makeup loves me

beauty tips from emmanuelle chriqui of entourage.

2009-07-14T13:50:00.001-04:00

emmanuelle chriqui is finally getting the attention she deserves.

known to entourage fans as sloan, chriqui is featured in the july/august issue of women's health. i love a raven-tressed beauty, especially a pint-sized one (chriqui is 5'3). these are three beauty tips she shared which i think are particularly delightful quotes:

1. “never reveal your insecurities to a man, because 9 times out of 10 they have no idea they even exist. most guys are not as observant as women are.”

2. "for the record: i wear makeup. all. the. time. but I do it in a way that looks natural. my skin is blotchy, and I'm mediterranean—i've got dark circles. so i need foundation and concealer. one thing I swear by is armani silk foundation. it offers coverage, but it breathes, so people never think i'm wearing makeup. for under my eyes, i use touche eclat by yves saint laurent, which i love because it's moisturizing and creamy and blends into my skin without getting cakey. i also wear a bronzer—cargo and nars have great sun-kissed colors—just to give a little depth to my cheeks."

3. "i would say that my favorite part of my face is my eyes. i have very long lashes, but they're not thick, so when i apply mascara—i love l'oreal voluminous—suddenly my eyes are transformed. it's cool. i've also learned a few eye makeup tricks. for example, highlight your brow bone to give your eyes a more wide-open look. also, as you're applying mascara, twirl the brush—from the root [to the ends]—so the color covers the whole lash for a fuller look."

best cellulite cure yet -- get ready, it's called lypo-palooza.

2009-07-14T08:55:00.002-04:00

as kim kardashian says, "cellulite is not cute". i couldn't agree more, kim.

but if you are "little in the middle but you got much back" (for those of you unacquainted with sir mix-a-lot, that means bigger in the butt and thighs region), cellulite is often an unfortunate side effect of having such a shape.

this summer, i've discovered my best cellulite cure yet -- with the silliest name to boot. hippie rehab's lypo pallooza (i warned you) is a two step kit.

opening act is a vitamin supplement that acts as an antioxidant and a diuretic - cleaning the body of toxins and excess fluids. the kit recommends you take two pills twice a day, i say only do that if you are constantly near a bathroom. i will say this, it works (dangerously well).
headliner, the second step, is a cream that you rub liberally on the cellulite-d area, up to 3 times a day. this is my favorite step, because if i use it the night (before the beach) i wake up with my thighs looking noticably firmer.

the kit is normally $89.99 at hippierehab.com, but they are on sale for $79.99. since i've been manically addicted to this set this summer (seriously, if it wasn't so gross i would show you a before and after pic of my thighs), i figured i should share the good word while the price was on redux. look hot this summer, beauties!

lancome declaring indigo for fall 2009.

2009-07-13T11:26:00.002-04:00

the details of lancome's fall 2009 line, declaring indigo, are out! this is artist director aaron de mey's second seasonal collection for the brand.

this collection is a celebration of paris, and focuses on shades that represent the glamour, energy and passion of the city—indigo blue, bright red and luxurious gold.

i saw some pieces from the collection backstage at chris benz (click here to be reminded of that) and have been looking forward to the ink artliner in indigo charm (pictured above) ever since. prediction: gel liners are going to be huge this fall.

i also took a liking to the nail lacquers - golden audacity, indigo paris (pictured at right) and rouge liberty.

lancome spokesmodel daria werbowy is the face of the collection. the whole collection is currently visible at lancome-usa.com.

beauty bible set giveaway - just for facebook fans!

2009-07-13T08:55:00.000-04:00

are you a fan of makeup loves me on facebook? it's not too late to become one (click here to be do so).

why would you want to do that?
one reason could be that i'm giving away a set of my favorite beauty bibles (the two books i consider to be the absolute guides in all things beauty) to a facebook fan:

1. beauty confidential by nadine haobsh
2. passport to beauty by shalini vadhera

one fan will be randomly selected next monday as the victor. so, fan me, beauties!

essie's bermuda shorts vs. perky purple.

2009-07-12T22:06:00.000-04:00

essie single-handedly pioneered the neon purple nail trend.

last summer they released bermuda shorts - a "high-voltage violet", and the unique color was met with a surprising cult following. perhaps in response to the market's demand for a purple neon, this summer's neon collection from essie included an updated version, perky purple - an "electric boogie violet".

but how different are the two shades? well, on my top nail i'm wearing perky purple and my bottom i'm sporting bermuda shorts.

both have a matte finish without top coat (which is how they are featured here), but perky is definitely more purple, whereas bermuda has a lighter, more magenta hue.

poll by twiigs.com

best of the best from the beauty girls.

