Lipstick in Perfect Nude.

 

Dior Jazz Age Fall 2009 Color Collection

Dior’s fall 2009 makeup collection is inspired by the 1920’s. For the past few years this era has been very popular in the makeup color collection world. Since I’m into most things vintage, I’m not going to complain. However, I don’t think of this collection as very 20’s but more of a 2009 take of a a jazz club in the late 40’s/early 50’s. The look is OTT with bold smoky eyes paired with boldly colored lips.

EYES: There is a Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Night Butterfly. This has shades ranging from glittery black to stainless steel to reddish plums. It’s a pretty compact but I would say that most people wouldn’t find it appropriate for daily wear. I really do think this is a compact that would make a great smoky eye for those with green or hazel eyes. It goes for $56. There is a DiorLiner Eyeliner in Plum. This is is a liquid liner in a berry purple. I would also say that this is a nice color for green and hazel eyes. It retails for $31. The Diorshow Brow Styler is featured in this look. I have never used it so I can’t comment. There is a Total Eyelook Makeup Clutch in a nice package. The colors are pretty neutral, for everybody colors. It contains 4 shimmery neutral eyeshadows, a brow powder, and a cream-to-powder eyeliner. It goes for $65.
NAIL: There is a Vernis Nail Enamel in Black Plum. It goes for $20.
LIPS: There are 2 Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect Lip Glosses in Draped Burgundy, a glossy garnet, and Taffeta Plum, a golden plum. I do love this lip gloss formula and the packaging is very luxurious. These retail for $25.50. There are 2 Addict Lipcolors in Decadent Plum, a rich purpley blackberry juice, and Négligée Pink, a rich magenta. Once again this is a nice formula with nice packaging and I do like these bold shades. These lipcolors go for $26. There is a Dior Rouge Contour Lip Liner featured in Thrilling Plum, a deep plum color. This formula is super smooth and long-wearing and goes for $26.

The colors are nice if you are into dark and bold. Many of the shadows are nice for green and hazel eyes. I would say that the lip colors featured would pair nicely with cool complexions in a variety of tones. And I think the lip colors would go nice with brunette, black, and gray hair colors. This collection is available at Nordstroms and Sephora.

 

Makeup For The Tudors? Smashbox Reign 2009 Fall Color Collection

I love this collection for the nerd factor alone. It is inspired the English Tudors, “an imperial court mired in salacious scandal and royal indulgence“. Hopefully this collection will make somebody somewhere learn a thing or 2 about history or at least make it cool to be nerdy, which it is. The collection contains the following limited edition items, many in special packaging.

FACE: There is a Fusion Blush. This cheek color has a matte and a shimmery shade packaged together. The shade is Regal which is a great nude peach pink blush and it retails for $32. This is a good color because it doens’t overwhelm when paired with a bold or smoky eye.

EYES: There are 2 Reign Eyeshadow Palettes in Majesty which contains a highlighting peach, opulent plum, and black and there is Monarch which contains a golden highlighting shade, rich bronze, and neutral taupe brown. I think Majesty would look great with green, brown, or hazel eyes. Monarch is a nice neutral for all eye colors. These contain the same shades in matte and shimmery formulas.These retail for $42. There is a Jet Set Eyeliner Palette in Reign. This contains four long-wearing cream eyeliners in black, brown, gold, and bronze . The gold and bronze both wear nicely on the bottom lash line and make the eyes appear brighter and more “awake”. This retails for $48. There is a Reign Lash DNA Mascara in Plum. This retails for $19. I love a plum for fall/winter.

LIPS: There is a Lip Gloss in Crowned, a warm peachy nude. The packaging is adorable. It retails for $19. There are 2 Doubletake Lip Colors. These are a pencil with a lip liner on one end and a longer wearing lipstick on the other. There is Amaretto and Currant. These retail for $22. Amaretto is really nude, a pink nude combo that is great for a smoky eye. Currant is what the name applies. I like this product because it is convenient and portable plus it doesn’t look dry.

