Beauty Blunders: Fails, Tales, and NEVER Should You Evers

In the great wide world of beauty, the variety of makeup looks one can wear is endless. From clean and simple, to colorful and exotic, there are many shades of shadow that can enhance your unique features. We've all had our fun with 'experimentation-gone-wrong' at some point or another, but more often than not, beauty lovers keep missing the mark on getting it right. Now, I don't mean to be overly critical, but with so many repeat-offenders on the rise, I want to help you nip it in the bud and be the beautiful little glamour queens you were born to be. Here I've broken the "Seven Deadly Offenses" no woman should ever encounter with their makeup...So grab your mirrors and makeup remover, this time we're gonna get it right!

Offense Number #1: The 'Tarantu-Lash'

Now, I've always had a sick obsession with mascara - it's probably one of my favorite items in my makeup arsenal, and I've searched far and wide for the top contenders in this category. Not only do I want a mascara that will lengthen, volume and make me look fabulous - I want something that will look great after 2-3 coats. YES, I do apply that much mascara because I'm a freak about it - but I do it right. If you are going to layer on that black magic - there are a few rules to remember:

    

- One Coat, is One Coat

  When you start applying your favorite mascara, one coat is equivalent to moving the wand across the lashline and back. DONE. When you go over the lashes repeatedly like a madwoman, you're earning yourself a free ride to Clump-Ville... and it's not a pretty place! Remember - we're adding another coat or two, so don't put all your eggs in one basket and pile it all on in one shot.

-Wiggle That Bottom

  So we all know that little trick for thickening up the lashes - wiggling the wand back and forth. No, it's not rocket science, but it's not the only method to build volume. Keep the wigglin' at the bottom base of the lashline and keep to the first coat. If you wiggle around too much at the tip of the lashes, you build up too much product and end up with an unnatural and well, unattractive look.

-Learn to Separate Yourself

  The most important thing to do if you are adding multiple coats, is separate them in between!! There will be the rare occasion where you end up with a perfect first coat, but let's just play it safe and pick up our lash comb. A disposable mascara wand will work too, just make sure you are working quickly - mascara doesn't take long to dry, and if you are taking your sweet time to perfect each baby lash, going over the dryed mascara will only encourage it to flake up and end up all over your face.

Offense #2: The Concealer Lip

Ladies, ladies, ladies... I know how much you want to rock out the perfect nude lip, but just because NARS Belle Du Jour looks great on Kim Kardashian, doesn't mean it will look flattering on you. People really underestimate how difficult it is to find the perfect nude color for them... and it is! Honestly, for the longest time I wanted to convince myself that MAC's Lipstick Myth, just had to work for me. I read countless blogs and watched tutorials on this classic nude lip color, but on my light skin - it's a hot mess! Often times those nude colors pack a lot of brown/tan undertones, and look best on those with sunkissed skin. It's totally achievable to wear a pale hue, just stick to more sheer formulas that are 1-2 shades lighter than your natural lip color. Going any lighter will just look like you've been chowing down on powdered doughnuts or, well... getting ready for your clown costume on Halloween... And if you are fair skinned like I am, stick to more pinky undertones. 

Pale Lip Picks:

-Laura Mercier Lip Glace - After Hours

-MAC Lip Glass - Florabundance

-NARS Lip Gloss - Turkish Delight

Offense #3: "Oh, I'm Blushing!!"....WAY TOO MUCH

I know, I know, this picture is a little ridiculous, but the overkill blush fad of the 80's should have been locked into it's own little time capsule and buried underground for good. The cascading 'mouth-to-ear' rose tint is not a look that anyone should attempt! The issue is that so many women come to me with the complaint that they are just too washed out and feeling quite lackluster as their summer tans are fading into the abyss.... "How about a good blush?" seems to be the first idea popping out of their mouths. But let's press the pause button for a second - Yes, blush is quite a good thing - but let's tackle the "lackluster" portion first. Aside from skincare, if someone wants to liven up their appearance I recommend trying a great bronzer. Just using a little to frame and warm up the face will make a huge difference. If you hate using bronzer, well, that's ok too. Some of the most beautiful women in the world have milky pale skin, but just don't use a blush as a bronzer replacement. Blush should be applied to the apples of the cheeks and gently faded so it looks natural and soft.