2009-07-11T10:29:00.002-04:00

Lianne from The Makeup Girl shares her favorites from this year's Nordstrom's beauty exclusives...

Daneen from Spoiled Pretty found a fabu-less eyeliner that doubles as a shadow crayon. Plus it looks wet. Yes, wet...got it goin’ like a turbo Vette.

All About the Pretty tells all on the new W Hotel in Washington, DC with Bliss Spa now in her neck of the woods.

Amber from Beauty Blogging Junkie scored on-set secrets of Mad Men's head stylist Lucia Mace! Click here to read the interview.

Beautiful Makeup Search discovered two tempting treats for the eyes from Talika. If you need help in your eye area, these products are for you too.

Makeup Bag gets perfectly presentable hair in half the time. Click here to find out how!

The buzz around MAC's collaboration with Jin Soon is heating up. To find out all the details and see pictures of the not-yet released Nail Trend collection, visit makeup loves me.

Follow the Beauty Girls on Twitter:
Beauty Blogging Junkie @Glambr
Makeup Bag @makeupbag
TheMakeupGirl @themakeupgirl
All About The Pretty @aatp
Makeup Loves Me @makeuplovesme
Beautiful Makeup Search @beautyblogger
Spoiled Pretty @spoiledpretty

learn more about me and how i started makeup loves me.

2009-07-10T10:43:00.003-04:00

i'm profiled on the beauty of life today!

to learn a more about me, what i consider to me my makeup all-stars and how i started makeup loves me, click here.

i particularly like the part where i explain how i chose the name for this site...haha, enjoy, beauties!

HollywoodIntuition for Target - details and pictures!

2009-07-09T17:18:00.000-04:00

for the latest in their ingenious series of collaborations, target has partnered with jaye hersh.

hersh is known for her high-end LA trendsetting boutique, intuition. HollywoodIntuition, the target collaboration, is an accessories line that offers up-to-the-minute celebrity-inspired styles on the cheap ($2.99- $29.99). HollywoodIntuition hits target stores this sunday (07/12/09).

the collection includes a range of on-trend accessories, including belt bags, hats, sunglasses and jewelry, as well as clear double-stick fashion tape. celeb fans of the collection already include paris hilton, amanda bynes and jenna dewan.

check out some of the HollywoodIntution items below:

i'm craving the belt bags shown in the top picture.

nars capucine lip lacquer is going vintage!

2009-07-09T14:46:00.000-04:00

i decided i wanted to do a bright, summery lip today, so i chose my beloved capucine lip lacquer by nars.

after applying it, something made me go to the nars site to check on my favorite little lacquer, and to my dismay, i saw that it has been moved to the "vintage" (aka discontinued) section of the site! if you love a soft-orange lip color hurry to the nars site to order one of the few the remaining lip lacquers.

something tells me this move is a harbinger of things to come. fall makeup is looking either very natural or very goth - neither of which really calls for a sheer tangerine lip.

enjoy my self photography at lunch wearing my capucine. i really have got to work on those faces... (oh, and notice the low side bun? i got around to photographing it even sooner than i thought i would!)

gretta monahan teaches you the easiest, cutest summer hair style!

2009-07-09T08:55:00.003-04:00

gretta monahan, of tim gunn's guide to style fame, is the world's most adorable adult. she oozes sweetness and cuteness. also, she is infinitely more "hair smart" than me. yes, hair smart is a thing, and no, i am not this thing. i have a hairQ of about 2.

when i met gretta two weeks ago (at her to-die-for manhattan penthouse) she taught me how to create the most gorgeous, on-trend, low side bun. now here's where "hair smart" comes into it - the bun gretta created involved some teasing, three (maybe four?) sections of hair and looked playfully undone.

however, i've found that i (and you!) can create a similar style, that is much easier and still looks pretty damn good (and is still playfully undone!).

how?: by finger combing damp, side-parted hair to one side (the side opposite of the part) and securing it with an elastic at the nap of the neck. then twirl hair around, loosely, wrapping around the ponytail and secure with a second elastic. finish with dove's unscented extra hold hairspray with natural movement (gretta's recommendation).

i've worn this style two days - it's unique, cute and keeps my hair away from my face on hot days. i have yet to capture a picture, but i shall try!

new fall items are up on urbandecay.com!

