Annie Lau Beauty Blog

Liz's Happy Day

2012-02-28T23:49:00.000-08:00

Talk about a glowing bride. Liz definitely was emanating pure bliss and warmth on her fall wedding day. She was such a pleasure to work with. She let me do my thing and placed full faith in me to make her the beautiful bride she dreamed of being.
Since Liz normally doesn't wear much makeup at all, she wanted me to keep her look simple and elegant. Of course it makes it that much easier when she already has great skin and an easy going personality. Thanks to Liz's patience and generosity (she individually attached high res photos and emailed them to me! Fyi, sometimes it's like pulling teeth to get photos from brides...) I'm able to share the gorgeous photos from her wedding day.
Enjoy!

Lipstick as Blush

2012-02-27T23:57:00.003-08:00

Do most of you use up your tubes of lipstick down to the bottom? If you have, it probably took you a couple years(or more!), especially the rosier and deeper toned ones. A great way to maximize the use of those lippies are to also use them as a cream blush. You can just use a small artist spatula to shave off a little bit of the lipstick then take it in between your fingers to warm it up before applying. You can also mix it with a little concealer for a creamier and tackier consistency. I love wearing blush because I love how it instantly brightens and warms up any complexion.

By the way, I have my little sis to thank for this post idea! She uses her sample lipsticks (like the ones from Clinique/Lancome free gifts) as her blush. I thought it was very resourceful and clever of her! Way to go Jess!

Neutrals with Neons

2012-02-26T23:17:00.003-08:00

courtesy refinery29.com

It is definitely neon-mania in full force. Wearing neon isn't just for cool workout gear or for an 80s themed party anymore. As we get ready to jump into spring, all signs are pointing to neon colors as being the it trend for our new season's wardrobe.
Wearing these statement color clothes and accessories calls for a more neutral make-up palette to balance your look. I'm loving the soft warm neutrals - taupey eye shadows, nude lips and coral blush are fresh and sexy. Either dig in your make-up box for your browns and taupes or go and get a palette of neutral shadows. I refer to them as my little black dress for make-up.

Kat Von D True Romance in Saint $36

Nars Pure Matte Lipstick Madere $25

Pale Pink Lips at the Grammys

2012-02-12T23:44:00.000-08:00

Many ladies of this 2012 Grammy Awards show were rockin the pale pink lips. It's no wonder as it's easy to pair this pretty hue with either dramatic or soft sultry eyes. I myself have a shade of a nude pink lippie that I keep as a staple in my makeup box. I either wear mine as is for a more subtle look, or I top it with gloss for a night out. With V-day around the corner, it's a great date night color to wear if you want your man (or soon-to-be man) to lean in for kiss!

Maybelline - Born With It

Au Naturel

2012-02-08T22:56:00.000-08:00

courtesy style.com

The “easy breezy” look is definitely in for this coming spring season. It's about putting the least amount of effort in getting ready, yet still looking fresh and glowing. This means letting your hair dry naturally and dabbing touches of color on your lips and cheeks. This is minimalistic beauty at its finest and requires the least maintenance. You busy gals can rejoice now.
After you shower in the morning, just towel dry and let it dry on it own. It'll be perfectly un-perfect. While you let your hair air dry, use your fingers to apply the gel blush on your cheeks and swipe your lips with a stain. Done. I told you it would be "easy breezy".

I'm currently in love with 3 Custom Color's Creme to Powder Blush. I have it in Salmon and use it on my lazy mornings when I just want a pop of natural flush on my cheeks. Not only does the color look natural it also lasts through my workouts. It has become a staple in my personal make-up kit.

3 Custom Color Creme to Powder $22.50

MUFE HD Definition Blush $25

Covergirl Outlast Lipstain $7

Separate clumpy lashes

2012-02-06T23:31:00.000-08:00

courtesy style.com

Last year was all about over the top lashes thanks to the Kardashian sisters. I can't help but admit I was just as obsessed as the next lash envy gal over their mesmerizing lashes. However, this 2012 we're toning it down some by bringing back long defined natural looking lashes.
There were probably a few sighs of relief from those of you who have thrown out a good few pairs of falsies in defeat of mastering the application.
I've recently discovered a really smart and resourceful way of separating the clumps from your mascara. Have you ever used the GUM soft picks for your teeth before? Well, now you can use them to separate your lashes(of course don't use the same pick for your teeth and lashes, just sayin). They're also reusable since they're kind of rubbery and the mascara can be cleaned off.
Now grab your fave pair of mascara and start GUM pickin!