Cream blush is a great option too. Use your fingers to press a bit of color onto the cheek and pat in a circular motion to make it blend flush with the skin. Either way around, give it some practice. If you find that maybe you applied a little too much color, take a clean kabuki brush and blend it out. It's one of the BEST brushes to have on hand for any quick fixes on the face.

Offense #4: The Reverse Raccoon Eye

So, I'm sure this lovely lady's makeup artist made a 'boo-boo' when putting the finishing touches on her red carpet look - but the female battle with under eye concealer teeters on a fine line between "brightened' and 'whitened'.  When choosing a concealer shade, people tend to associate hiding dark circles and tired eyes with using a color 3-5 shades lighter than their skin. There are a few problems you face when using this method: a) it looks ashen and doesn't conceal darkness b) it's difficult to blend (because it doesn't match!) and c) it will emphasize and draw attention to fine lines and wrinkles.

"So How Do We Fix This Hot Mess??"

  Well ladies, it's easy. If you want the undereye to be brighter, start with a.... drumroll please.... Undereye Brightener! Yes these bad boys do exist, and thank heavens they do. You can apply a bit of this miracle product before the concealer. It is creamy and sheer, but has reflects of pearlescent sheen to diffuse light and brighten the look under the eye area. One of my favorites is the Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener.  For $18, this product packs Vitamin E, Red Wine Extract, Peptides & Marine Collagen.... wow. So yes, it's meant to treat fine lines and rejuvenate, but what I like about this compared to others is that it's super hydrating, silky and doesn't get caked up on the skin. 

Okay! Easy as pie - we've added some brightness underneath the eye.... so now what? Here's where our concealer comes into play. Yes, you can use a bit of an orange corrector to cancel out dark circles, but when picking a perfect concealer shade - choose one that is an identical match to the skin, or 1/2 shade lighter. I say this for two reasons - 

1. Choose what you prefer (Me, I like to get all matchy-matchy with my skin) 

2. Choose depending on under eye concern 

    ***Dark Circles = 1/2 shade lighter

    ***Puffiness = Match your skin tone (There are no magic tricks to hiding puffiness with makeup, but    

          going lighter will only emphasize it more)

Also, a great concealer will have the following properties: Smooth, Creamy & Blendable with Coverage. 

I'm a huge fan of the Bobbi Brown concealers/correctors because they have all of these qualities, and they set beautifully on the skin. If your concealer is dense and hard, it will be a little too difficult to apply and have a tendency to look a bit chalky. 

Offense #5: The REAL Raccoon Eye

Taylor Momsen... I have no qualms with this young Hollywood Starlet, in fact, I applaud her for embracing her own style... except her now "signature" look has turned from "Rockstar Glamour" to "I Belong in the Slammer"... (it really does look like a mugshot). There is nothing flattering about this overdone, one-dimmensional smokey eye. I will admit, there was a point in my Junior Year of high school where black eyeliner was my new best friend - but I did leave the black sharpie in my backpack and not in my makeup bag. This girl is far too pretty for all this eye makeup, but if she wants to have that bold look, fine- a deep smokey eye can look awesome - it just takes a little more finesse to get it right.

Fade Into The Darkness...

Achieving a successful smokey eye will leave you smoldering, but work the shadows into layers. You can use browns, grays, greens, purples... any color... just let it have a gradiant effect. Smudge your darkest colors close to the lashline working your way up and fade the softer colors through the lid and crease. If you want a simpler option, or don't have much lid space, work the darker shadow into the outer  corner of the lid and crease, and apply a lighter shadow with a bit of a sheen onto the inner part of the lid to open the eye up a bit.

So Here's the Bottom Line...