2009-07-08T17:27:00.007-04:00

heads up! fall 2009 has just gone live on urbandecay.com - including 35 new products.

the virtual catalogue is ingenious - i'm still in awe of all the visual stimulation.

after seeing the pictures, i think i need to try "ink for eyes". any favorites, beauties?

secret flawless clear crystal clear gel - such a good secret, it's invisible!

2009-07-08T10:46:00.001-04:00

i think we can all agree that black eyed peas' boom boom pow is the song of the summer, even before will.i.am's manager and perez hilton had a slap fight, or whatever.

but i've been holding back when i hear fergie say "put your hands up". why? because i forgot to switch to summer deodorant. it's an easy mistake to make, because this critical transition to a tanktop worthy odor fighter is underdiscussed. but the unspoken rule is: once the temperature reaches the point where you'll be showing off your pits, you've gotta go transparent.

i've finally made the transition - using secret's flawless clear crystal clear gel in unscented. available in clean powder, refreshingly floral, clearly tropical and unscented for approximately $4.29 at retailers nationwide.

benefit erase paste for the flawlessness.

2009-07-07T12:42:00.000-04:00

beauties, last week i went to a wedding event at the carlton hotel. i learned all the ins-and-outs of planning the big day, but the most important thing i learned is this: benefit's erase paste is a cure all.

erase paste is used for brightening and camouflaging eyes and face, and it does so superbly. if you are looking for serious coverage and a totally flawless finish, erase paste is the ticket.

just when you think you've seen it all...i can't believe i didn't discover erase paste sooner! it's a special occasion must-have. $26 at benefitcosmetics.com.

MAC & jin soon nail collaboration - details and swatches!

2009-07-07T10:42:00.000-04:00

this is one of those rare and awkward moments where i have to admit that i've been keeping a secret from you, my beloved readers.

i have known the details of the MAC/jin soon polish collaboration - nail trend - for the last two months. back in may i went to the jin soon salon and had my nails painted in two of the shades from the collection, dirty martini and cool reserve. i've wanted to tell you about it ever since, but i was sworn to secrecy, until now.

for the non-nail-philes amongst us, jin soon is a nail guru - the woman has a dense schedule of runway shows and editorial shoots. nail trend is her first foray into creating her own color line and the shades she created are perfect for fall.

the collection includes 6 polishes:

cool reserve - dirty grey lavender
for fun - rich clean purple
dance all night - brick red
dry martini - khaki olive green
rich, dark, delicious - rich blackened brown
beyond jealous - blackened blue green

nail trend will be available august 27th, 2009. each polish will sell for $12 a bottle.

poll by twiigs.com

peacock flower lip gloss - shine on.

2009-07-07T09:19:00.000-04:00

when i heard about three custom color specialists' peacock flower lip gloss the description consumed my thoughts. pause for a moment and take this all in: "a pinky, peach shade with light-catching violet opalescence, inspired by the rare and dazzling peacock flower." are you swooning, yet?

long-time readers may know that the words opalescense/iridescence enchant me when they relate to lip products. hologram lips are always the look i'm going for.

my only worry was that this gloss may be too pale, but now that i have it my hands i can tell you that it is no such thing. rather, it is a rare gem that will leave your lips glowing like one. beyond that, i'm at a loss for words. there is no way to describe the color other than how the site does, it is utterly unique.

as for the rest of the seychelles collection (three custom color specialists summer release), i tried the other two items two weeks ago, but i had somehow skipped getting the gloss (read the other reviews here). learn from my mistakes and buy all three items for $50 by clicking here, saving yourself $17 from the cost of buying each individually.

chance to win a $500 lancome gift card and 5 designer lipsticks!

