Smashbox Fall Masquerade Collection August 31st, 2010 By

Masquerade is Smashbox’s new fall collection featuring rich shadows, high impact metallic liners and dazzling glosses.  The Masquerade Eye Shadow Palette includes matte and metallic shadows in a range of shades from soft peach and glowing gold to a dramatic metallic cabernet and shimmering navy.  The colors can be worn solo or paired with other shades.

Smashbox 'Masquerade' Eye Palette

Masquerade Liquid Liner & Lash Overlay is a 2-in-1 product that gives an intense metallic color at the lashline, adding glamour and mystery to the eyes!  First, use the specially designed combination brush and rod to line lashline.  Next, apply your mascara and finish by using the rod to sweep hints of metallic teal or bronze onto the tips of your lashes.

Masquerade Liquid Liner & Lash Overlay teal

Masquerade Lip Enhancing Gloss is ultra-moisturizing and guaranteed to keep lips sparkling all night long.  If you want to create the illusion of a fuller pout, darken the area underneath the center of bottom lip with the nude lip pencil in a shade that matches your skin tone, then apply lip enhancing gloss in Reveal or Disguise in the center of your lip.

Smashbox Masquerade Lip Enhancing Gloss Reveal

 

> shop more Smashbox

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How to Apply Concealer Like a Pro August 27th, 2010 By

I’m always amazed by how many women claim they can’t wear concealer.  I remember having an extensive conversation with Janeane Garofalo one time while I was applying her makeup.  We talked about women reaching a certain age where the fine lines take over and the makeup starts settling in and how discouraging wearing makeup can be.  What are the best brands on the market?  What is the best method to apply them?  The trick is, I say, to use about 50% less product than you think you need and only apply it to troubled areas.  Here are a few more foolproof tips:

M.A.C. Studio Finish Concealer

1. Choose a color that matches your skin exactly.  Going one shade lighter can result in the unsightly raccoon-eye effect.

2. Apply concealer after foundation.  You don’t want to rub it off when blending in your base.  When applying undereye concealer, use a concealer brush and only target the darkest part.  Similarly, when covering blemishes, you only want to apply it to the blemish itself — using concealer around trouble spots will only highlight those areas.

3. Use powder sparingly — if at all.  While once considered a “must,” it can age you and actually encourage settling into fine lines around the eyes and mouth.  Newer concealer formulas have much better staying power, so powder is essentially obsolete.  Plus, dewy skin is a key to looking younger (just ask Jennifer Aniston). 

4.  Look for a creamy formula.  I like M.A.C. Studio Finish Concealer and Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer.  While only available in a few shades Cle de Peau is a phenomenal, but pricey, formula.  Don’t have a lot of coin?  L’Oreal True Match Concealer is hands-down the best drugstore brand.

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Bronzer for Fair Skin July 30th, 2010 By

I have very fair skin, and for the longest time I thought I couldn’t wear bronzer. Irony aside, all of the products that I tried were just too orange or too dark.  I remember a few years back  I dipped into my sister’s Hoola bronzer and had to wash my face immediately after.  However, I recently set out to determined to find something that works to give me the “California girl” glow that is ubiquitous in L.A.  Here’s what I found:

1. Benefit Dallas Bronzer
With a sheer wash of color and subtle shimmer, this bronzer is just pink enough for me to skip the blush.  Wear day and night.

Benefit Dallas Bronzer

2. Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid in Sunkissed
This sheer fluid gives a serious glow with just the right amount of color.  I mix in a little with my foundation and spread over my cheeks, forehead, and brow bone.  Since it has a true golden tone, I still find I need a little blush on the apples of my cheeks.  Tip:  When wearing something low-cut,  mix in a dime-sized amount with body lotion and spread over neck and chest.

Chanel Skeer Illuminating Fluid in Sunkissed

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Fresh Summer Makeup May 25th, 2010 By

I have one giant pet peeve: women sporting a melting mask of makeup in the summer!  Just like your closet, and even your perfume, it’s important to wardrobe your summer makeup look. It’s easy to look fresh during the hot summer months without using a whole lot of product.  The idea is to look like a more-perfect you, highlighting your natural beauty. So, please do me (and your skin) a favor, and check out my 3 favorite barely-there products:

1. Tinted Moisturizer
Switch out your powder and liquid foundation for a tinted moisturizer, as less is always more when trying to combat the heat.  This wonderfully light and oil-free tinted moisturizer from Laura Mercier spreads like a lotion and stays put, so it’s easy to use clean hands to blend.  It’s great for all skin types, but especially acne prone or oily skin.