When dealing with the lower lashline, you want to be careful not too make it so thick and heavy - it will leave you looking dragged down and tired, sitting too close to your under eye circles. I watched a great trick on Mario Dedivanovik's vlog (Kim K.'s celebrity makeup artist) where he rimmed the waterline of her eyes with a very smudgy black kohl pencil, then turned it to lay flat and rolled it down through the lashes. This helps to thicken and give the lower lashline depth without having to apply the liner underneath the eye. Next fade a medium to dark shadow underneath the lashes to help blend everything together and voila! You should have a perfect smokey eye. No matter how dark or soft you want your smokey eye, always remember to take your time to blend it out thoroughly - making it look effortless and sexy!

Offense #6: The Radioactive Lip

I must say, there is nothing attractive about looking like you've been beamed down from outer space and punished with having a metallic mouth for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, I feel like at one point in time this was "in style" (why?!?!) and I will confess - I owned my personal little silver slip-up in the past. I remember I lived a block away from a Sally's Beauty growing up - and for some reason my best friend and I LOVED buying Black Opal Makeup. Little did we realize at 12 years old the line was designed for African American skintones, but we wanted to get the brightest and most metallic colors we could find... it was the hottest thing next to our Jelly Sandals... (Payless was next door). Anyway, we buy this deep silver lipstick and plan to wear it out on our school field trip the next day. However, our plan was thwarted because our catholic school nun who was running the show - instilled the wrath of God in us, and I mean... BAD... telling us how sinful we looked - and made us wipe it off before exiting the bus... Needless to say, I never wore metallic lipstick again! I guess I thought the world would stop wearing it with me, experiencing their very own someone who told them how scandalous they looked, but no... people are still wearing it in 2010 and it needs to STOP!

I think people who are still purchasing metallic lipstick are getting confused with shimmer and sparkle. They like the look of having some kind of shine on their lips as opposed to a matte finish. With that being said, this is an easy fix! Go for a light shimmery gloss to pack punch instead of metallic hues, and avoid the little word "frost" if it ever comes across when pondering though new colors. MAC makes great Dazzleglass lip gloss, which has multi chromatic tones and gives off tons of shine and glimmer. 

My MAC Dazzleglass Picks:

-Sugarrimmed - very pale nude

-Bare Necessity - neutral peachy beige

-Baby Sparks - soft pink with violet tones

Offense #7: The Mismatched Misdemeanor

When I look at this picture I think to myself.... Huh?!?!

It is absolutely remarkable how difficult it is for women to match their foundation. With so many variants in our own skin tone as well as each foundation, it's become a trial and error process that takes longer for most than it should. There's nothing worse than seeing a line of demarcation to separate your head from the rest of you... and it happens with both darker and lighter foundations. Often times there are two types of people who fall into the category of foundations fails: 

The Color Clueless - those who just can't figure out their skin tone

The Color Debaters - those who "know" their color and refuse to opt for a different shade

Which brings me to my first point - TRY IT ON. This is a huge problem that occurs when buying a drugstore foundation, because more often than not, you can't try on the color so you rely on that wallet sized mirror in the makeup isle to determine your foundation fate. There are a few decent ones out there, but in my opinion - why not invest in a higher quality foundation you can try on, instead of wasting more money buying multiple cheaper foundations that you either hate because of the color or the quality?

So How Do We Get a Good Match??

Test the color from the jawline to the neck. So many women believe their skin is "pink" because hormonally, women tend to get a lot of redness around the nose, cheeks and mouth - which hides our true skin tone. Other women think they are much darker than they are, because they test the color on the back of their hand - a place that gets more sun exposure than our face, which usually has sunscreen protection. If you want to figure out your undertones, the best place to look is your chest. This area really reveals the pink, yellow or green in the skin. But truly, the fact of the matter is, we're wearing it on our face so we need to match it to our face.  If you're the type of person who hates your super fair skin, warm it up with a little bronzer. If you want to brighten and balance out redness or hyperpigmentation - tackle it with skincare. There are plenty of treatments that will help you even out your skin and will be far more beneficial than packing on a too light foundation to cover it up. 