2009-07-06T15:08:00.005-04:00

beauties, the reason i started blogging is because i absolutely love fashion/makeup collaborations - specifically lancome's pout-à-porter lipstick series. now lancome's having a naming contest for their newest shade collaboration with chris benz - with a enviable prize pack. i'm currently racking my brain for the perfect name, but i would be just as happy to see an mlm reader win!

a bit about the pout- à-porter lipstick series: the previous four lipsticks in this collection were collaborations with celebrated designers Behnaz Sarafpour, Proenza Schouler, Peter Som and Thakoon. all four of the lipsticks sold out and one - proenza pink - lipstick even sold for $122.50 on eBay.

a bit about the latest color and contest: for spring 2010 lancome is collaborating with emerging designer Chris Benz. the lipstick naming contest was announced today on Chris Benz’s facebook fan page. the new shade will be inspired by his spring 2010 collection and will be worn by the models at his show in september. the contest winner will receive five of the lipsticks plus a $500 lancôme gift certificate. all you have to do is post your suggestion on the Chris Benz facebook fan page based on what you know about him and his fashion personality. the deadline for submissions is sunday, july 12th, at 5 p.m. EST.

here's the link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/CHRIS-BENZ/21549374999?ref=nf

happy naming, beauties!

leonor greyl huile de magnolia goes beyond a chimera.

2009-07-06T13:03:00.000-04:00

i love a product that has multiple uses (hence my recent obsession with "chimeras"). leonor greyl's huile de magnolia goes beyond the new 3-in-1 standard this summer - it's a 5-in-1!

it can used for body - to moisturize skin, after sun - to hydrate and prevent burning, after hair removal - to regenerate and protect the epidermis, for face - for gentle makeup removal, and as a fragrance - anytime i use it the sweet smell of magnolia blossoms radiates from my skin.

i've been using it daily both as an after sun and an after hair removal treatment. it's hydrating, but not greasy. i plan on having it double as my summer scent and skin hydrator.

leoror greyl's summer 2009 collection, which includes the oil, was designed in conjunction with odile gilbert, who i recognize as a regular face for hair styling backstage at baby phat runway shows. huile de magnolia is $42 at leonorgreyl-usa.com.

rollingRazor revolution.

2009-07-06T10:21:00.000-04:00

beauties, this is becoming the summer of the razor. i've been in hot pursuit of a hair removal system that is fast, effective, and above all else, stops me from nicking my ankles since my trip to miami at the beginning of june (recall this post).

if you see you were to see me out and glance south, you will notice little hair patches around my ankles, because i just can't continue to nick myself. enter rolling razor.

rolling razor is not, as it's name would imply, rolling in the conventional sense. though there are two sets of blades - they both remain stationary. however, something about having two sets of blades -each with four blades on them - makes it easier to get into angles (and ankles). i'm no physicist, but i know i haven't cut myself in the two weeks i've used this razor, and that my ankles are far less hairy.

learn more and join the rolling razor revolution at www.rollingrazor.com. $14.95 for the starting system.

the beauty girls weekend read - enjoy!

2009-07-05T11:49:00.001-04:00

Daneen from Spoiled Pretty found an insect repellent that smells so nice, someone asked her what perfume she was wearing! Click here to find out what it is.

Beauty Blogging Junkie has declared the Orlane Absolute Radiance Lightbox a new kind of seven minutes in heaven. Click here to find out how it's made her skin look younger than Abigail Breslin's.

Lianne from The Makeup Girl is over the moon about the FABULOUS BeautyFix 3 kit being offered for only $19.99! Click here to learn more...

All About the Pretty is excited about staying at the new Aloft Hotels by Starwood as part of Destination Pretty.

Teri from Beautiful Makeup Search is so obsessed with hair, that she branched out and launched a brand new site - all about hair.

Love Alicia Keys' look from the BET Awards? Find out how to re-create it for yourself at Makeup Bag.

Marina from Makeup Loves Me thinks Sonia Kashuk's new super sheer liquid tint is better than any department store brand she has tried recently.

ddf - bravely fighting acne and wrinkles!

2009-07-02T08:21:00.001-04:00

my life is the total opposite of that biore commercial where women are talking about too old for acne and too young for wrinkles, instead i'm worried about both. which is why i'm equally excited about the new releases from ddf.

there are two new products in the acne category - mattifying oil control uv moisturizer spf 15 ($42) and acne control treatment ($42). the moisturizer is light-weight and mattifying, but it has spf! this is the perfect lotion for someone who is sunscreen-adverse because they are worried it will make them break out (like me, unfortunately). i will be wearing it all summer long.
ddf's new anti-aging restorative products use the preserving power of tumeric. i love a star ingredient (especially a delicious one)! tumeric has been used medicinally in india for centuries, now it's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are being used restore skin. the new tumeric-laced products are advanced micro-exfoliation cleanser ($46), advanced eye firming concentrate ($88), advanced firming cream ($130) and advanced moisture defense uv cream spf 15 ($105). if the dollar signs have your head spinning, keep in mind that the before and after pictures of a woman who had used the eye cream almost knocked me off my chair. she literally looked 10 years younger.

ddf products are available at ddf.com and sephora stores nationwide.

redken for men - shake some pepper in that salt!

