Tropical Inspiration: Aqua Eyes

✥✥✥

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

How To: Perfect Red Lips

✯✯✯

How To: Apply red lipstick (or any color) that is long-lasting and won’t feather.

Needed:

✒Concealer

✒Powder

✒Lip Liner (MAC Red)

✒Favorite Red Lipstick (Tom Ford Cherry Lush)

✒Lip Brush

Application:

✒Apply a light coat of concealer to the perimeter of the lips and on-top of lips. This step will help the lipstick stay and obtain truest color.

✒Set concealer with powder to prevent lipstick from bleeding. Keep powder on the outer edges of the lips to prevent lips from looking dry.

✒Starting in the middle, use lip liner to fill in the lips. Layering is key when applying bright colors. The more layers applied, the longer to come-off.

✒Blend the liner using a flat lip brush.

✒Load the lip brush with color from the bullet of the lipstick. By getting more product on the brush initially, application is easier.

✒Use the lip brush to apply the first layer of lipstick.

✒Between layers, blot lips with a tissue to take away excess moisture.

✒Use the lip brush to apply the second layer of lipstick.

Optional: If you want some shine – add a clear gloss to only the center of both lips. This will make lips appear larger. I like using a clear gloss for high-shine, this way it will not alter the color.

Ridge Filler Benefits: Deborah Lippmann

✯✯✯

Deborah Lippmann Ridge Filler

Once your nails form ridges, you will unfortunately have them forever. They are caused by genetics, trauma and aging. Using a ridge filler as a base coat can help repair and make them less noticeable.

When applying a ridge filler, the silica and silk fibers fill-in ridges to create a smooth foundation for nail polish to hold on to. It creates long-lasting manicures and forms an amazing base.

When wearing dark-colored nail polish, it is a difficult task not to stain the cuticles. When applying a ridge filler, it forms a pocket for the nail polish to adhere to. This “cupping” ensures perfect application that won’t stain the cuticles.

Most ridge fillers, like the Deborah Lippmann, are an opaque, off-white matte color. When using this prior to applying any nail polish, the color will be true and more vibrant. In the past, I have used a white base coat for this reason, I have now found that using a ridge filler provides more natural benefits.

Lastly, this ridge filler by Deborah Lippmann looks great on it’s own. Deborah Lippmann, manicurist to the stars, has used this ridge filler in many fashion shows and events. It provides a modern-matte natural nail look.

Brighten Up! J Brand 1046 Cut-Off Short

✯✯✯

J BRAND

Each season, J Brand creates new and trendy denim styles. This season’s focus is haute hues.

The 1046 cut-off shorts are vivid in color as well as comfortable in fit. They provide a classic style, sit high on hips and never loose their shape. Perfectly frayed and distressed, these shorts cut-off perfectly at the leg, complimenting any body type.

Already planning for 4th of July, I purchased the J Brand 1046 cut-off in red, but now need all of them. Due to the intense colors, pair these shorts with neutrals items. A white-tee or tank will bring focus to the shorts, and leave room to have some fun with accessories. Play with fun colors and textures and try a flashy summer scarf, turquoise jewels or beaded fringe necklaces and/or bibs.

Show your true color this season in J Brand 1046 cut-off shorts.