Direct from the Runway: Cynthia Steffe Fall 2009

It's always a thrill for me to talk to the designer of a label. So when I showed up at Cynthia Steffe, bright eyed and somewhat bushy-tailed at 7:30 in the morning, and was immediately whisked over to designer Shaun Kearney, I went with it. And the excitement only continued when I found out I'd have the chance to interview makeup artist Christian McCulloch and hairstylist Rolando Beauchamp! Find out all the details after the jump.



"The whole collection is really based around urban glamour," Kearney told me backstage. "Mixing uptown chic with downtown cool. This season she’s a little tougher, she’s a little sexier, but she’s still sweet at the same time." Kearney used "tough downtown fabric" like leather but made it glamorous with ruching, ruffles and interesting finishes.

Kearney also spoke to the hair and makeup and how it tied into the collection. "Hair is definitely swept up, it’s a little done, but it’s put into a bun and it’s a little disheveled, so it’s a little more relaxed," he said. "The palette is really about jewel tones and smoky kind of greys and charcoals with a little bit of bronze. [We] tried to tie the makeup back to that. The lip is a very strong kind of aubergine which is quite deep and rich. But the face is left very subtle, kind of a bronzy finish to it."



I also asked Kearney about his favorite look from the collection (of which there were 46 altogether). "This oversized bomber jacket with a dress underneath –- because I think that says it all!" he told me. "It’s something that’s so pretty and glamorous, but then she puts this big boyfriend bomber jacket on, which makes it look a little more downtown."



Makeup artist Christian McCulloch for M.A.C worked with the uptown/downtown reference, but was also inspired by the 1980s. "She’s got dark lipstick and smoky eye makeup on. So it’s kind of both rather than traditional," he told me. "You know people just say choose one." After prepping the skin with Studio Sculpt and Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, McCulloch used two eyeshadows to create the look -- Patina on the lid and Smut on the crease and lower lashline, blending the darker color up and out and keeping the lighter shade on the inner corners to make the eyes look wider. "It's a little more youthful," he said. He lined the lower lashlines with Smolder Eye Pencil and finished with Plush Lash Mascara in Black on the lashes.



The lips were coated with Currant Pencil and Underworld Lipstick. "Just a really moisturizing lipstick, I think that’s the texture du jour," he said. "It’s a really hydrating lipstick that leaves the lips looking moist without the stickiness of gloss."



Then it was on to hair with Rolando Beauchamp for Bumble and bumble. "The inspiration was rock and roll, cool little buns on top of the head," he said, "because they’re all gonna get veils." He created the bun by first doing a high ponytail, working with his hands instead of a brush to keep all the texture in the hair. He used Bumble and bumble Styling Cream to give it a little hold before pulling it up with his hands into the ponytail, teasing a bit at the base for added texture. He decided where to put the ponytail by looking at the models' profiles.

As for the buns, he told me, "They’re not round, they’re more elongated." He used Bumble and bumble Spray de Mode when twisting the hair, saying, "That’s the key when you do any ponytail or a high bun. You want to get the nape of the neck, hold the head up and then do the ponytail. That gets it really nice and tight."

Read More...

Beauty Question: Would You Buy a $360 Moisturizer?

The latest rage in moisturizer? Givenchy Le Soin Noir. Formulated with vital black alge sap concentrate to maintain and prolong cell longevity, this moisturizer is definitely one of the most unique I've seen in quite some time. It's quite thick and lush, not to mention shimmery and black -- yes, black! -- though it sinks into the skin without leaving behind any residue. It's designed to make your complexion firm, glowing and even-toned.

Well, I've tried it, and I do think it's a decent moisturizer. But it rings up at a whopping $360 at sephora.com. Yes, you read that right! So my Beauty Question is this. Would you buy a $360 moisturizer? Or do you think it's absolutely insane to spend that much on a beauty product? My feeling is this: There's just no reason to spend that much on a moisturizer. I mean, come on -- I got my Manolos for cheaper than that at a sample sale!

Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Read More...