I like the collection event though I am pretty much over the smoky eye. I think the lip colors are really nice in this collection and I do like the “idea” behind it. It is a little odd really, but I like to think of it as the makeup that all of Henry VIII’s wives wore while A. having affairs with other unattractive men or B. being beheaded. Find out more about royal scandal on wiki. This collection is available at Sephora and smashbox.com.

 

Get The Rock’n Look of Joan Jett With MAC Cosmetics

First of I love Joan’s hair on the album cover, so much so that a few years ago I brought it into the salon so that I too could sport this look. All products used for this look are MAC.

FACE: Apply concealer where needed. I like the ease of Select Cover Up because it is in a tube. Even out complexion with a powder foundation such as Studio Fix Foundation plus Powder. Apply just a bit of Powder Blush in Loverush, a sheer burgundy that gives a healthy flush.

EYES: Sculpt brows into place using Eye Brows eye pencil. For black brows like Joan’s use Velvetone. Apply Paint Pot in Fresco Rose as an eyeshadow base. Apply Eye Shadow in Of Summer, a pale mauve pink,  from lashline to brows. From the corner of the eye closest to the nose, take a brush and make a big “hook” shape with a magenta eyeshadow like Stars N’ Rockets. From lashline to crease blend Hepcat, a vivid wine. Take a creamy shadow like the Shadestick in Sharkskin, a smoky gray, and thickly line top and bottom lashes all the way around. Use the thickness of the Shadestick to your advantage! Apply a glittery black eye shadow like Black Tied over Sharkskin. Blend upwards and outwards for a smoky but still very bold look. Curl lashes and apply mascara. Pro Lash is supposed to do it all.

LIPS: Lips are no fuss and very natural. Apply a conditioning lip balm treatment like the Lip Conditioner Stick. So easy, no worries of smearing. Eat a hamburger! Kiss! No touching up!

If I had to choose a matching fragrance I would go for MV 3, it’s tough and sexy and very rock and roll with notes of jasmine, vanilla, and leather.

 

Get The Look Of Elegant Faye Dunaway with Stila

This is the look that will never grow old. Thick, heavy eye makeup and nude lips will always scream sexy. To get Faye’s look using Stila products,  apply a sheer foundation such as Stila Natural Finish Oil-Free Makeup and Stila Perfecting Concealer where needed. Lightly dust face with a loose powder such as Stila Hydrating Finishing Powder in your shade. Brush brows into place with just a hint of color with Stila Brow Polish in your shade. Apply the lightest shade from the Stila Eye Shadow Duo in Salome, this is a light warm shimmer, from lashline to brow bone. With the eyes open, blend the darker shade (the warm bronze) above the crease. Take the darker shade and lightly line the bottom lashline. Black “cat” eye makeup is a must. Apply Stila Liquid Liner in Black and extend out from the lashline. Now, take a dark shade such as the matte black from their Matte Eye Shadow, Makalu. Take a stiff liner brush and line over the liquid liner, blending up for a slightly smoky eye. Take the same liner brush and line the bottom lashes half way. This creates that “mysterious” eye look. Apply lots of black mascara such as Stila Major Lash Mascara. Cheeks are super nude. Apply the Stila Convertible Color in Peony. A little goes a long way for this look. Also, to make life even easier, you can apply the Convertible Color to lips with fingertips for a nude, matte lip look. If you want a little more sheen, Stila Lip Color in Emily is a nice nude. Or you can just apply a balm over the Convertible Color.

 

Get The Dramatic Look Of Elizabeth Taylor As Cleopatra

So I really don’t expect for many people to go out in this. I sure wish I could but even I have limits so I am giving an “everyday” interpretation of this look. I must add that I have a bit of a Liz Taylor as Cleopatra complex. I love the makeup. I wear this much many days if you exclude the wild brows. I love the blunt bangs. And I would love to wear the braids and beads if I didn’t end up looking too much like Rick James. I love the jewelry. I collect snake jewelry and I would dare to wear a snake cuff on my flabby arm.