GUM soft picks $3

Clinique High Lengths $14

Quick tousled hair

2012-02-03T15:12:00.000-08:00

Courtesy allure.com

“It’s Friday, Friday

Gotta get down on Friday

Everybody’s lookin’ forward to the weekend, weekend

Friday, Friday…”

Thanks Rebecca Black for getting us pumped up for Fridays!

If you have Happy Hour plans tonight, it probably means you’ll be touching up your make-up and hair at work before heading out.

If you’re like me, my hair is flat, lifeless and definitely not smelling as fresh by the end of the day.

Instead of tying your hair back in a boring ponytail, you should try this simple hair tip to bring life back to your roots and strands.

Your arsenal:

1. fingertips

2. dry shampoo

Pump a dollop of dry shampoo into palm and rub between hands. Flip hair upside down and massage foam into roots and scrunch into hair. Next flip head up and continue to massage the top of your head with fingertips. This massage exercise will inject volume into your once-flat strands.

You can now style your hair as you like AND it smells nice too.

Clean your brushes with love and care

2012-02-01T21:45:00.000-08:00

Have you picked up your makeup brushes lately and noticed how mangled they are? And are you cursing at the "crappy" quality of these expensive brushes because you just bought them a month ago?
Well I'm sorry to to say that the cause of your sad looking brushes may not exactly be the quality of the brushes but in the quality of the cleaning.
I know I like to harp you guys about cleaning your makeup brushes, but I realized I haven't stressed the importance of HOW to clean them.
If you invested in good quality brushes, they should last you up to 10 years or more. Yeah I know, some of you may have just said "no way sister!" but I'm telling you it is possible. I am still using my very first MAC brushes from college and that was over 10 years ago.

All you need to do to keep your brushes happy is to follow these easy guidelines:

1. Dampen brushes in warm water.
2. Squeeze a quarter size mild anti bacterial soap into the palm of your hand
3. GENTLY rub the bristles into the soap creating a rich lather. If it's not lathering that means your brush is pretty dirty and needs more soap. Keep massaging!
4. Thoroughly rinse the brush and gently squeeze out the excess water to shorten the dry time
5. Lay brushes flat on a clean towel. Do not dry them standing up because over time the water from the bristles will cause damage to the wooden handles.
6. Rotate brushes after a few hours to allow adequate dry time for both sides. It should take about 24 hours for your small and medium brushes to dry. It may take up to 2 days for your larger brushes to fully dry.

Keeping up a gentle and mindful cleaning regimen will ensure the longevity of your brushes. Happy cleaning!

Kick start your 2012!

2012-01-31T23:24:00.000-08:00

Sorry! I know I've been super MIA with my blog. It was a bit of challenge to motivate myself to blog during the holidays and with wedding planning.
Anyway, I'm back and ready to impart more helpful tips to get your 2012 under way!

Let's get this "new year new you" started with 10 to-dos to start your year off right -

1. Get eyebrows professionally shaped. Eyebrows do a lot for you because they can open up and define your eyes. Once you get them shaped, it'll be easier to maintain on your own.
2. Buy a bikini trimmer - stop clogging your razor...you know what I'm talking about.
3. Buy 2 hair brushes - 1 boar bristle paddle and 1 round brush for blow dry
4. Moroccan/Argon oil for sleek frizz free hair
5. Clarisonic or Neutrogena Wave - deep cleans your pores and buffs your skin. I use mine every day.

6. Clean out your makeup bag that you throw in your purse - wipe your lip gloss tubes, throw away any cracked powders(just adds to the mess), refill blotting papers, sharpen your pencils, clean small brushes.
7. Actually clean your makeup bag! Soak it in warm soapy water and rub out the makeup and dirt. Rinse and hang dry
8. Hydrate your cuticles with oil. Hang nails are not sexy.
9. Whiten your teeth - lots of easy and effective at-home kits.
10. Get a hair trim to get rid of split frizzy ends. While you're at it, touch up your roots if you color your hair

You're now ready to jump start your new year with a sleeker, smoother and refreshed new you!