Beauty Event: DKNY MEN Fragrance Spokesmodel Mark Vanderloo at Bloomingdale's

Remember the episode of America's Next Top Model where the girls all went crazy over Mark Vanderloo? Well, now you can be just like them ... only just a little bit classier. Because on Wednesday, March 4, the spokesmodel for the new DKNY MEN fragrance will be at Bloomingdale's! Here's the info:

When: Wednesday, March 4
Where: Bloomingdale's 59th Street
Time: 1-2pm

Don't miss out on your chance to see one of the hottest models around and learn about the new DKNY MEN fragrance!

Read More...

Bubblegum Pink Lipstick: The Trend Continues with Rose McGowan!

I continue to be obsessed with bubblegum pink lipstick. I am convinced that even if it looks heinous on me, I will be wearing it from now until the end of time ... or at least until a new lipstick trend that seems inviting pops up in my world. (Hopefully it doesn't actually look heinous.)

Well, I'm not the only one loving the trend. As you might remember from a couple of weeks ago, tons of celebs are getting in on the action. (Click here if you need a little refresher.) And the latest gal to sport pale pink lips? None other than Rose McGowan. She took her bubblegum pink lips out for a night on the town at the launch party for Robert Vetica's new book, Good to Great Hair, on February 26. Check out how gorgeous she looked with creamy bubblegum pink lipstick, especially paired with carefree auburn curls:



I'm totally loving this look on her. What do you think? Did she pull it off, or should she stick to the tomato red lipstick she wore back in October? Let me know in the comments!

Read More...

First Look Fridays: Makeup Artist Fiona Stiles

Bridget Moynahan. Eva Mendes. Milla Jovovich. Zooey Deschanel. What do all of these celebrities have in common? The fabulous makeup artist Fiona Stiles. In addition to makeup up tons of stars throughout her career, Fiona's work has appeared in everything from Marie Claire and Elle to campaigns for Revlon. Her career has been truly fascinating -- read on to discover more.



Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
I grew up just north of San Francisco. At 18 I went as far east as I could go, heading to Providence to study photography at the Rhode Island School of Design. Right after school I moved to New York City, where I quickly learned that I was a pretty bad photo assistant. As amazing as school was, it was very, very fine-art oriented and I wasn't even remotely prepared for the technical side of being an assistant.

How did you first become interested in makeup, and what led you to become a makeup artist?
I have always loved makeup, I'm sure like most makeup artists. There are photos of me at 3 putting makeup on all of the other girls at my birthday party. There is something about the colors and textures that are just irresistible. I still remember a beautiful yellow nail polish I had in grade school called Maize and a stunning metallic silver eyeshadow that I had when I was 10. I can still imagine the texture of it on my fingers.

In art school I always did makeup for friends' films or projects. And after being in New York for about 2 months, I just fell into doing makeup. And thank god, because as I said, I wasn't a very good photo assistant! But it was so much harder back then. In 1993, there was no internet, just the phone book, so I would look through magazines and then look up makeup artists in the white pages and ask them if they needed an assistant. Makeup agencies weren't in the phone book, modeling agencies weren't in the yellow pages, so if you didn't know the names of the agencies, you were out of luck. If you didn't know how it all worked, you had to work hard to figure it out. It took a lot of ingenuity to get work and to meet people. There were no reality shows or books about becoming a makeup artist. Eventually I gathered numbers of agencies and met people and started working.

I wish I could say it happened overnight, but it didn't. I never worked at a counter or in a store. I worked at a cafe so I could have flexible hours, and worked on testing and getting my portfolio together during the day.

Have you worked with any makeup artists who inspired you? What did they teach you?
I had the great pleasure of working with Pat McGrath for a number of years. She is so completely inspiring to watch. Plus as a young makeup artist, it was amazing to get to go to Paris and Milan twice a year and work on the shows with her. Working on Prada, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Commes des Garcons, was incredible.

Being able to be on a set with Steven Meisel while Pat created amazing looks for Italian Vogue, American Vogue and some of the most memorable campaigns was an honor.

I find that we makeup artists are a bit precious about makeup, myself included. But what was so amazing and inspiring about Pat is that she would just swipe an eyeliner on, or press on some color, or boldly draw on a brow with inky black kohl liner. She isn't timid or cautious but fearless and physical with makeup and takes amazing chances, producing the most remarkable results. I am very grateful for my time with her.

Kevyn Aucoin is someone I would have loved to work with. I do wish I had the opportunity to work with him before he died. His ability to transform was remarkable.