To get this look you need a super matte face. Apply a powder foundation like MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in your shade. Apply concealer where needed. Try a full coverage like Beneft Boi-Ing in your shade. Brows are filled in and dark if you so desire. For black Cleopatra brows, apply Billion Dollar Brows Brow Powder in Raven, a soft black. Apply a nice shadow primer like Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Sin. Pat gently. I would go with an eyeshadow palette like Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Ludwig available at Sephora. Apply Downtown which is a medium brown shimmer from lashline to brows. Take Baroque, a bronzey brown shimmer and apply from lashline to just above the crease and blend. Take Lucifer, the matte charcoal black, and blend into the crease and down with a very heavy hand. (I must add that these shadows are pretty nice quality and make for lots of nice smoky, Cleopatra eyes). Now to the heavy amounts of black eyeliner. I recommend a gel formula like Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Liner in Black Ink. Line the top eye with line and extend as far as you feel comfortable with. This line should be pretty thick when applied above the lashline. Line the bottom lashline with the gel liner and extend until it meets the top extended line. Join the lines together for that special Egyptian inspired look. Apply false lashes or tons of mascara to complete the eye look. Cheeks are super nude. Apply a sheer nude powder like Sonia Kashuk Beautifying Blush in Nude. Lips are nude and matte. If you have a warm skin tone apply Revlon Matte Lipstick in Nude Attitude. If you have a cool skin tone apply Lipstick Queen Oxymoron Matte Lip Gloss in Defeaning Silence. You may want to apply a clear lip balm before you wear such a nude shades to keep lips from looking too splotchy. Fragrance should be luxe and exotic and that is why I would recommend L’Occitane Eau d’Iparie EDT.

 

It’s Grape! I’m craving purple hued lips!

Maybe it is because I am a closet goth. But, I love the cool toned grapey purple lip look. I love a matte purple with really minimal eye makeup. I love the blue-ish tinted lip whitening sheer violet lip glosses with loud pink eyes. I love a purple hued lip stain with warm, coral eyes. I love it all. But, seriously, this is a difficult shade to wear and a difficult shade to find. It is so frustrating. So that is why I am sharing what I have found with you.

Lipstick: I love a purple lipstick look with minimal eye makeup. That bare even, mascara less look, if the purple is deep enough. I also like it in an 80’s way if the eyes are done a nice, light baby pink with a medium toned purple lip. I have even mixed an almost white purple lipstick for myself to wear with dark, dark eyes. I looked a bit dead but hey, I’ll try anything in the name of fashion. I find that when I find a purple I like, I better buy it because chances are it won’t be around long. Rimmel made an amazing one. It was truly deep and purple but it was amazing because it had lots of silver shimmer. I bought like 10 tubes, which was good because I have never seen it since. It was like I purchased what all the company had. Dior used to have an amazing one too, but it is no more. Even MAC is lacking in this area. However, MAC has two deeper ones that I like. Cyber is a lovely almost black purple but it is very difficult to work with. It is a satin finish which is stupid. It is very difficult to keep uniformed even with foundation on the lips. It wants to gather in certain areas. Your lips have to be flawless and baby bottom soft for it to wear evenly too. But man, once you get it to work it looks amazing. I also like Rebel which is a more on the berry side or purple. It looks nice with that nude eye makeup look. NYX has a pretty good purple selection. They have in their Black Label the shade Seductive which is a medium purple. They have a super shimmery shade in the Diamond Sparkle Lipstick, Sparkling Orchid. This one is a bit to berry pink on me but if you put a black gloss over it, it looks amazing. In their classic formula they have a few nice shades: Orpheus which is a muted grape, Pandora which is a flashy magenta violet, and Iced Lavender which is a super pale and shimmery purple that looks great over other shades. NYX has a great Lipstick Pencil in Vixen which is a deep, dark and gothic purple. Manic Panic has a few goth friendly shades in Black Rose which is a deep, deep purple berry matte and Tramp which is a medium purple matte. Since these are matte, the lips must be very smooth. They have a beautiful pearly purple in Plum Passion. Black Radiance has two nice Perfect Tone Lipsticks in Go Girl Grape which is a grape Kool-Aid and Majesty which is more of a berry kissed plum. Sometimes Sephora brand gets nice pure purple shades. Currently they have Lip Attitue Star in Audaciaous Violet and Plum Vertigo (what is so glam about vertigo anyways?) Victoria’s Secret has an easy to wear pink purple in their Perfect Lipstick in Stiletto. I call it the “work” purple.

