Makeup For Life - Beauty Blog, Makeup Tutorials, Product Reviews, Celebrity Makeup, Beauty Advice » holiday makeup

How To: Rock Silver Holiday Eye Makeup

Phyllis — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:34:22 +0000

When it comes to holiday makeup, nothing says glam better than silver. So take a cue from the gorgeous silver eye looks spotted on the Spring 2012 runways on how you can rock the color this season!

At 3.1 Phillip Lim, models were given a “geometry mixed with light and air” with a metallic silver graphic line drawn along the crease, courtesy to a wet application of NARS Single Eyeshadow in Night Life and the slate gray side of NARS Paris Duo Eyeshadow. Add a touch of NARS Multiple in Copacabana along the cheekbones for a truly ethereal look.

Feeling crafty? Slice some silver sequins into half and place them below and above each lash line, just like the look created by Pat McGrath at Givenchy.

Alternatively, try the “graphic metallic element” Chanel Creative Director Peter Philips created at Fendi by pairing a thick black cat-eye with pieces of silver reflective sheets glued all the way up past the brow bone.

Either way, remember to pair your silver peepers with clean skin and a touch of pink blush and muted lips.

Photos: Style.com.

Holiday Makeup Look: Indian-inspired Cat Eye at Chanel Pre-Fall 2012

Phyllis — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:50:30 +0000

Classic Indian decadence might be the theme at the Chanel Pre-fall 2012 show, but the gorgeous black-rimmed almond eyes paired with embellished dreaded updo sure is a great look for the holidays.

To create the look, Chanel creative director of makeup Peter Philips started by evening out the skin with Perfection Lumiere Foundation then dusted Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in Brume d’Or onto cheeks. Next, he blended a deep onyx cream eye shadow, Chanel Illusion d’Ombre in Nirvana, underneath the lower lash line and blended onto the crease, winging it outwards the temple. To up the drama, Philips rimmed the upper and bottom waterline with Chanel Le Crayon Kohl Eyeliner in Noir and coated lashes with Chanel Inimitable Intense mascara in Noir. He finished the look by adding golden highlights on the cheeks and eyes with Chanel Route des Indes palette, due out next June.

Need more ideas for a holiday look? Check these out!

Credit: Style.com.

2011 Holiday Makeup Looks By Celebrity Makeup Artist Gina Brooke

Phyllis — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 05:00:45 +0000

This year, Hourglass Cosmetics Artistic Director Gina Brooke brings us yet another set of gorgeous, easy-to-do holiday makeup looks. The first consists of glittering green eyes with shimmering cheeks and pearlescent lips while the second pairs inky black eyes with stunning purple lips for more drama.

Look #1: Ethereal Beauty

“A vibrant olive shadow really pops – especially if you foil the color,” says Brooke, who suggests using Visionaire Eye Shadow Duo in Dune. Using a shadow brush, apply the champagne shade first. Use your finger to blend for a graduation of color. Then apply the green shimmer shade. To heighten the impact of the shade, wet your brush before application but make sure to let the shadow dry before moving on to another shade. Pair your statement eyes with Illume Crème-to-Powder Bronzer Duo in Bronze Light applied to the cheeks. Focus on the highlighter shade in the duo. Finish up with Extreme Sheen Lip Gloss in Fortune.

Below is a similar version of the look I did:

See the breakdown here.

Look #2: Super Vamp

Turn heads with this directional look expressly designed for evening glamour. First, apply the cream shimmer shade of Visionaire Eye Shadow Duo in Suede over the entire eyelid. Then, line the eyes with Calligraphy Liquid Eye Liner in Ebony and apply Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara to lashes. Follow with Film Noir Lash Lacquer on the top and bottom to add shine, volume and drama. The final stroke? “I like to use Lash Lacquer as an eyeliner to create an extremely glossy line above the eyes,” says Brooke. “Just retrace your existing line with Lash Lacquer’s brush applicator.” Balance the glossy eye statement with matte plum lips by applying Aura Sheer Lip Stain in Scarlet.

Extra Tip: “The holidays are the perfect time to explore a more refined and layered look,” says Brooke. “I always prime first with Veil Mineral Primer and follow with Illusion Tinted Moisturizer for a glowing complexion. They’re the fundamental steps for looking elegant.”

See more holiday makeup tips by Gina!