What are some of the moments that have stood out as highlights in your career?
I had the wonderful experience of doing a tour and a movie with Madonna. That was a fantastic time.

I have worked with David Bowie for the last 7 years, and I have never met a more wonderful, kind and funny person. Plus, working with one of your idols is always a highlight.

Many years ago, when I was assisting, we went to Cape Town, South Africa for a Versace benefit show. Everyone involved with the show was invited to Nelson Mandela's house to meet him. What other job would allow a 27-year-old former art school student to meet Nelson Mandela? I was literally speechless when I shook his hand.

What are the products and brands you simply can't live without?
1) By Terry Baume de Rose: a delicious lip balm

2) Tweezerman tweezers: Replace yours once a year.

3) Kevyn Aucoin brow pencils.

4) Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight highlighter and Sculpting Powder contour

5) Prescriptives Softlining Pencil in Jet

6) Embryolisse Moisturizer: The one you get in Paris is different than the one they sell here.

What are your top 3 makeup tips?
1) I love taupe eyeliner on the inside rim of the eye. It's not as severe as brown or black, but it gives you a sexy eye that is still sultry but soft.

2) Don't be afraid of makeup. It's just pigment, it comes off.

3) Keep on top of your brows. Nicely tweezed and groomed brows make you look pulled together, even if you aren't wearing makeup.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?
I cherish the fact that every day is something new. A new crew, a new location, a new face to work on. I may not be able to tell you what day of the week it is -- there are no weekends with this job, a Sunday is a Tuesday is a Friday. But I can tell you that I have been [to] some amazing places and met some incredible people.

Read More...

Direct from the Runway: Carolina Herrera Fall 2009

One fashion show you just don't skip? Carolina Herrera. So when I had the opportunity to go backstage for the show, you'd better believe I took it ... even though I had to be there and look awake at 7:30 in the morning! And I was thrilled to be there, especially since Carolina Herrera herself walked around backstage and talked to every single person. She is just the epitome of grace, style and elegance. (Side note: she was once on a flight of mine. I freaked out and called every person I knew to gloat.) Find out everything hair and makeup related after the jump.



Orlando Pita for T3 was on hand to create the chic modified chignon seen on the models. After coating the hair with T3 Plump and blowdrying it, he sprayed the hair with T3 Control, brushed it back and gathered it into two ponytails. He then flipped these up and pinned them into the chignon shape with 100 bobby pins. The pins were meant to be seen, so they were arranged in clusters around the chignon.



Diane Kendal for M.A.C was the key makeup artist on this show. "The inspiration was making the girls look really fresh and beautiful," she told me. "[We] wanted to do a makeup that really enhanced the girls' natural beauty." She accomplished this by blending a nude contour into the eye and lining it in the corner before putting a highlighting shimmer on top. This was accompanied by a rosy cheek and the natural lip color Twig, which she said helps you "just get all the natural highlights on the face." Eyebrows were brushed slightly and skin was kept dewy.



I also spoke with Fatima T., who has been with M.A.C since 1995 and gave me some more detail on the look. "Twig is just enhancing the natural lip color because it’s the type of color that looks like your lip color but a little bit richer," she said. "Just topped with a little bit of gloss in the center –- a new Dazzleglass called Local Color. Just in the center so you get that highlight and it gives the lip dimension."

Fatima told me that two pigments were used on the eyes -- White Pigment on the lid and in the socket to sculpt and wrap it out, and then a new PRO product called Dark Pigment under the eye. Cheeks were swept with Mineralize Blush in Handfinish, a soft apricot with gold pearl laced through it. "It's gorgeous," Fatima gushed. "It just gives you a glow on your cheeks that's not overly frosty or sparkly but just glowy."

Lashes were dusted with Dazzle Lash Mascara. "It has a fantastic brush that looks like a Christmas tree," Fatima said. "It separates but still builds fullness. The brush is smaller, it gives you more control. Diane focused the mascara at the base of the lash -– she kind of wiggled at the base and pushed the lash up, and of course curled the lashes first."



Fatima's final thoughts on the look? "It’s beautiful, it’s the kind of makeup that yeah, it’s gonna look great on these girls, but it will look great on you and I too. Anyone can wear it!"