Lip Gloss: MAC has a Lipgelee in Moistly which really isn’t much of a purple, but more of a berry. It is very sheer and looks nice with rust eye makeup. NYX has a Sheer Gloss in Lavender Note which is a pale lavender shimmer. It wears nicely over pinks. There are two nice NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Purple Rain a lovely pure purple and Orchid which is another one of those berry, fuchsia hybrids. There is a NYX Sheer Tube Lip Gloss in Lilac which reminds me of MAC’s Moistly. Black Radiance has a nice sheer lipstick in Vogue Vixen but because of my pale skin and the fact that this is sheer it looks a little too pink on me. Stila has a Lip Glaze in Black Cherry this is a bright orchid purple fuchsia shade. Shu Uemura has an amazing Gloss Unlimited Lip Gloss in PR 059 N, it is a deep and shimmery royal purple. It looks amazing alone or layered over those pinkish purple lipsticks to make them more purpley. Shu Uemura also has a super sheer lip gloss glaze in the Gloss Lacquer in Irrational Purple. It is just a hint of purple and looks nice with deep, dark eyes.

Lip Pencil: MAC has an OK Lip Pencil in Magenta which is a vivid pinkish purple. It looks nice colored in the entire lip with a frosty pinkish gloss over it. NYX has the Long Pencil in Deep Purple and the Slim Pencil in Deep Purple and Purple Rain. These are my favorite and the most budget friendly. Manic Panic has two nice lip pencils in Deadly Nightshade which is a deep and dark purple and Ultra Violet which is a vivid purple. Max Factor has a High Definition Lipliner in Purple. I also find that a cheap little eyeliner does the same thing.

Purple lips are hard to find and you ever find one please let me know. I usually find them in cheaper brands (NYX, Wet N Wild), brands made for woman of “color” (Black Radiance, Iman, Fashion Fair) and sometimes super high end French makeup will launch one (Dior, YSL, Guerlain.) It’s weird. I just really want a super dark purple lipstick dipped in tons of gold shimmer. And I can’t find it!

 

Best Black Eyeliners: Dedicated to Tura Satana

I love Tura Satana. She is the reason for my haircut. She is one of my favorite style icons. She is one lovely bad-ass, the queen of the 60s B-films. One thing that Tura rocked other than ass kicking moves, the perfect body, blunt bangs, and an amazing attitude, was the heavy black liner. Every time I use a heavy hand with black liner, I think of Miss Satana’s oh so delicious evil look.

There are a ton of black liner formulas on the market. They all have a time and a place. I love khol and pencils for smudging and gel and liquid for that harsh unmovable cat eye.

Swivel Sticks/Retractable: Swivel type liners are so easy to use. You don’t even have to sharpen these babies. They usually wear longer than most pencil liners and they come in unmovable waterproof formulas. It produces a precise line. My favorite budget one is Avon Glimmerstick in Blackest Black. This one goes for $6 and usually is on sale for much less. My more expensive choice is Lancome Le Stylo Waterproof in Noir. This one sells for $23.50. Other notable pencils include: mark Eyemarker Color On Line in Jet for $5.50 and MAC makes a very nice one for about $14.

Wooden Kind/Sharpen: These are a much softer formula that can be smudged for a khol rimmed effect. These need sharpened and can create either a paper thin line or a fatter line that looks wonderful with shadow layered over it. My favorite budget one is Jordana Eyeliner in Black. It sells for .69¢. I was seriously surprised by this product. The quality is actually really good. The more expensive one that I prefer is the MAC Eye Pencil in Ebony which retails for $13. The other note worthy liners in this category include: Estee Lauder’s Artist Pencil in Softsmudge Black for  $18.50, L’Oreal Le Kohl Pencil for $8,and NYX Long Pencil in Black for $2.