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer

2. Highlighter
This glowy NARS Multiple Stick is my favorite.  The convenient cream stick can be used to give you a bronzed, glowy look.   Apply to cheeks, brow bones or any area you want to look sunkissed.  You’ll never feel sticky because the formula goes on creamy and dries powdery to the touch.

NARS Multiple=

3. Makeup Sealers
Finally, I ALWAYS had smudged eyeliner in the outer bottom-corners of my eyes until a fellow makeup artist recommend She Laq by Benefit.  A thin coat of this after applying my eyeliner seals it and keeps in from traveling down my face.  It’s also good for eyeshadow, brow makeup and  lipstick (hello, red lips that don’t smudge!), and comes with all of the application tools in a handy pouch.

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NYX Cosmetics Unveiled May 19th, 2010 By

Last night I had the chance to stop by an event for indie line NYX Cosmetics Professional Makeup in L.A.  The star-studded beauty bash celebrated the brand’s fun, edgy products at the plush Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.  Makeup artists mingled with models, and beauty insiders agreed that one of their best products is their super-affordable Mega Shine Lip Gloss that comes is a zillion wearable colors. 

Carmen Electra at NYX

I had never tried NYX products before, and was delighted by the “dessert bar” that had candy jars filled with their signature glosses, shadows, false lashes, and jars of glitter — ours for the taking!  I made off with a handful of products to test, and spent the rest of the night playing in my apartment with hyper-pigmented shadows and their new NYX Super Fat Eyeliner Markers. 

NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss, $5.50

I’ve got the liner on today (it’s a liquid liner applied with a fat marker tip), and so far it’s stayed put and still looks fresh.  I’m also wearing the Mega Shine in Juicy Pink, and for just $5.50 it’s definitely going to help balance the budget for my gloss obsession (compare with: Chanel Glossimer in Glaze for $27.00).

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Don’t Call It a Cover-Up May 18th, 2010 By

I love makeup, and as a direct result I’ve tried some of the best products on the market.  In related news, while my eyes could be described as “pools of moonlight,” my UNDEReyes can easily be called “two pools of mud.”  I have dark circles that most concealers cannot touch.

NOC-Out Concealer by Redpoint

NOC-Out Concealer by Redpoint

However, there are two concealers I now swear by: Stila’s Eye Concealer, which comes in a small pot and is applied with a brush.  This is great for everyday use.  The second is RedPoint’s NOC-Out.  NOC-Out is a compact that actually contains three concealers: A formula designed to cover redness (yellow), one to hide brown spots/freckles (peach), and a third to camouflage dark circles under the eyes (beige).  AND IT WORKS.  I break this out less often becuase it’s more time consuming.  However, I used it early this morning, and it’s stayed on all day.  Everything that is supposed to be hidden is still out of site!  With this concealer, you’ve got nothing to hide.

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Beauty Talk: Mineral Makeup April 12th, 2010 By

Mineral makeup is a great option for natural coverage because it’s often more forgiving than liquid foundations and easier to match your skin tone.  Still haven’t tried it?  Check out my three personal favorites.  They diffuse light and give skin a soft glow and a more natural look, which makes mineral makeup a favorite among celebs.  Even those of us with acne scars can enjoy mineral makeup by pairing it with a good concealer where needed.

 

Bare Minerals Get Started, $60

Bare Minerals Get Started, $60

Bare Minerals by Bare Escentuals
Bare Minerals by Bare Escentuals has the best coverage among all of the mineral makeup I have tried. You have to buff it on with a tightly packed kabuki brushfor the best results.  The Original Bare Minerals Foundation has shimmer which can accentuate lines if applied to heavily, but gives skin a pretty glow.  The Matte Bare Minerals is better for older skin and a more refined look.  The Matte version tends to get a little cakey though so you have to spend some extra time blending the foundation into your skin.  The Get Started Kitsare a great value since they include two foundation shades, brushes, warmth (a bronzer) and mineral veil (a translucent powder that sets the foundation).

M.A.C. Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, $26

M.A.C. Mineralize SkinFinish
M.A.C. Mineralize Skinfinish Natural is my daily go-to powder in the morning.  I pair it with M.A.C. Select Cover-up concealer for a flawless, fresh complexion.  The purse-friendly solid powder compact is perfect for travel and is way less messy than loose powders.  My only gripe about the compact is that there is no mirror.  There is a great range of shades (which is usually the case for M.A.C.), so it’s easy to find the right shade for your skin.

Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder, $32.50

Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder, $32.50

Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief
Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief is a very sheer powder, but you can apply it with a nylon foundation brush or concealer brushfor better coverage.  It works well over foundation or concealer and light layers can be applied throughout the day to alleviate oiliness and redness.