Finally, I spoke with Wanda Ruiz of Creative Nail Design about the nails for the show. "We are doing a beautiful nude," she told me. "She has lots of texture in her collection, lots of draping and color. She has electric blue, green, hot pink. So I think nude was the way to go because one color would just not cut it for all of the models." She accomplished this with one coat of Ridge Out Base Coat, one coat of Serenity Nail Polish and one coat of Air Dry Topcoat. The end result? "Luxe, beautiful, shiny nails."

Read More...

Trend-Filled Thursdays: Colored Eyeshadow

Spotted all over the Spring 2009 runways? Eyeshadow in unbelievably crazy hues. From green at Gucci and John Galliano to orange at Rodarte and Viktor & Rolf, there was a veritable rainbow of color spotted from New York to Paris to Milan. Some went pale, like the pastel blue seen at Vera Wang. Some went for sherbet hues, as was the case with the orangeish peach at 3.1 Phillip Lim (seen at left). But one thing's for certain -- it's time to have a little fun with your eyeshadow. Check out tons of pictures and get some product recommendations after the jump.



bright orange dotted on the outer corners at Rodarte
glimmery golden yellow on the lids at Missoni
deep green shadow to match the crazy curly green wig at John Galliano
heavy teal painted into the inner corners at Gucci
the cat eye becomes even more interesting in purple at Erin Fetherston
a watercolor-esque design in bright orange at Viktor & Rolf
glimmery pale blue at Vera Wang

Get the look with these products:

Bobbi Brown Platinum Pink Shimmer Brick ($40 at bobbibrown.com): Five colors of pink, ranging from the palest of the pale to deep rosy mauve, can be dusted on the lids for an exciting pop of color.

Benefit CORALista ($28 at benefitcosmetics.com): While this is technically supposed to be used as a blush, I think it's better dusted on the eyes. Sweep it across your lids and up into the creases for that je ne sais quoi.


NARS Single Eyeshadow in Party Monster ($22 at narscosmetics.com): Does it get more fun than bright purple shadow? I think not. This royal hue will look perfect paired with skinny jeans and a cute top when you go out on the town.


M.A.C Paint Pot in Delft ($16.50 at bloomingdales.com): Paint Pots are already at the top of my list of favorite products. But this color really stands out from the rest. It's a light shimmery teal that you can leave pale or build to a deep, dark turquoise. And the fact that it doesn't crease and stays put for hours is a huge bonus.

Runway photos courtesy of Style.com and nymag.com.

Read More...

Jordin Sparks, Where Are You? I Want Your Curls.

I've decided I want curls exactly like the ones seen on Jordin Sparks at the Jonas Brothers: 3D Concert Experience on February 24. Her locks seriously look as though they were rolled around giant orange juice cans a la 1954 and left to sit overnight. AND I WANT THEM.

What do you think? Are you loving her curls, or do you think she should have gone with a different look? Let me know in the comments!

Read More...

Beauty Giveaway: Stila Backstage with Lela Rose and Beauty.com

Remember when I talked about how much I loved the Stila Backstage with Lela Rose and Beauty.com paint can earlier this week? (Click here for a quick refresher.) Well, good news, fellow beauty chicks! One lucky winner will receive this can absolutely free! This limited-edition set, which has a retail value of $34, contains the following products:

Stila Sun Shade 02
Lip Glaze in Cranberry
Eye Shadow in Starlight
Major Lash Mascara in Brown

Entering is easy. Simply enter your name and email address in the box below. The winner will be selected on Friday, March 6 and notified by email. It's that simple!



This giveaway is open to US residents only. Giveaway runs until Thursday, March 5 at midnight. One entry per person, email address and IP address. Multiple entries will be disqualified.

Read More...

Direct from the Runway: Miss Sixty Fall 2009

"Very rock and roll ... but I wanted to make sure we kept it also girly a little," Ward Stegerhoek for Living Proof told me backstage at Miss Sixty. "Because rock and roll clothes with completely rocked out hair is full on rock and roll. I think it’s nicer to keep a girly element going and not turn it into punk." Check out exactly how he accomplished this -- and so much more! -- after the jump.



