Summer Must-Have: Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder

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Summer is all about bronzed, glowing skin. The only product needed to achieve this is Laura Mercier’s Matte Radiance Baked Powder. Available in four bronzing colors and one highlight, one is able to mimic the sun’s rays without the damage.

• Highlight 01 – Golden nude
• Bronze 01 – Fair to light skin tone
• Bronze 02 – Light to medium skin tone
• Bronze 03 – Medium skin tone
• Bronze 04 – Tan to deep skin tone

Titled “Matte Radiance Baked Powder,” this product is far from the stark matte bronzers of the past. Laura Mercier’s Matte Radiance Baked Powder warms-up the skin revealing a healthy glow. No glitter or shimmer but a beautiful glowing sheen.

The ultra-smooth formula provides natural color with absolutley no orange tinge. The modern, multidimensional matte finish reveals a hint of soft luminosity and the sheer, buildable coverage lets you customize your glow.

Easy to apply, these bronzers leave skin looking naturally radiant. Coming from a bronzing addict – this is the most natural finish and color-range I have experienced. It instantly warms up the face and creates healthy looking skin.  Laura Mercier’s Matte Radiance Baked Powder is my in my top 10 Summer Must-Haves for 2013.

Perfect Pink: NARS Gaiety

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NARS Gaiety is my current perfect pink blush. It creates the perfect youthfulness and will instantly brighten your day… and complexion.

Described as a “bright candy pink,” the cool-toned pink has a strong blue-base. The buildable color allows for a sheer wash of color on the cheeks or layer for a bold pink flush. The color is matte with tiny specks of silver sparkle, that when applied offers a soft subtle sheen – perfect for the apples of the cheeks.

NARS blushes are long-lasting and true to color. I love Gaiety in the summer, when tanned/bronzed skin needs a flush of color. The contrast of the warm tan and cool pink reflects youthfulness and fun.

Tropical Inspiration: Aqua Eyes

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Bold, turquoise green eye makeup is a perfect summer look. Tropical inspiration from ocean blues and palm frawn greens will make any eye color pop. This color family come in all sorts of textures and consistencies, choose from metallic, shimmering or pastel shades.

Aqua eyes is great look for both day or night. Start with a vibrant turquoise or shimmering green powder or cream eyeshadow and apply all over the lid. Build for more color or leave for a sheer wash. If you don’t want color on the entire lid, try a simple liner. Draw a thin or thick line on the upper or lower eyelid. For true vibrancy, first line the eye with a white pencil and go over with your favorite kohl, liquid or gel liner. This will bring the color to life.

Brighter colors tend to have more pigment and last longer on the skin – so less is more. It’s easier to build color if more is needed,  but harder to remove color if you put too much on.

Here are a few of my favorite tropical-inspired products.

Dior ~ Croisette Edition: $60.00

NARS ~ Shimmer Eyeshadow in Tropic: $24.00

Make Up For Ever ~ Aqua Eyes in 7L – Turquoise: $18.00

Urban Decay ~ 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Siren: $19.00

YSL ~ Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Waterproof in Majorelle Blue: $30.00

MAC ~ Fluidline in Waveline: $15.00

Maybelline ~ Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24HR Cream Gel Shadow in Tenacious Teal & Edgy Emerald: $6.99 (each)

Smashbox ~ Limitless 15 Hour Wear Cream Shadow: $19.00

Tangy Trend: Orange Nails

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This summer change up your lacquer collection with unexpected vibrant hues. Accessorize your fingers and toes with zesty shades of orange. This attention-getting hue comes in many energetic forms; bright coral, firey red, neon, tangerine – a hint of orange is a hot shade for summer.

Summer is synonymous with vibrant color and tanned skin. Express your personal style with loud, fun nail shades. Orange will work on every skin tone and looks incredible on bronzed, sun-kissed skin. These four zesty hues will set tanned skin on fire.