Also check out Clinique’s Urgent Relief Creamto calm red skin as a result of an allergic reaction or irritation.  It works very quickly to eradicate bumpiness, rashes and discoloration.  I can attest to the face-saving qualities of its predecessor, Clinique’s Exceptionally Soothing Cream for Upset Skin (discontinued).  When I tried on a department store blush and immediately turned bright red, itchy and bumpy right before I was due to present a research project, the Clinique girl saved me with that cream.  Within 20 minutes I was almost back to normal and not itchy at all.  Keep a tube at home if you have sensitive skin.  It also works well on beard burn!

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Trend Alert: Precious Metals Makeup for S/S ’10 April 8th, 2010 By

metallic make-up trend, ladylux

Precious Metals for S/S 2010

Artists of all kinds went mad over shimmer last fall while showing the Spring/Summer 2010 runway collections.  We love the varying luminous effects of this this heavy metal trend in makeup.  Here are some of our favorite products to help you achieve these gorgeous accent trends to enhance your already flawless face.

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Flawless Faces S/S 2010

Warm Face:
To add warmth to any face, a healthy glow of golden was blended across cheeks.  Accents of bronze tones invokes the presence of sunny springtime.

Laura Mercier Bronzing Duo

 

Trish McEvoy All Over Face Color Quad

 

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Piercing Eyes

Piercing Eyes:
For instant drama, silvery hues were used on and under eyelids, creating lustrous high-wattage and vibrant vibes that come with the thaw of winter’s chill.

Bobbi Brown Silver Moon Sparkle Eye Shadow

Dior Couleurs Extreme Eyeshadow in Argentic

Laura Mercier Foiled Eye Colour

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Colorful Eyes

Colorful Eyes:
Brightly hued colors of reds and yellows were artistically placed into the inner apex of the eyes.  Earth tones of greens and browns were swathed across the tops of lids to create a radiant glow of full-coverage.

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NARS Single Eyeshadow in Night Sun

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Medusa's Make-Up Electro Red Eye Shadow

YSL New Ombres Eyeshadow Duo

Bobbi Brown Beige Shimmer Brick Compact

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Metal Mouth

Metal Mouth:
Taking shine beyond the eyes, the trend heads south to the powerful pout.  Lip colors infused with shades of gold or silver will brighten your face and make your beautiful mouth smile.

Yves Saint Laurent Golden Shimmering Lip Gloss

Jane Iredale Puregloss in Gold Fling

- LadyLUX; Beauty.Trends.LUX.

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Shop under $15: Flawless Foundations March 18th, 2010 By

Flawless Foundation under $15

Flawless Foundation under $15

We’ve all felt guilty after leaving the makeup counter with an empty wallet and only an item or two to show for it. This doesn’t have to happen anymore! Drug store makeup can be just as great as brand name makeup, and it won’t break the bank.  Here are a few great foundations I’d recommend, and they’re all under $15.00!

At prices like these, you can buy 2 shades to blend and customize coverage just like the pros.  Who knows, instead of spending $50 bucks a pop at the department store, you could find your dream foundation that’s exactly the right color.

1. Creamy, dreamy, and such a delight, Maybelline Dream Mousse Foundations are all you need for smooth foundation coverage that doesn’t feel caked on or heavy.

2. Find it impossible to match your skin tone? L’Oreal True Match Super Blendable Powder promises to blend in perfectly so you get a flawless, natural look.

3. Prefer natural mineral foundations? This Neutrogena Mineral Sheers are hypoallergenic and perfect for sensitive skin.

4. I don’t use foundation unless it’s a special event, but I do like a good tinted moisturizer for daily coverage. Covergirl Smoothers Tinted Moisture is a nice amount of coverage for evening out your skin tone, and the bonus factor is that it has SPF 15.

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3 Ways to Fight Aging Right Now March 13th, 2010 By

Sunscreen – We all know that prolonged sun exposure can rapidly accelerate the skin’s aging process. One of the best means of defense is a skin system with products that offer great SPF protection. Many sunscreen products now come with the added benefits of anti-aging ingredients or additional coverage.

Anti-Aging products with sunscreen

Anti-Aging Products with Sunscreen

1. Neutrogena Age Shield Face Sunblock SPF 90, $10.99 at Target
Boasts an amazing price tag and a sheer (read: no icky white streaks), fragrance-free moisturizing formula that combats skin-aging free radicals.

2. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20,$42 at Nordstrom
Your makeup can now do double duty! This tinted moisturizer shields skin from harmful UVB and UVA rays and hides flaws with lightweight, natural coverage all in one shot.

3. Shiseido Daytime Protective Cream SPF15, $221.95 at Cosmetic America
If you’ve got a little more change to spare, then try this luxe solution that promises to accentuate the positive (resilience and radiance) while reducing the negative (wrinkles, sagging, cellular damage and dryness).