Hair was left long and loose with just a few pinned up sections in the front. Ward used NO FRIZZ Wave-Shaping, Curl-Defining Styling Spray to style the hair and then used NO FRIZZ Wave-Shaping, Curl-Defining Styling Cream to twist the hair and make it appear rough and stringy. "The textures are all really rough in a way," he told me. "Even though [the Styling Spray] is a product for blowouts, you can also texturize your hair with it. It still has the same elements as protects against humidity and stuff so the style holds."



Makeup artist Lisa Butler for M.A.C wanted to create a young rock chick who still felt casual. "It's all very loose, not too structured," she said. She used three key products to create the look: Young Pink (available in Fall 2009), Violet Trance Eyeshadow and M.A.C Pro Grease Paint Stick in Black. The violet color was chosen because it matched clothing from the collection.

Butler kept the cheeks and lips free of color and product so the focus really would be on the eyes. If a model needed the color of her lips knocked down, she did that with a bit of concealer patted on with a makeup brush. "It's young, it's pretty, it's a bit hard but it's still pretty," she said.



Nails were kept clean and simple, with Angi Wingle of Creative Nail Design doing basic manicures. "It's not very exciting, but it's good for the girls," she said. She used the Glossy Buffer Block to really make nails shine. Two of the girls had open-toed shoes, and they had Voodoo painted on their toenails at the request of the designer.

Read More...

Direct from the Runway: Erin Fetherston Fall 2009

Heading backstage at Erin Fetherston was both a total thrill and a total surprise! I was quite excited when Alisha Rimando of Dashing Diva was able to snag a pass for me at the last minute. I've been dying to get backstage at Erin Fetherston for years, as she's one of my favorite designers, so this was a definite highlight of the week. Find out everything I learned -- and it was a lot! -- after the jump.



Right out of the gate, I chatted with one of the most expressive and exciting hairstylists I've come across, the fabulous Lyndell Mansfield. She's been working with Erin for four years, and she graced me with the fabulous story of how they met before getting down to business of telling us about the look for the show. "We actually met at a party during Fashion Week in Paris before Erin was actually showing," Lyndell said. "We saw each other across a room and it was love at first sight! We were bleach blond girls ... we’re both like, ah! She’s got good bleach! I was like, look how amazingly straight her hair is! [And she was like], look how curly her hair is! She had her own dresses, she was doing couture pieces, oneoffs. And she had this dress, she literally could have been Cinderella. She was backlit ... she was this blond in this fairytale dress, and I was like, oh my god, she’s a fairy! I was like this naughty punk fairy on the other side of the room and she was the good fairy!"

How could you not love her, right? So after finding out about their fabulous friendship, Lyndell told me about the look for the show. "This girl is a little bit dark," she said. "Erin is normally light and fluffy, it’s a little bit darker than normal. It’s still a fairy tale girl but it’s more of a wicked fairytale, and she’s like the naughty character."

To create a hairstyle that went with this darker feel, Lyndell thought of cartoons with curly or frizzy hair that's drawn in zig-zags. "It was about creating a texture that was almost an illustrative, animated kind of texture," she said. "It would be so cute if they look like that but they’ve got little bobs that are zig-zaggy!"

Lyndell accomplished this by creating bobs with crimped sections. "We didn’t want to crimp all the hair because I think when you crimp all the hair it’s not really friendly to the people at home that want to do it," she said. She backcombed the entire head before using a bit of Bumble and bumble Does it All to seal it. She then took specific sections and crimped them using a flat iron before brushing it out, which created a lot of fluffiness without the frizz. "All you need to do is the hairline and the part line with the crimper," she said. "So although you get the illusion once it’s put it up in the little bob shape that it’s all crimped, it’s very quick and easy. Girls can do it at home!"

Creating the bob was very easy as well. Lyndell grabbed the hair as though it was going into a low ponytail, rolled it under and slid in a couple of long curvy grip pins to hold it in place. She then brushed the hairline so that it would be light and fluffy and move around when the girls walked down the runway, and finished with Bumble and bumble Shine Spray to add glossiness. "It still becomes soft, but she’s still got a little wicked side to her," Lyndell told me. "The shine on stage will make it look really reflective and that will be pretty!"