Holiday pizzazz for your nails

2011-11-20T23:07:00.001-08:00

$9.50

I don't know about you guys, but I think I'll find it hard to concentrate at work this week since Thanksgiving is just around the corner! My mind is already gearing up for the holidays, and what better way to get you in the mood than to color your nails with fun and festivity. I stumbled across Sephora's holiday limited edition nail polishes and thought I'd share some of their oh-so clever names! They look edible too(but I wouldn't try). I think I'm going to go for the Sugar Plum Fairies Gone Wild :).

Be-Clause I Said So

Don't Be Eggnogious

Sugar Plum Fairies Gone Wild

Blush away

2011-11-15T17:25:00.001-08:00

Are you in a blushing mood today? I know I am every day. I am a blush fanatic for sure.

The next question is, do you want rosy cheeks, contoured cheeks, or barely there cheeks?
To achieve your desired blush effect, you need a brush with the right shape and density.

Shape:

Bobbi Brown Blush Brush $50

Rounded - deposits just the right amount of color to give you a natural flush

Sephora Pro Blush Brush #49

Slanted - great for contouring your cheeks and highlighting your cheek bones

MAC Tapered Face Brush $52

Tapered - the most versatile as you can use the tip of the brush to apply and blend your brush, or use the chiseled side to sculpt and shape

Density:

MAC Small Contour Brush $34

Just keep in mind that the more dense and compact the bristles of the bush, the more color they will deposit.

Happy 100!

2011-11-11T16:20:00.001-08:00

Ta da! This is my 100^th blog post! I feel like I’m commemorating my “100^th episode” for a TV series! Too bad there’s no virtual cake cutting and balloons for this mini celebration. Darn.

I’d like to dedicate this post to everyone who has been following my blog since last year. It truly means a lot to me that some way somehow I’ve helped you discover a helpful way to look even better with one simple technique or product.

Doing your own make-up and hair should be fun and simple, not intimidating or overwhelming. Hopefully I’ve achieved that perception through my weekly blog posts! I’ll try to keep them coming as consistently as possible, and to keep the material fresh and relevant.

So here is my tip for today:

Drink more water!

I think most of us probably don’t drink enough(I know I’m guilty!). Hydrating yourself with water is essential to good health, which equates to you looking and feeling better all around.

I found this “Hydration Calculator” to help you calculate how much water intake you should have each day. Give it a try. You may be surprised how much catching up you’ll need to do!

Until my next post, cheer to good water!

A trick to no budge eyeliner

2011-11-09T23:11:00.000-08:00

MAC eye shadow in Carbon $15

Finding that perfect no budge, no smudge, fade resistant black eyeliner is like finding the holy grail of eyeliners. My go-to liner pencil is still Make Up For Ever's Aqua Eyes Eyeliner, which does an awesome job of lasting all day. However, when I want to make double sure my eyeliner isn't going anywhere, I line black eye shadow powder over my eyeliner to reinforce it. I highly recommend this extra step for us oily lid ladies since the powder absorbs some of the natural oils.
Just run your angled/flat liner brush across a matte black eye shadow and apply it over the line you made with the pencil. Make sure you use a finely milled compact eye shadow that doesn't get all over the place since the goal is to NOT have panda eyes. And as always, remember to prep with eye primer before you pick up your eyeliner!

Love this magic in a tube

2011-11-08T23:09:00.000-08:00

Amazing Cosmetics A Little Amazing concealer $28 0.2fl oz.

I dedicate this post to my good friend Caroline! She told me about this "amazing" Amazing Cosmetics concealer a few months back. She totally raved about it and how I had to try it. I was definitely intrigued, but put off trying it out until Sephora's FF discount came around a couple weeks back. So i bought it and I'm now a fan.
It's full coverage highly pigmented concealer that does what it says it will - conceals dark circles, uneven skin tone, blemishes, and just pretty much anything you want to cover up. I also really like the texture because it applies smoothly and leaves a matte finish without over drying your skin.
I applied it before going to work and it stayed put the rest of the day. I actually don't really have dark circles or bags (yet!), but concealer is staple in my daily routine because it evens out my skin tone and brightens my eye area.
If you get it, just know that a little goes a long way, so apply sparingly!

