Nocturnelle Notes

On Hiatus

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:19:02 -0700

If you haven�??t already noticed, I haven�??t posted in a long time. I�??ve been really busy with school and I do not have the time to deliver true quality articles. The last thing I want to do is waste your time with half-assed blurbs. This break is only temporary until things start slowing down. I hope you understand and will join me back here in the near future.

Ooh La La- Juicy Couture Makeup Accessories

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:18:02 -0600

Train cases, brush sets, and gloss rings, oh my! You can now get Juicy Couture makeup accessories here on Sephora. Perfect for all you gals (or guys) who organize in style.

Another Reason to Love the Holidays

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:25:56 -0600

Who needs more reasons to love the holidays? I mean really. Presents, mistletoe, family, forever off work/school/lollygagging. But there are still a few more things to look forward to!

The Holiday season means one thing to cosmetic companies, and that�??s awesome lines of products! Nars, MAC, Estee Lauder, Chanel, ALL the big boys are cranking out their version of wintertime cheer. And it�??s not even winter yet!

Don�??t go spending all your �??present�?? money on goodies for yourself!

Nocturnelle to Work her First Fashion Show!

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:25:03 -0600

If you are going to be in the Salt Lake area this Saturday, October 18th, come check out my work! My friend Jen Wai has put together an eclectic and fun clothing collection and asked me to be in charge of makeup. Should be an exciting Halloween treat!

Nars releases LE Jungle Red Set

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:29:00 -0600

In �??celebration�?? of the release of the movie �??The Women�??, Nars has put together a limited edition set of Jungle Red nailpolish, lipliner, and lipstick. The reviews on these individual products have quite high ratings, so the set should be a hit.

I would get this set, but my boyfriend would be horribly put off by me smearing red lipstick all over his mouth every time we kiss.

Manish Arora at MAC!

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:50:37 -0600

I am a sucker for cutesy packaging, and this line is no exception! Though the collection is pretty small, it packs one hell of a punch! I usually don�??t like palletes (they can get messy), but I am drooling over this LE!

Nocturnelle's Review- Pacifica Solid Perfume

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:52:00 -0600

I have to carry a backpack most days in place of my purse. Giant as it is, it still can�??t hold my ton of textbooks. Running around campus all day doesn�??t leave me smelling like a rose, but full size perfume has no room on my back. What�??s a girl to do? In comes Pacifica�??s Solid Perfume (vegan!) in Brazilian Mango Grapefruit. So yummy, the scent is literally mouth watering. Plus, since it is made of natural waxes and oils, it�??s safe for hair. The only downside is it lasts a fairly short amount of time. Verdict? Very worth it for about 9 bucks.

Halloween- A Makeup Artist's Favorite Holiday

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:05:39 -0600

MAC is always such a great source for ideas around this time, and they were nothing short of spectacular this year! Check it out on their site here.

Still seeking inspo? Check out some MAC creations from years past.

Beating the Discontinued Blues

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:40:36 -0600

We have all encountered that sad day when we find our favorite lip gloss or eyeshadow has been discontinued for whatever reason. We could spend months (and moolah) looking for a replacement, only to be disappointed. Don�??t fret. If you still have a smidgen of your product left, you can send it in to Three Custom Color, and they will get their master matchers to make you a perfect dupe. If they don�??t make it absolutely perfect, they�??ll even make you another for FREE until they get it right. A great score for die-hard makeup fanatics.

CoverGirl a Dupe for MAC?

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:57:52 -0600

In this free-fall economy, what is a makeup addict to do? We have constant cravings for cosmetic runs, but money is tight all across America. For those of you who just can�??t go without a fix, but are light in the wallet, try some popular drugstore brands.

CoverGirl recently came out with some super yummy looking hues, but how do they stack up next to pricey department store favorites? I picked two up for about 4 bucks a pop in �??Lime Alive�?? and �??Turquoise Tempest�??.

To my naked eye they looked much like MAC�??s Bitter and Electric Eel. For such a price I couldn�??t resist.

I was pleasantly surprised when I swatched them out on my hand. At first it was very light, but built up beautifully. Smooth texture, vivid color, pretty constant in finish (no random large specks like usual).

My final verdict is to pick up these colors, and try out a few more. There may not be a large array of shades, but slim pickings are worth the price

60th Emmy Awards!