Then it was on to makeup with Sebastian Tardiff of Bobbi Brown. It was the "tin soldier meeting the jewel box ballerina," he told me. "It's all contrast. We have the soft and the delicate with the solid and bolder."

To make this look happen, Sebastian created a very glossy toffee apple lip using Crimson Metallic Lipstick, and a defined eye with Smoky Eyes and Charcoal Haze eyeshadows blended all the way to the brows. "We wanted a very beautiful, dreamy, open-looking eye," he said. He also used a new mascara coming out from Bobbi Brown this fall. Skin had a satin finish -- "The girls are going to look on stage like they have flawless, beautiful, smooth skin," he said.

Alisha Rimando and her team from Dashing Diva were on hand to apply the nail color. They used Jet-Set, a dark burgundy frost that's one of the new polishes from Dashing Diva's Manhattan Collection.

Read More...

Too Faced So Smurfy Illumination Face Powder: The Cutest Product I HAVE to Have!

When my brother and I were growing up, we went to Kings Island -- a little amusement park in Cincinnati -- every summer. And the ride we went on again and again, sometimes up to 20 times in one visit, was Smurf Village. No matter how many times we got into the little boats and went through the village, seeing Gargamel and Papa Smurf and all the rest, we just couldn't get enough.

Which brings me to the Too Faced Smurf Collection. This limited-edition collection seriously contains some of the most adorable products I've seen in quite some time. And at the top of my list? The So Smurfy Illumination Face Powder. The lone female smurf, Smurfette, is emblazoned onto a face powder that conceals, brightens and makes skin look otherwise incredible. And it's only $26 at sephora.com! You'd better believe this is going in my shopping cart immediately. It will take me right back to Smurf Village.

What do you think? Will you be purchasing this compact? Let me know in the comments!

Read More...

Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays: Softlips Pure Honeydew 100% Natural Organic Lip Conditioner

You might have guessed by now that I have something of a lip balm addiction. From Fresh to Bonne Bell, I've tried pretty much every balm on the market trying to make my lips as soft and smooth as possible. So when I had the opportunity to check out Softlips Pure Honeydew 100% Natural Organic Lip Conditioner, I simply had to do it.

And you know what? This stuff really and truly delivers. It's formulated with a blend of beeswax, oils and my fave ingredient, the one and only shea butter, to make lips feel super soft. It's even got Vitamin E and cucumber extract for extra moisturization and conditioning! I love that it goes on smoothly and isn't waxy, and that it lasts for hours without the need for reapplication.

Not only that, but it's a great way to get your fix of honeydew every day. I'm a huge fan of the juicy fruit, so the fact that this balm tastes and smells just like the green goodness really makes my mouth water.

Best of all? It's only $3.69 at drugstore.com. How can you beat that?

Read More...

Beauty Deals: Free Estee Lauder Eye Duo

Want some free Estee Lauder products? Well, today is your lucky day ... because you can get two fabulous Estee Lauder products absolutely free with any $50 purchase! You'll get the following two products:

Double-Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara
Eyeshadow Compact with Estee Lauder Signature Eyeshadow in Ginger Duo and Pure Gold Eyeshadow in Sand Box and Cinnamon

Just head to esteelauder.com to take advantage of this offer. But you'd better hurry, because this deal expires on February 27 at 11:59pm EST. Happy shopping!

Read More...

Two-For Tuesdays: Pantene Pro-V Extra Straight Shampoo and Conditioner

I have an obsession with Pantene hair. I try everything to achieve it. I blow dry, I flat iron, I use shine serums, I use deep conditioning treatments ... but nothing ever makes my hair look like it does in the Pantene commercials. So -- here's a novel idea -- I decided to actually try the Pantene products that are supposed to give you super straight and shiny locks, the Pantene Pro-V Extra Straight Shampoo and Conditioner.

And guess what? THEY WORKED. Ever since switching to these babies, my locks are so straight and shiny, I can't help but admire them every time I pass a mirror. (Okay, so maybe I find excuses to stand in front of one and admire them.) Each product is formulated with tons of vitamins to replenish moisture and really make hair gleam.

I honestly have never received so many compliments on my tresses until I started using this shampoo and conditioner. It's truly unbelievable. And the best part is, they're each under $10 at your local drugstore! Just head to pantene.com to find the one closest to you. Trust me -- your hair will be shinier, smoother and straighter than ever before.