Megan + Patrick tied the knot!

2011-11-07T23:20:00.000-08:00

Time to do a 180 from darth maul scary to pretty lovely brides.

I present to you Megan and Patrick's love-filled photos from their big day of becoming husband and wife. I had the honor of doing Megan's make-up and hair, and actually did her engagement photos as well earlier this year. Once again, it was a cinch to get her bride-ready since she's already gorgeous! It was 80% Megan and 20% Annie :).
They got married over the summer at the very cool Lawrence Hall of Science museum in Berkeley. There's a surprise at the end of this photo roll.
As for the awesome photos you're about to see, JL Photografia performed their magic again on the adorable couple. They rocked it as usual.
Enjoy!

Amy, my super talented assistant, did a fabulous job on the bms!

Scary yet romantic!

My Happy Halloween

2011-10-30T23:45:00.000-07:00

Boo. Happy Halloween! If my "boo" didn't scare you, hopefully my face did. I took a gamble with my last minute Halloween costume decision as Darth Maul from Star Wars. Instead of cute or sexy, I opted for scary. It was my very first time attempting to paint my face for this spooky occasion. I guess I made it pretty believable as most of my friends thought this picture was of my fiancé and not me!
Here is an animated version of Darth Maul to compare my work to. Not bad right? This was too much fun. Let me know if anyone is in the market for a face painter next Halloween!

Hit me with your cold shot!

2011-10-27T23:35:00.000-07:00

photo courtesy: fekkai.com

So how do you get that fantastic bounce and shine in blow outs that you see on TV commercials and magazine ads? The answer is the cold shot button on your blow dryer (you know, the thing that you never use because you don't know what it's good for). Yup, all you've got to do is finish your blow out with cold shots of air, or switch the heat to the cool setting. It results in bouncier and shinier hair and frizz-free.

I recently discovered the great use of this setting after getting a new blow dryer. I've always thought the cool setting was useless since the point of a blow dryer is to dry my hair, right? However, after discovering the awesome effect of the cold air finish, I'm hooked!

Next time you're thinking of upgrading your blow dryer, get one with the "cold shot"!

Primer is my BFF

2011-10-26T22:05:00.000-07:00

Any good friend of mine is well aware I'm a firm believer in the power of priming. Most of us probably(hopefully!) prime our lids, but I don't think as many of us prime our face. You don't paint your walls before priming right? So you should treat your face as if you're an artist about to paint your canvas. In short these are the wonders of primer:
- acts as a barrier between your skin and the make-up
- makes sure your makeup stays put
- smooths out your pores
- brightens skin
- results in flawless make-up

I've been using Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer for a few years now, and it works great. However, I thought I'd take advantage of Sephora's FF and try a new primer! I decided to get the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer after reading the rave reviews. I hope it's as great as they say it is.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15

TLC for your hands

2011-10-20T23:43:00.000-07:00

Our hands go through a lot each day with the constant sudsing in the sink and shower(especially hot water which dries out skin). And ladies, for us who are the dish washers of the house, try to wear gloves! Your hands will definitely thank you.
My good friend just recommended a great nourishing hand cream she uses every night before hitting the sack. We've all heard of shea butter in hand creams, but have you tried 100% pure shea butter? Perfect Organics makes a 100% pure shea butter cream that comes in a 1 oz. tub. I know, it's a tiny size for hand cream, but all you need is a very small amount. The texture is a bit stiff, but once you rub it in between your fingers it will start to melt and absorb with the warmth of your hands.
It's all natural and paraben-free. Oh, and it's not just for your hands either. Feel free to dab it on other dry spots on your body and face!

Perfect Organics Shea Butter $10.99

Best shaving cream ever!

2011-10-19T00:13:00.000-07:00

As the temperature drops, some of us get excited about pulling out our autumn/winter wardrobe. It involves pulling on our tights, yanking on our boots and wrapping scarves round and round. Another fun thing to get giddy about is the increased cuddle time we'll be getting with our hubbies, SOs, or will-be boyfriends(hopefully). Just because the seasons cool down, it doesn't mean we should cool off our skin maintenance (married ladies too!). I'm sure our cuddle partner would appreciate being caressed with soft, smooth limbs.