Well ladies, this concludes my Beauty Blunder rant - and I hope to have helped you put an end to these makeup mishaps, and gather a few tips to achieve a more flawless look! Sometimes we all need to take a look in the mirror and reassess what's going on. Getting it right might just take a little tweaking and practice, but don't ever feel bad if you need to seek out a professional! Plenty of makeup artists give out makeup lessons or will sit down with you to go over colors and how to create the perfect look you want. 

Good Luck to you all! Stay beautiful and confident :-)

xoxo,

Laura

   

The Trials and Tribulations of a Self Tanorexic

 My whole life, no matter how much fun in the sun i had, I have been very fair skinned thanks in large part to my half Irish heritage.  Some call it porcelain, I call it a genetic melanin deficiancy.  Due to this, anyone who knows me, friends, family, clients...can attest that I have a serious love affair for all things tan.   I'm pretty sure it started around 9th grade when i discovered MAC bronzer and thought it to be a good idea to cover my face in it.  While at the time, (13 years ago! GASP) I thought it was amazing, (as did i concealer as lipstick?) I can finally admit that it's quite a look, and not one I'd recommend...to ANYONE....EVER.

From that time on I was determined to find a way to be tan.  I tried it all...foundation about 4 shades too dark, pretty much anything claiming to be "bronze", and alas, tanning beds.  My best friend was and to this day still is, the most tan person not of color I know.  I could have layed in a high power tanning bed coated in Designer Skin until i cooked like an easy bake oven and I'd never be that tan...but you can be sure I was going to try my darnedest! And try I did...several times a week for about 5 years.  My complexion went from translucent white to mere mother of pearl, as opposed to my desired shade of "bronzed goddess ", but it never stopped me from going.  It became nothing short of addictive.  I didn't need drugs as long as I had the smell of coconuts, burning skin, and a level 5 with brand new bulbs! 

Then one magical day at Sephora it was as if the clouds opened and the bright lights shown all in the direction of one special barbie doll pink can of heaven...Model Co. Airbrush Tan in a Can.  That's it...put a fork in it because I was done!  A airbrush spray can that gave me an instant tan with lasting effects?!? This of course istantly appealed to my All-American "I want it and I want it yesterday" mantality.  Since that fateful day, Tan in a Can and I have had quite a journey of both terracotta mishaps and glowing successes, and without it I may very well have never become the self proclaimed Fake Bake expert I consider myself today.  And so, here I am today to share my faux glow tips and tricks with all the other pigmentally challenged girls out there who just want to be TAN!

Its's All About the Prep
Ahhh the old "Do I realllly need to exfoliate?"  Not if you want to look like a patchy cheesedoodle with a skin condition (I've been there...it's not pretty.)   A pre-tan exfoliation rids you of any dry skin sittng on the surface as well as smoothing out areas such as the knees, elbows, an heels.  This will enable your tanner to go on smoothly, evenly, and last longer.  When choosing your body scrub, our going to want to go with one with minimals oils.  While I know we all love, love, love Fresh Brown Sugar Body polish, oil soaked scrubs leave a residue on the skin which will provent most formulas from being able to absorb.  Here are a few of my tried and true faves:
Bliss Vanilla Bergamot Body Buff- My old stand by!  With shea butter and a hint of sweet almond oil, this creamy buff promises to leave the skin silky smooth without leaving a film.  With a scent reminiscent of vanilla bean ice cream its a guiltless pleasure your sure to enjoy!

Laura Mercier Fresh Fig Scrub- My new found love!  Laura has done it again with her latest additon to her famed body and bath line.  Fig seeds and jojoba beads polish your skin to glowing perfection, while shea butter and honey moisturize and protect.  Plus, with its rich texture and indulgent scent its impossible not to find it simply delish!