Hourglass Cosmetics is available at Sephora, Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman.

Holiday Makeup Tips From Celebrity Makeup Artist Gina Brooke

Phyllis — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:30:04 +0000

Hourglass Cosmetics Artistic Director Gina Brooke, aka the face behind the gorgeous looks of Madonna, Anne Hathaway, Naomi Campbell and Gwen Stefani, gives us the low down on how to pull off fresh, beautiful makeup that is perfect for the holidays.

* “When it comes to chic cheeks, I have a three-dimensional approach that anyone can replicate at home. Firstly, I “warm” the skin by applying bronzer to the high points of the face. Secondly, I add “light” to the complexion by using a highlighter on the apples of the cheeks, down the bridge of the nose and the jaw bone. Lastly, I “color” with blush applied strategically to the apples of the cheeks – smile when you’re doing so for the ideal application. The result is a flawless looking complexion.”

* “Hold the neutrals. Why not try dramatic eyes for an evening event? Nothing says nighttime glamour like a metallic smoky eye. Choose a shadow duo with a black and a metal shade like gunmetal gray, silver or bronze. Using a shadow brush, apply the lighter shade first. Use your finger to blend for a graduation of color. Then apply the dark shade, but avoid applying the black shadow all the way across to the inner corner of the eyes—it makes your eyes seem bigger that way. Blend the two colors together.”

* “I love bold, red lips, and if you haven’t experimented with their power, now is the time to do so. Red instantly transforms the face for an immediately polished look. Start with a neutral liner first. Don’t just fill in the lines. Use the liner over the entire lips to create a base for your lipstick. Using a lip brush, apply the lipstick from the outer corner to the inner corner, and repeat from the other side. Pair your rouge lips with smoky eyes for a gorgeous classic look (refer to look #1).”

* “Gold is an undeniably festive color and the perfect choice to celebrate the season. An easy combination is to pair a gold shimmering eye shadow with a bright coral lip gloss (like look #2) – it’s a sultry look that flatters all skin tones. You could also heighten the impact of the gold shadow by wetting your brush before application. This technique is called “foiling” and it creates a gilded effect on the eyes. Make sure the shadow dries before moving on to another shade.”

* “To ensure your makeup lasts all night, always remember to prep skin with a primer first. It will ensure a flawless and long-lasting makeup application, and will also lock in moisture, which is ideal for cold weather. In addition, using a primer will help the foundation glide on smoothly and blend easily. Look for a luxurious foundation with anti-aging and light-diffusing ingredients.”

* “If you are going to a party where you will be photographed, I always recommend this trick from the Golden Age of Hollywood: Put a thin layer of Vaseline on your teeth to avoid lipstick transferring onto them. Another good trick from that era is to dab concealer on the outer corners of the mouth to create a lifting effect that makes you look like you’re slightly smiling all the time.”

Below are two looks created by Gina for the holidays:

Look #1: Smoky eyes with red lips

Look #2: Gold eyeshadow with coral lips

A fan of Gina? Read about my Intraceuticals Infusion Oxygen Facial experience with her!

Holiday Makeup Ideas: Red Lips

Phyllis — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 07:16:53 +0000

Christmas is never quite Christmas without red lips so read on to find out the different ways you can rock the color!

Matte Red Lips
Classic matte red lips are never out of style. Pair it with winged black liner and fake lashes for a retro glamour look like Camilla Belle or smoky bronze eyeshadow like Mary-Kate Olsen.

Camilla Belle and Mary-Kate Olsen

Product Recs: Lancome L’Absolu Rouge Lipcolor in Absolute Rouge

Glossy Red Lips
Matte lipstick can have an aging effect so if you are still a teen or want to take a few years off your face, try a gloss or a lipstick with a shiny finish.

Emporio Armani and Viktor & Rolf

Product Recs: MAC Tinted Lipglass in Russian Red and Hard Candy Painted Lady Lip Color in Kitten

For a step-by-step tutorial on how to create the perfect glossy red lips, check out these tips from Lancome’s national makeup artist Alex Sanchez.

Stained Red Lips
If you are not used to wearing reds, ease your way in with a lip stain. Alternatively, makeup artist Bobbi Brown recommends “dabbing powder blush over your lipstick with your finger” for a stained look.

Product Recs: Benetint and DuWop Twilight Lip Venom

Need help on picking out the right red? Click here for more tips!