2009-07-01T15:10:00.000-04:00

before:

earlier this week i went to an event that featured redken's newest service for men, customized camouflage. what i learned at this event is that men like all things to be quick, discreet, and subtle - not just their relationships.

luckily customized camouflaging caters to these needs. the service helps men with salt-n-pepper hair get a little more "pepper"in their look. the whole service takes under 15 minutes and can be done at the shampoo bowl rather than in a salon chair. as far as the subtly goes, as you can see by the before and after shots - the finished result is more of a "wow! you look so refreshed", as opposed to "wow! you dyed your hair." and as for the commitment issue? the color than gradually fades while the hair goes out.

if one of the men in your life needs to pepper it up the service $20-$70, depending on your part of the country, and salons may be located via redken.com.

after:

Q & A with celeb makeup artists, molly stern!

2009-07-01T10:53:00.001-04:00

beauties! last week i interviewed molly stern, covergirl's celebrity makeup artist about easy, pretty and cheap summer looks!

the video walks you through applying simply ageless sculpting blush, the exact eyelights line, and covergirl's star mascara, lashblast. afterwards there is a Q & A where i ask molly some burning questions (like how exactly one finds the apples of their cheeks).

the whole video is about 19 minutes, so if you are in a rush check out around minute 3 - where you see what a difference blush can make, and minute 16 - where i finally get the answer to my apples of the cheeks question!

go watch it!

sonia kashuk blush - better than anything you've paid three times as much for.

2009-06-30T14:48:00.001-04:00

beauties, i would not, for one second, advise you to buy a mass brand blush unless i tried and liked it better than most of prestige ones. the 2009 spring collection from sonia kashuk beauty at target is a veritable blush bonanza, with four superior blush formulas to choose from - shimmering loose mineral blush, super sheer liquid tint, beautifying blush and creme blush.

they are all buy-worthy, but super sheer liquid tint stands above the rest. it's liquid formula provides for sheer, buildable color that lasts for hours. if you treat yourself to one new piece of makeup this summer, make it this blush. available in peony, rose and poppy for $9.99.

of note, the line also contains a velvety shine lip crayon ($7.99) that goes on smooth as butter.

while the line is in target stores, it is not yet available online. head to your local target to jump on these treats.

collective wellbeing detox bar review + off label use.

2009-06-30T11:08:00.000-04:00

remember MAC's future earth collection a la last summer (click here to reminse)? i loved using the volcanic ash exfoliator because it was like getting to play in black mud.

well, future earth is long gone (such is the way of MAC limited edition collections -- here one minute, gone the next), but i've found the collective wellbeing's detox bar in it's stead. this soap is made with charcoal, which absorbs toxins (in fact, it does it so well that it is sometimes given to people who have eaten poison). plus, like the volcanic ash exfoliator, you get to cover yourself in inky colored goodness, so it's that much better when you rinse.

off label use: it turns little hairs a very dark black, so when you run it over your legs, you can see where you missed a spot and still need to shave.

$6 at collectivewellbeing.com.

axe -instinct - it's a leather thing.

2009-06-29T09:53:00.000-04:00

i have to say, while i may have mocked their over the top advertising, i've always admired axe on two fronts:

the commercials may push the envelope, but they are also clever and innovative. sometimes after viewing one, i've been on verge of buying their product, to test if women walking down the street really would find me irresistible (or does that only work when men use it?)
they fill a niche. men don't want to use women's bodywash/shampoo/etc, but apparently, they do want to groom themselves.

however, i never realized how much work went into their product line until just a couple weeks ago. i was invited to a givaudan, a fine fragrance house, where new axe scents are created. their latest launch, axe instinct, took two years to develop, with a top nose working out hundreds of potential formulas before getting it right. the result? axe instinct is a leather based scent with vanilla and pepper undertones.

axe instinct available in deodorant bodyspray ($4.99), antiperspirant ($4.99), deodorant stick ($4.99), and shower gel ($3.99) at most mass food and drug stores.

check out the commercial below, it's not as provocative as previous axe ad campaigns, but still captures a boyish cuteness. monday morning thoughts, beauties?