So Much Tan, So Little Time

When it comes to choosing a self tanner thats right for you, it really is all about personal preference.  I will say, though, that I find traditional lotions take longer to dry, and seem harder to blend in evenly without getting streaks.  I really like sprays and the new mousse options, as they often go on so quick and easy.  And since most have built in bronzers you can see exactly where the product is going to avoid missing any areas, in addition to getting an instant glam glow!  Once you decide on the type of tan tickles your fancy, your going to want to think about coloring.  Many products have a traditional "golden" (albeit orange) shading to them.  While this hue may look like a dazzling terracotta dream on someone looking to enhance a natural tan , on the fairer bunch you'll look like less you just came back from St Barts and more Seaside with Snookie.  Now THAT is a situation! (bad pun intended.)   In the recent evolution of tanners, many now have a green or even purplish undertone them. Mixed with the bronzers, this transfers to a more natural brown/olive complexion on all skin shades.  I've put many a self tanner to the test in my day, and these make my list:

Model Co. Airbrush Tan in a Can- Ahhh my old throw back.  The pink can that started it all. I still get frantic calls from my afor mentioned bronzed bestie requesting this instant glam in a can! Created by a renowned Austrailian model agent, it's no wonder this at home personal airbrush tan will have you runway ready in no time! With its blink of an eye dry time and fresh coconut scent, it's the best kept secret to stars like Blake Lively, Miranda Kerr, and Sienna Miller.

St Tropez Bronzing Mousse- a quick application of this cinnamon toned mousse and you'll look like you just came back from its nameksake!  St Tropez is known worldwide as the leader in all things tan and with its clean scent, natural tone, and long lasting results its by far earned my top accolades!  They also offer several other formulas inlcuding gradual lotions, wash off bronzers, tan romover(a quick buh-bye for tanning boo boos) and even a mitt for mess free blending.  While I really enjoy the spray version for hands, legs and feet(that hardest place to tan!) I still find the super light-weight, velvety mousse to be the brands true superstar!

"If Ya Can't Tone it, Tan it!"

When applying self tanners, technique is just as important as the product your using.  You always want to star off on clean, dry, freshly polished skin.  I also like to apply body cream or lotion to areas such as knees, elbows, and even around your nail bed to prevent overabsorbtion in areas with thicker skin. Regardless of what type of tanner your using, be it spray, lotion, mousse, or even tanning towlettes, it's best to work in a circular motion to avoid streaking and lines, and to insure proper blending.  Keep in mind before you go in to a tan frenzy, that while products with bronzers give you a hint as to the color of your final result, the active ingredient actually takes a few hours to show up so you will get darker over time.  Always let yourself dry fully before dressing or applying makeup, as you dont want to undo all your hard work.  If once your tan is fully dry you feel like you could have blended a bit better, fear not.  Just take a quality body lotion and apply evenly all over.  This will even out the bronzer, tanner, and rehydrate the skin.  I have found that Bliss Body Butter and also Fresh Body Lotions both have great formulas that work well with the bronzers without turning them ashen or grey. They also pair up nicely mixed in with most tanners as a daily gradual to maintain and hydrate your tan, or give more of a subtle result on fresh skin.  Follow your steps, take your time and you'll be beach babe ready year round!

Well I hope my years of tanning trial and error has now been to your benefit.  Whether your going for the look of subtly sunkissed or beach baked, there really is a product and technique for everyone and i'm happy to have been somewhat of a test dummy.  Let us know about all your tanning experiences, favorite products, and advice! I can never get enough!!!

Happy Tanning!!!

<3 Amy

Beauty Spotlight: Getting a Gorgeous Glow

Since the beginning of my affair with beauty products, I have been obsessed with getting that "Ethereal Glow"... you know, the look that you see celebrities like Jennifer Lopez wearing down the red carpet... the type of look that screams, "Young! Fresh! Beautiful! Glamorous!"... or I guess that's what I imagine the paparazzi might shout out to me if I were famous and greeting my accolades in my plunging couture Versace gown... but not to digress! Back to reality....

Through trial and multiple error, I found the key products that are any woman's (or man's- hey, they're fabulous too) saving grace.