I recommend prepping with a gentle foot scrub that you can also use on your legs and arms as well. Next, apply shaving cream before shaving to prevent nicks and to add moisture to your skin. I can personally vouch for Kiss My Face's moisture shave in cool mint. I love the soapy texture it creates as I rub it on my legs since most natural/organic ones I've tried don't really lather. Just a few pumps goes a long way too. The final step is to hydrate your body with your favorite body lotion. Oh, and throwing on a cute sexy slip doesn't hurt the cuddling either.

Freeman barefoot creamy pumic foot scrub $2.97

Kiss My Face moisture shave $7.95

Alba Botanica very emollient body lotion $20.45

Go from day to night

2011-10-17T23:04:00.000-07:00

To go from day to night make-up, or as I like to call it - from Sally to Sasha! - a few products is all you need.
- blush/bronzer duo
- black eyeliner (it could be kohl, gel or cream)
- volumizing mascara

You'll be surprised what a little cheek contouring can do. Apply the bronzer in the hollows of your cheeks and sweep into the temples and along your hairline, then down along your jawline. Next, dust the blush on the apples of your cheeks and blend up and out.
Next, take your lethal (very) black eyeliner and line the inner rims and lash line to create depth and definition.
Lastly, swipe on a couple coats of volumizing mascara to finish off your evening-ready look.
Who's fierce now? I thought so.

Stila cheek color duo $24

BADgal liner waterproof $20

Buxom Lash $19

Gold and copper shadows

2011-10-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

YSL Tawny $56

Now that it's the weekend, it's time to have some fun with our make-up! Instead of smokin up your eyes with blacks and purples, I suggest you try golds and coppers. Whether you're going on a hot date with your man or having drinks with your gals, a shimmery smokey amazonian eye will be the appropriate sultry look for a night out. I like how these earth tone colors exudes glam and sophistication. I guess you can call it the "grown-up" version of the smokey eye. Hopefully some of you already have these shades in your make-up stash!

Do you dare to rock a Turband?

2011-10-12T22:46:00.000-07:00

It's time to channel your inner Elizabeth Taylor and grab a TURBAND for this fall's must-haves. Turban+headband = turband, love it! Turbands are the stylish and comfortable alternatives to knit hats and beanies. They'll keep your hair in place for windy days, and keep your ears warm for frosty days. I like how they come in different materials and designs, so there's one for everyone's taste.

You can style your hair straight or messy, and not have to deal with your hat hair since you'll be keeping these wraps on even indoors. Expect to see more of these turbands popping up in stores!

ASOS Black Metallic Turban $20.95

ASOS Luxurious Feel Velvet Turban $13.97

ASOS Turban Knot Headband $17.46

Nasty Gal Gold Saturn Python Turband $35

Seri + Adam e-session

2011-10-11T23:26:00.000-07:00

I was in the right place at the right time, and did an impromptu e-session make-up for Seri! I was catching a ride with my good friends Aiko and Noah and we stopped by Seri(Aiko's sister) and Adam's place to drop off Aiko. Aiko was supposed to glam up Seri, but asked if I didn't mind doing Seri's make-up to speed things up. Of course I was more than happy to jump in and give Seri a fresh make-over. Since I didn't have my kit with me, I just used whatever make-up tools and products that Aiko and Seri had. It just goes to show you can always work with what you already have to do a mini make-over.

Here are the key products to have for an instant glow and lift:
concealer - to even out skin tone and dark circles)
eyelash curler - to open up your eyes
eyeliner - to define your eyes
neutral shimmer eye shadow - to brighten your eyes
blush - to give your face a nice natural glow
gloss - to add fullness to your lips

Enjoy the e-session pics of Seri + Adam + Einstein(cutest corgie!) taken by Lydia Chen! She did an amazing job!

http://www.lydiachenfotography.com/

Fall nail color to try

2011-10-06T23:59:00.000-07:00

in Billionaire $16

in Urban Forest Nail Trio $5

in British Racing Green $14

Think green this fall. As in army/forest/jewel toned green. It's the top color trend for nails as we switch seasons. It's the new go-to bold color to accessorize your nails. This green evokes class and style, which will look great with any fall outfit. Pair it with some gold bangles or rings.
Try it on! I know I will.