I just know Pantene is going to come knocking for me to do their next commercial. I can feel it.

Read More...

Steal the Look: Miley Cyrus at the 81st Annual Academy Awards

Miley Cyrus really looked beautiful on the red carpet at the 81st Annual Academy Awards. She looked sophisticated and elegant but still very age-appropriate. Maybe this is a new trend she's sticking with? Makeup artist Mai Quynh was on hand to explain how she created Miley's radiant makeup. "Miley’s dress was an ombre princess inspired dress with a lot of detail, so we wanted to keep her makeup soft," she said.

Eyes:
Sweep mark I-Mark Custom Pick Eyeshadow in Latte on the base of the eyelid. Then blend mark I-Mark Custom Pick Eyeshadow in Espresso lightly in the creases and smudge underneath as a liner. Finish by sweeping two coats of mark Make It Big Lash Plumping Mascara in Raven onto your lashes.

Face:
mark Good Glowing Custom Pick Powder Blush in Golden Glo and Star Glo

Lips:
mark Dew Drenched Moisturlicous Lip Color in Mist

Read More...

Steal the Look: Angelina Jolie at the 81st Annual Academy Awards

Big hair was the order of the day for Angelina Jolie at the 81st Annual Academy Awards. An elegant half-up, half-down 'do was accented not only with beautiful emerald teardrop earrings but a high pouf as well. Hairstylist David Babaii lets us in on his styling secrets.

"To achieve this romantic cascade of curls, I sprayed her entire head with David Babaii for WildAid Bohemian Beach Spray and scrunched it into the hair," Babaii said. "This gives just the right texture and hold."



"Next, I dried her hair by dividing her tresses into 3 sections: top, sides and back, leaving the nape area free," Babaii said. Take small sections at the nape and use the David Babaii for WildAid Blow Dryer with the nozzle attachment and finish the drying process with a large round brush to smooth hair straight. Spray David Babaii for WildAid Volcanic Ash Root Amplifier from the crown to the roots and down the hair shaft. Then dry this section with a jumbo round brush to add lift and volume.

Once dry, section the hair again using the same process used for blowdrying. Use the David Babaii for WildAid Styling Iron to create "ribbon curls" by wrapping small V-shaped sections around and inside the styling iron close to the scalp area. Pull the iron down (similar to curling ribbon). After curling the entire head, smooth some of the curls with a brush while leaving some intact.

Back-brush the hair at the scalp and spray some additional Volcanic Ash Root Amplifier before gently smoothing the surface so as not to remove too much of the back-brushing.



To create Angelina's half-up, half-down look, brush the sides up and back and secure with pins. To complete the back, run your fingers up several curls to create volume and variations in texture. Spritz locks with David Babaii for WildAid Mise en Plis Light Styling Spray to hold them in place.

Read More...

Steal the Look: Natalie Portman at the 81st Annual Academy Awards

Hollywood starlet Natalie Portman looked ever so beautiful on the red carpet at the 81st Annual Academy Awards. Her intricately ruched and draped pink gown just looked gorgeous set against glowing skin, the requisite smoky eye and a daring black mani. But it was the hair that really caught people's attention, as her locks were swept into an intricate updo and pinned with a sparkling jeweled clip. Hairstylist Kevin Mancuso, Creative Director for Nexxus Salon Hair Care, explains how to get the look.



1) Apply a volumizing styler like Nexxus Root Exxtend Volumizing Root Lifter to the roots to add body into the hair.

2) Distribute a medium-hold mousse like Nexxus Mousse Plus Volumizing Foam Styler throughout hair to and maintain and support the structure of the style.

3) Blowdry hair with a large round brush, concentrating on the ends to smooth the hair.

4) After drying, use a medium-sized curling iron throughout the hair to create uneven waves and set the shape around the face. Once curled, create a side part and pull hair back and away from the face.

5) Take various sized sections of the curled hair and twist and pin back to create the updo.



6) Insert an elegant, decorative pin above the updo to draw attention to the intricate details of the style.

7) Finish look with a lightweight hairspray like Nexxus Comb Thru Natural Hold Design and Finishing Mist to help secure the style.

Read More...