Illamasqua ~ Whack: $21.43

RGB ~ Coral: $16.00

Chanel ~ Holiday: $26.00

Dior ~ Psychedelic Orange: $23.00

Spring Trend: The Coral Lip

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Store-away winter reds and reach for a bright coral. One of Spring’s hottest trends, a coral lip is fresh, vibrant and instantly brightens your complexion.

Surprisingly, coral is a neutral tone, therefore, it looks good on everyone (warm or cool-toned). When selecting a shade that is right for you, the trick is to pick a shade that matches your undertones. If your skin has gold or yellow undertones, a peachier/orange coral will be most flattering. If you have pink undertones, choose a pink or red-based coral. Lastly, to keep the look modern and fresh, try to stay away from shimmers and frosts.

Embrace a coral lip with these six options:

NARS ~ Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Happy Days: $24.00

YSL ~ Rouge Volupté in Extreme Coral: $34.00

Make Up For Ever ~ Aqua Cream in Coral: $23.00

BECCA ~ Beach Tint in Guava: $23.00

Tom Ford ~ Lip Color in True Coral: $48.00

MAC ~ Tinted Lipglass in Sonoran Rain: $14.50

Glow & Go: Scott Barnes Body Bling

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Achieve glowing skin instantly with this shimmering body lotion that lasts all day. The bronzer to the stars, Scott Barnes Body Bling, is a no-commitment illuminator, that washes off with soap and water. Glow & Go.

Scott Barnes is a celebrated makeup artist credited for creating gorgeous looks for his numerous celebrity clients. His most popular look coined “the glow” was created on Jennifer Lopez. This monochromatic look features bronze glowing skin and pale lips. His signature look became known as “lit from within” and launched the world famous shimmering bronzer, Body Bling.

Use Body Bling on your shoulders, arms, legs, décolletage for a flawless look from head to toe. It’s great for masking self-tanning streaks or mistakes, covering flaws and instantly toning and slimming arms and legs. It is easy to apply and feels moisturizing on the skin.

Scott Barnes Body Bling is a must-have for summer. This lotion looks amazing on-top of already tanned (fake or real) skin. It is not dark enough to replace your other self-tanning products, but will look incredible in conjunction with. With specks of gold shimmer that reflect light beautifully, everyone can create Scott Barnes signature “lit from within” look.

Healthy Glow: Kevyn Aucoin – The Pure Powder Glow in Myracle

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Radiant, youthful-looking skin is just a brush stroke away with Kevyn Aucoin’s The Pure Powder Glow in Myracle.

Formulated with Aucoin’s signature finely milled powders, The Pure Powder Glow blends seamlessly and lasts all day. The hot pink hue is completely matte, pigment-rich and beautifully shocking. If applied with a light-hand, it will create a soft, more ethereal look. If applied with a heavy-hand, it will create a more vibrant, radiant glow.

Myracle is designed to work on all skin tones and looks amazing all-year-long. It will add life to bronzed skin in the summer and enhance a natural flush to fair skin in the winter.

For an instant cheek lift, place your blush brush at the highest point of your cheekbone and apply color in a circular motion. It’s a Myracle!

Bronzing Oil: Terracotta Huile De Voyageur

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Terracotta Huile De Voyageur

Summer is all about healthy-looking skin. The quickest way to fake this is with Terracotta Hulle De Voyageur Nourishing Dry Oil. This luxurious bronzing oil hydrates the skin and imparts a short-term glow.

The non-greasy, fast-absorbing formula is made primarily of Argan oil to hydrate the skin. Tiny specks of gold and mother-of-pearl provide subtle color and shimmer. Skin is left nourished, smooth and luminous.

The scent is a hypnotic blend of Tiare flower that perfumes the skin of jasmine. It smells rich and exotic, coating the skin for hours.

Guerlain’s Terracotta line uses a Tan Booster technology that prolongs a tan. It also uses Roucou, a reddish-brown vegetable pigment that has been used throughout the ages to intensify color day after day.

This is a great quick-fix bronzing oil, as it washes off with simple soap and water. Tip: Let the product dry completely, as some color will transfer.