Long Wearing Sharpening Kind: These are usually budge proof and set within 30 seconds. They are easy to use like the retractable liner but these have the benefit of creating a thin or thick line just like the softer wooden types. The budget one that I prefer is Sephora Flashy Liner in Black for $8 . I really love the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide Eye Pencil in Zero. It is very long wearing. It retails for $16. Other notable ones include: Dior Waterproof Crayon Liner in Trinidad Black for $25, Prescriptives Moonbeam Eyeliner in Reflective Black for $17.50,

Cake Eyeliner: These are solid powders that when mixed with water create a matte (typically) long wearing, crisp line. Just wet a liner brush of your choice and swipe of the powder. I love this stuff because it is really classic. Plus I love my art store liner brush so much. It just works for me. I love Clinique Water-Resistant Eyeliner in Natural Black and it is the cheaper option at $14.50. My more expensive fave is Laura Mercier Caviar Eyeliner in Midnight Caviar which goes for $22. Others that are nice: NVY ECO Organic Cake Liner in Black which is $24, Elizabeth Arden Dual Perfection Brow Shaper & Eye Liner in Black for $18, or wet NYX Single Eyeshadow in Black for $5

Liquid Liner: Liquid liners are long wearing and create a very crisp line. It is that classic cateye look. These come with fine brush tip applicators and pointed sponge tip applicators. The handles vary so this is a matter of preference for what works best for you. Personally I like the sponge tip kind. I can create a more even line, either fatter or thinner. My favorite budget sponge tip liner is L’Oreal Telescopic Precision Eyeliner in Carbon Black which goes for about $9. My more expensive favorite sponge tip applicator is Lancome Artliner in Noir which retails for $28. (L’Oreal’s is almost identical to Lancome’s for much less.) The budget brush type that I like is NYX Liquid Liner in Black for $5.  The brush type I like is Clinique Eye Defining Liquid Liner in Black for $14.50.  Honorable mentions: Almay Liquid Line in Black for $7.50, MAC Liquid Liner in Boot Black for $16.50, Estee Lauder Double Wear Liquid Liner for $19.50, Covergirl Line Exact Liquid Liner Pen in Black for $6.50, and Manic Panic Dreamliner in Raven for $9.50.

Gel Liners: Gel liners are pretty fool proof and look more natural than liquid liners. They are long wearing and don’t take too long to dry so you don’t have to worry about smudging. However, these can be smudged right after application for a soft look. I like these too because you can choose which brush you like. Some people like stiff slanted brushes and others like softer, narrow brushes. L’Oreal HIP Cream Eyeshadow  Color Truth in Black for $12 is nice but for $3 more I really love  MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack for $15. Other nice ones include: Cat Cosmetics Gel Liner in Tomcat for $18, Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Liner in Midnight Black for $22, and Bobbi Brown Long Wearing Gel Liner in Black Ink for $21

Cream Eyeshadow used as liner: These aren’t as smudge resistant or long lasting but they do define the top and bottom lashes nicely. You can smudge with a smudger brush or line with a brush. You can use your fingertips too for a messy look. These are nice for beginners because you have more control and it is easier to remove mistakes. A nice cheap option are the darkest shades in Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow in Precious Metals or Twilight for $6.50.My more espensive choice is Dior Diorshow Eyeshadow in Glam & Glitz Black for $30. Other nice ones: NARS Cream Eyeshadow in Zardoz for $21,

I also love Guerlain Terracotta Loose Powder Kohl Liner for $33. It is a loose, OK, a messy powder I admit, with a pointed plastic stick for an applicator. It looks very raw an wild and has such a seductive dagger as packaging. I’m sold. Rimmel has the Smokin’ Kohl Eye Shadow in Black for $7 in way less glamorous packaging if that matters to you. I also noticed that L’Oreal HIP has launched a khol dagger also, but I am unsure of the price.

It’s difficult to discuss all the black liners out there but these are a few that I have used and really liked. Each have their own persoality and look. So try your each formula so you can find your own unique black liner look.