Eye Cream - Don’t let pesky crows feet, dark circles, or wrinkles add years to your appearance. Fight back with a few key products specially formulated for this delicate area.

Anti-aging Eye Creams

Anti-Aging Eye Creams

1. Burt’s Bees Naturally Ageless Eye Cream, $24.97 at Overstock.com
This emulsion is packed with natural ingredients like pomegranate and magnolia extract to aid in de-stressing tired looking eyes.

2. Olay Professional Pro-X Eye Restoration Complex, $41.99 at Dermadoctor.com
The OlayPro-X line has won rave reviews and been proven to soften the skin, diminish the look of fine lines and lighten dark circles.

3. Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lifting Eye Cream, $99 at BeautyEncounter.com
Your “no surgery required” eye lift solution helps strengthen the skin for a more firm appearance.

Face Serum – A little face firming serum now may be the way to prevent a nip/tuck situation later. Preserve your skin’s elasticity and suppleness with potent serums that lift, firm and hydrate.

Face saving anti-aging serums

Anti-Aging Serums

1. Avon Liiv Botanicals Vitalizing Face Serum, $17 at Avon
A budget friendly serum that guarantees visible improvements after just one application!

2. Sea Chi Organics Re-Hydrating Facial Serum, $69 at Nimli.com
Offers an organic solution to combat dryness and wrinkling around the neck, eyes and mouth.

3. La Mer Lifting Face Serum, $440 at Nordstrom
Restore and renew while you sleep! The La Mer brand has been a favorite among the celebrity set for years.

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Beauty Talk: The New Blues February 28th, 2010 By

The New Blues

Brighten up your vanity with beauty products in shades of blue.  From sultry shadows to gentle exfoliators, check out some of my favorites among the new blues.

1. MAC Deep Truth is a classic very deep blue shimmer eyeshadow that can update the classic smoky eye by standing in for stark black shadows.

2. If lighter shades are more your style, try Urban Decay Speed.  This pale blue shadow is a great way to welcome the spring.

3. Get a mix of blue shades in Maybelline’s Eye Studio Sapphire Siren Quad, the drugstore giant’s latest shadow offering.  A light and dark blue are paired with a frosty white and black shadow to give you a range of eye looks, all for less than $9!  Even if you usually avoid Maybelline’s shadows, try the new Eye Studio quads, they are way more pigmented than their regular line.  Applied wet, they rival department store brands with their rich color payoff.

4. NARS Bains Douches is a bright sky blue glitter pencil that will take your eye look from day to evening.  Wear a pale blue shadow to work and then spice it up in the evening with a darker blue shadow (like MAC’s Deep Truth) and Bains Douches in the inner and outer corners of the eye to add some sparkle.

5. Stila Black Diamond Mascara in Blue Shimmer will add just a hint of sparkle to your eyes.  The soft blue shimmer in this basic black mascara is perfect for daytime (no disco ball eyelashes here).

6. Brighten up your shower and your skin with Peter Thomas Roth’s Botanical Buffing Beads!  This scrub has tiny round beads to gently exfoliate your body and even delicate facial skin.  The bright blue color will help you to imagine a lovely tropical ocean while you uncover the bright new skin you’d show off on that beach.

7. Marc Jacobs Daisy in The Air is a limited edition reisssue of the popular Daisy fragrance in a bottle adorned with bright blue flowers.  The perfect gift for the girl who loves floral fragrances,  Daisy has notes of violet, strawberry and gardenia.  This limited edition set includes a daisy chain of blue flowers that she can spritz and hang in her room so she’ll be surrounded by her favorite scent.  It’ll also freshen and brighten up your car -  those little green trees are no competition!

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Editor’s Picks: Kristina’s Spring Must-Haves February 19th, 2010 By

I’ve been awfully restless lately and it’s led me to one conclusion: I’ve developed a bad case of Spring Fever. I’m just itching to throw on some strappy sandals and a floral-inspired dress. Lucky for me, the weather here in sunny Los Angeles is already permitting for such attire! Here are a few items items I’m lusting after this spring.

editors_picks_spring

Kristina's Picks for Spring

1.  Piel Large Yellow Hobo
$210.40 (20% off)

2.  Linea Paolo ‘Jarren’ Sandal
$109.95

3.  Cardigans – shop a variety of styles and shades
Starting at $14.50

4.  Josie Maran Natural Wonders Powders Palette
$35

5.  Maggy London Border Print Party Dress
$138

6.  DV by Dolce Vita ‘Cairo’ Flat
$76.95

7.  Hot Pink Nail Polish by OPI
Starting at $4

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