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:50:00 -0600

I was pretty pleased with the recipients of some Emmys this year. Mad Men, 30 Rock, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report? Heck yes! I didn�??t actually watch the Emmys, exactly, but I�??m glad because I heard the hoard of hosts didn�??t do so well. But who cares about hosts, right?

Beauty-wise, most celebs kept it classy. You know. Black dress, tousled hair, no over-the-top bling. That sorta thing.

Winners-

Olivia Wilde sported hair and makeup that flattered her bone structure. Pretty, pretty girl.

Christina Hendricks set her red hair afire next to an emerald green gown. She kept true to Mad Men by sticking to vintage makeup.

Kyra Sedgwick�??s dress is gorgeous! I really really want it! Plus her makeup was very flattering.

Losers-

Christine DeRosa�??s hair and dress were creeeeeepy. I felt like she belonged in some sort of old school horror flick.

Holly Hunter looked like someone called her 10 minutes before and invited her to walk the red carpet. Her hair is unkempt and the dress is unflattering. This could be pulled off by someone possibly younger or even more famous.

I think Teri Hatcher was misinformed. Did she think this was the Annual Flamenco Prom? So many ruffles I may vomit.

Hannah Cornett must have received the same bad info as Teri. Difference is she took a more porn star approach.

Katrina Bowden needs a burger and fries.

Maybe I�??m too harsh. Maybe.

Early Grabs for Urban Decay

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:57:30 -0600

If you are a big UD fan, hurry and get your paws on this holiday shadow box before it goes into hiding!

They are supposedly only selling a hundred, so they might go fast. Why are they such a high priority? Not only does it include best-selling eyeshadows and a mini Primer Potion, but it�??s eco-friendly by using sustainable materials, not to mention the cruelty-free brush included.

Click here to visit Urban Decay.

Who needs a new blush...

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:43:08 -0600

When you�??ve got lipstick?!

The cold is coming (at least here in Utah) and �??tis the season for creme blush. Don�??t have any on hand? Duh, lipstick is the solution! Grab a lipstick in a shade you would like on your cheeks, dab some on the back of your hand, and warm it by rubbing it with two fingers. Then dot some along your cheekbone and blend upwards, focusing the color on the apples.

Here I used Hollywood Nights (probably my fave l/s ever).

Ta-da!

Now you might ask why cream blush is so great for fall and winter. For one, you couldn�??t use it in the heat because it could literally melt. Second, the blush will fade naturally instead of the blotchy mess you can get with powder. Looks natural and dewy, which is sexy year round!

Cute Makeup Bag on Etsy!

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:24:53 -0600

I am guilty of letting my prized makeup roll around freely in my purse. What an awful crime to admit, none the less commit. I need this adorable bag from louloubell on etsy-

Maybe if I had something this pretty, I�??d actually be more organized.

Nocturnelle's Opinion- Fashion Week

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:23:00 -0600

I don�??t usually take Fashion Week into consideration when it comes to the upcoming makeup trends. Why? Because the makeup artist creates looks that will compliment the clothing or create a certain mood and not necessarily what�??s going to be hot. Plus, the models�?? faces always look gaunt and emaciated which is never pretty. That being said, the snapshots you get from the fashion shows can be great inspiration for your own looks. Here is some designer eyecandy for you, along with some ideas to make them your own.

DKNY was all about structured brows and clean faces-

To get a wearable version of this look, stick to a few key cosmetics; foundation, eyebrow pencil, eyebrow wax, sculpting powder, and brown or black mascara. Since you are focusing on eyebrows, don�??t be afraid to lengthen and dramatize them slightly.

Lela Rose put playful red lipstick accompanied by coral cheeks on their models

Grab a red lipstick and apply, then dab excess of with a 1-ply tissue. Layer another coat of lipstick and some gloss if you choose. Then get a orange or peachy blush and apply right to the apples of your cheeks. Done!

Diane Von Furstenberg amped up the intensity of the classic smokey eye and nude lip

Instead of going full on pink frosty lips, choose something closer to the skin surrounding your lips. If you can�??t find a good nude lipstick, just use your foundation and some clear lipgloss! Next get a black matte eyeshadow (like Carbon from MAC) and a highlight ( like Shroom). Use a contour brush to put the black shadow on your outer v, including under your waterline. Take your highlight and surround the black to soften the lines. Voila! A street wearable version.

