How To: Lips & Lashes

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Holiday parties are the perfect opportunity to take risks and add a little drama to your makeup look. My favorite festive look is sophisticated, classic and can be worn at any event. Lips & Lashes. By highlighting both of these features you will look instantly polished at any event this season.

LIPS: Prep your pout for mistletoe kisses. Go with classic red or a bold bordeaux. For those who are not used to wearing a bold lip, it’s time to get confident and try something new for your next holiday event.

For finding the best red for your skintone and how to apply the party-ready lip – check out these posts:

Four Favorites: Red Lipstick

How To: Perfect Red Lip

LASHES: If you have been wanting to experiment with false lashes, let this holiday season be your time to take the leap. Get fiercely flirty eyes in minutes using individual lashes.

Individual lashes are great for beginners. They look extremely natural, are comfortable to wear and easy to apply. Additionally, these lashes can also be placed wherever you need them. Add to the corners of the eyes for a bit of extra interest or to the center of the eye for an instant doe-like effect or all over for extra thickening and lengthening.

Individual false eyelashes come in two options: flares and singles. For a more dramatic look – try flares. I suggest getting them in small or medium (long… is really long). Flared lashes are available in two types: knotted and knot-free. Knotted have a knot at the top of the cluster to join the lashes. They provide extra surface area that make applying a little easier. However, knot-free look more natural.

NEED & RECOMMENDED:

♦ Lashes: Duralash Natural Knot-Free Medium Black

♦ Glue: Duo Eyelash Adhesive

♦ Tweezers: Tweezerman Slant

♦ Eyelash Curler: Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Eyelash Curler

♦ Mascara: Giorgio Armani ‘Eyes to Kill’ Mascara

HOW TO:

1. Use tweezers to grasp the sprig of lashes as close to the base as possible.
2. Place a dot of glue on a flat surface and dip the base of the sprig into the glue using a light touch.
3. KEY TIP: Wait at least 10 seconds for the glue to get tacky before applying.
4. Now, start on the outer corner and lay the lash behind your natural lash. Use a “picket-fence” approach when applying.
5. Once the glue is dry, curl the lashes close to the base of your lashes, being careful not to press too hard. The faux lashes will curl much more than your natural lashes.
6. Then, finish by applying mascara to “marry” the faux with your natural lashes.

Tried & Tested: Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF 35

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The newest BB Cream to hit our counters is Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF 35. Exclusive to Nordstroms, the formula combines moisturizer, skincare, foundation and SPF into one.

Features & Benefits: Water-attracting molecules boost hydration. Light-reflecting pearls brighten dull skin. Botanical extracts and caffeine reduce discoloration and redness. Pore-reducing peptides minimize fine lines. Broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and antioxidants fend off future damage.

Bobbi Brown’s BB Cream SPF 35 is available in five shades: Extra Light, Fair, Light, Medium and Medium to Dark. I was certainly intrigued by this, due to the fact that Bobbi Brown Cosmetics are primarily yellow-based shades. Many BB Cream (especially asian brands) are based on cooler-tones, such as pinks and greys.

As I sampled the different shades, I was persuaded by a sweet Bobbi Brown representative to try the darkest shade, Medium to Dark. This shade looks quite dark, almost bronzer-like. But, I took her advice and purchased.

APPLICATION: Smooth and easy to apply. Goes on quite dry, but feels nice and extremely light on the skin. (Unless you have very oily skin, a moisturizer is needed in addition to this BB Cream.)

COVERAGE: Sheer.

FINISH: Skin appears matte with a subtle sheen. Very healthy-looking. However, like most BB Creams, after a couple hours the oils will come-out and skin will look too glowing. A finishing powder is recommended.

COLOR: Initial application, the color appeared too dark. Let dry and after a couple minutes, the color adapts to the skin and the color is perfect. It might be a smidgen too dark – but I am loving the subtle-tan look for summer.

VERDICT: Like many of the US BB Creams, this is much like a tinted moisturizer. But, I love the finish it leaves on the skin and the feeling is remarkably lightweight. For a high-SPF product, this cream wears like you have nothing on. The shade choices are great and warm-up the complexion beautifully. Leaves skin looking fresh and healthy. A great option for the summer months – SPF, lightweight, easy.

(When testing these BB Creams, before deciding on a shade, I suggest waiting at least 5 minutes for the color to oxidize and adapt to your skin tone.)

For other BB Cream reviews:

Dior Hydra Life BB Cream

Boscia BB Cream

Single Sweep: bareMinerals Eye Shadow in Bare Skin

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bareMinerals EyeShadow Bare Skin

bareMinerals Eye Shadow in Bare Skin is my go-to shade when rushed for time. With a single sweep, this color looks as though you have spent a great deal of time on your eye makeup.

The rosy-taupe color adds radiance and surprising definition to the eye. When applied from eye lid to brow-bone, it looks as though two to three colors have been added and blended together. Bare Skin casts a shadow at the brow-bone, instantly contouring the eye.

This is a universal shade that looks beautiful on light, medium or dark skin-tones. Application can be daunting, due to it’s loose powder-form, but the eye shadow blends seamlessly.

bareMinerals eyeshadows can be used dry or wet using a “foiling technique.” Foiling is the process of mixing water or mixing medium with any powder eye shadow pigment to bring out the metallic base color. This will not only look amazing but will cause eye shadow to last longer.

Spend less time on your makeup this summer and more time having fun-in-the-sun, and find a one-sweep eye shadow that works for you.