1. The Clarisonic

I'm starting with this because, this electronically charged "Godsend", made from the same company who brought you the Sonicare Toothbrush, is worth every penny. Ranging in sizes and speeds, this will make your skin beyond gorgeous. I myself suffer from both breakouts and an oily T-Zone, but this will not only deep clean 6x's stronger than your fingertips, breaking down makeup, dirt and oil, but it will shrink the pores (LITERALLY), smooth the texture of the skin, diminish fine lines & wrinkles and bring back your skin's own natural radiance. It's simply incredible - your makeup goes on flawlessly afterward and I have been getting more compliments on my skin than ever before. If you suffer from a lack-luster appearance, or just want the luxury of an at-home facial, than do yourself a favor and save up for one of these bad boys! They retail from around $150-$250 depending on the model, AND are waterproof and shatterproof! Great news for those of you who might use it as your personal microphone in the shower (ha!). The charge will last about 21 minutes, which equals to 21 uses - it runs on a minute timer, and they do come with a 1 year warranty in case you, ya know, drop it while belting out Lady Gaga or... Queen...
I highly recommend it.... you won't be sorry!

2. Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer

So, many of you makeup lovers know about Laura Mercier's infamous Tinted Moisturizer, but if you want a serious glow, try her "Illuminating" Tinted Moisturizer - a sheer formulation that has the pigmentation and coverage of her classic Tinted Moisturizer, but with crushed pearlized particles that give a subtle and beautiful glow. With shades ranging in colors like Bare, Natural, Warm & Golden, any skintone can wear it. If you are someone who prefers a little more coverage or cannot part with your all-time favorite foundation, you can mix a bit of this in with it, to give a little more luster. I find that when using this product, it really enhances the natural contours of the face, i.e. cheekbones, nose and chin. I cannot tell you enough how gorgeous this product looks on everybody. And, with high profile celebrity clientele like Madonna, Julia Roberts, Sarah Jessica Parker & Isabella Rosselini... I'm pretty sure Laura Mercier hit the nail on the head with this product. 

3. Give Your Cheeks a Pop

Once your face has transformed into a perfect canvas, you need an extra bit of pop to the top of the cheekbone. Here are a few of my personal favorites:

Blush: NARS Multiple in Portofino

This creamy formula not only adds a natural touch to the skin, but this color is a peachy pink with a subtle gold sheen. I think it works well with so many skintones because it has that bit off coolness with subtle pink for fair skin, but has the warmth of the gold sheen to really pop on darker skin. Magazines quote celebs like Taylor Swift, America Ferrara & Rihanna all sporting this cream blush, so as you can see - it's a hugely wearable color for many women!

Highlight: Laura Mercier Illuminating Powder in Candelight/ Bare Escentuals Champagne Radiance

Both of these powders rank high on my list because they have a finely milled quality that wears well on the skin and looks both natural and stunning. Some highlighting powders have a bit too much glitter in them and they can look either too juvenile for your age, or will simply end up all over your sweater 20 min. after you leave your house. The Candelight powder is a perfect cream color for lighter skintones, and won't look ashen and pale on the skin. Champagne Radiance is more of a bronzey tone, which works great and darker complexions, AND it has crushed diamonds in it. You can't get more luxurious than that!

4. Let Your Eyes Light Up The Room

Adding a subtle hint of sheen to the eyes will instantly open and brighten while making your eye color sparkle. Here's a few recommendations based on skintone:

Fair/Light: 

Bare Escentuals E/S in Celestine - soft shimmery taupe/ivory

Light/Medium:

MAC E/S in Retrospeck - sheer creamy gold tone

Medium/Dark:

Illamasqua E/S in Bronx - medium copper shimmer

5. Lip Service? Yes, Please:

So, it's no surprise that adding a finishing touch will be giving your lips the royal treatment: shine, moisture and an Angelina Jolie-worthy plump. Some of my favorites  have to be the NARS lipgloss. The best part is they have a long lasting quality, high shine, and come in absolutely beautiful shades. My top "Glowing Gloss" picks are:

-Greek Holiday - nude, with champagne shimmer

-Orgasm - pink, with gold sheen

-Belize - shiny pinky/nude

I hope that all of this beauty talk will inspire you to glow like you've never glowed before! There are many wonderful products that can give you an amazing look, but so far, these are things that rank supreme in my beauty kit. Everyone's got their own beauty secrets, let us know what your top picks are!! Have a fabulous day and don't forget to check back for tons of upcoming reviews and tidbits :-)

xoxo,

Laura