Obedient Sons and Daughters took dark lips to the next level

Use a berry lipstick and top it off with this season�??s new black lipglosses from Yves Saint Laurent or Lancome. They aren�??t yet out, so get creative for the time being and mix petroleum jelly and black eyeshadow. Why not?

Quest For a Holy Grail Conditioner

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:52:51 -0600

In my attempt to find animal friendly products that actually do their job, I came across Alba�??s Hawaiian Mango Moisturizing Conditioner. I was at Whole Foods so I picked this baby up for around 9 bucks. Not bad, since vegan is usually synonymous with expensive.

Today I had a chance to test it out and here is what happened:

This picture does not due the size of my hair justice. I mean it was giganteus, not to mention frizzy. I thought I was in for a disappointment, but my hair is always ugly without styling so I headed to my straightener.

Here is the result! Look at that happy face. My hair felt light and healthy, just like after a blowout from your fave stylist. You have to understand just how damaged my hair is- I have dyed, bleached and darkened more than what should be legal. Usually my hair is a fly away straw fest or oily and weighed down pig sty. Not today! Needless to say, I am pleased. Finally!

Upcoming MAC Releases for Sept. 25th

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:49:05 -0600

Emanuel Ungaro- The French designer helped come up with this very feminine and pastel line. You know that when they change the packaging, it�??s a big deal. Includes lipsticks, eyeshadows, beauty powder, and lipglass, to name a few.

Gold Fever- Just as the name suggests, it�??s all about gold, baby! Pretty sure these are all permanent fixtures in MAC but oh well! Nothing new means less things I want but can�??t afford.

Suite Array- TONS of eyeshadows and eyeliners! This is the one I am most excited for!

Info and pics from Temptalia. That girl get�??s the best inside info!

Nocturnelle's FOTD- 80's

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:17:00 -0600

Today was a �??me�?? day, so of course I had to post a face-of-the-day. Pay no mind to how disheveled I look. I spent a few hours walking dogs at the humane society and came home a wreck.

I used eyeshadow from a cheapo palette off eBay and the l/s is Hollywood Nights (MAC�??s Heatherette line, of course). One slim little eyeliner brush, water, and a bit of color and I just went haywire.

Highlighting and Contouring

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:45:00 -0600

Fall is dang close and with the sun hiding away more and more, we need all the help we can get in structuring our faces. First, apply your usual foundation, then follow along these steps:

Contouring

1- Contour your cheeks by swiping a powder or foundation that is 1-2 shades darker than your skin under your cheek bones. Don�??t use blush, since it wasn�??t meant for contouring but for adding a flush of color to the face.

2- Swipe your contouring powder or foundation on both sides of your nose. This is great for girls who think their nose looks too big, but also helps any nose get nice definition.

3- Take your contouring powder or foundation and lightly apply on your temples.

Highlighting

1- Choose a liquid that is slightly lighter than your skin tone or use a white luminizing cream with light reflectors. Powders can look cakey when they are lighter than your natural complexion.

2- Place some of your highlighting cream just above the apples of your cheeks.

3- Run a little of your highlight down your nose. This will help the contour with bringing out your nose and straightening it.

4- Swipe some highlight under your brows.

5- Place wherever you feel sun would hit you most but only if you want to or don�??t mind drawing attention to that part.

6- Blend in well both the highlights and contours.

Voila! A universal way to structure any face!

Nocturnelle's Review- Marie Claire Makeup (Book)

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:29:00 -0600

In my years of makeup fiendery I have read plenty of makeup books only to be quite underwhelmed. Come on, I already knew that lipliner prevents bleeding or eyelash curlers make your eyes more awake. Give me something new!

That said, I was pretty impressed with Marie Claire�??s Makeup because it told me things I didn�??t already know, like particular tricks from the mouths of famous artists themselves. James Kaliardos, Olivier Echaudemaison, Nicolas Degennes, and some mysterious Stila artists are all at hand to give you their big name secrets!

Sadly, there is a downside. The book is pretty inconsistent and somewhat random, as if there wasn�??t much editing. Sort of reminds me of a junior high yearbook. So in conclusion, if you can look past the disorganized manor the book was put together in, plus you want loads of tips and eyecandy you have never seen before, this is the book for you!