A/W 2012/13 Trends - Brown Smokey Eye

The black smokey eye is pretty much a staple for Autumn and Winter, but this year black kohl takes a backseat and brown becomes the center of a attention. Seen at Burberry, Blumarine, and Givenchy.




As per usual, Pat McGrath (love her) was ubiquitous during the A/W 2012 collections. At Givenchy, her take on the brown smokey eye was delicious and rich.  To achieve this eye look I recommend using bronze and chocolate colours such as:

• Bobbie Brown  Cream Shadow - Beach Bronze
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow- Smog
• MAC Eye Pencil - Coffee
• Bourjois Metallic Eyeliner - 52 Brun Inoxydable
• MAC Eyeshadow - Handwritten
• MAC Eyeshadow - Brun



Backstage at Burberry A/W 2012/13

Image from vogue.com.au

At Burberry, head Makeup Artist, Wendy Rowe created a beautiful country-meets-city chic. It is an an elegant wearable look for day or night. It definitely aligns with the Burberry aesthetic.  To re-create this smokey look, use colours that are taupe and more cooler medium browns, such as:

• Maybelline Color Tattoo - Tough as Taupe
• MAC Eyeshadow - Concrete
• MAC Eyeshadow - Copperplate
• MAC Eyeliner - Coffee

I will be posting pictures and filming videos regarding how to make these runway trends work for real life.





Using Tough as Taupe, MAC - Concrete,Stubborn Brown, Brun



Can't wait to try them both.

xo Megs





Loving Now: Opulash Optimum Black

Let me preface this by writing that I am not a MAC snob, I am an equal opportunity makeup junkie. So when I talk about MAC, I am coming from a honest place. MAC  is known for many things - Viva Glam, lipsticks, eye shadows, etc. However, for me, MAC mascaras have been meh. They are either too flaky, too wet, or smudge like I slept in my makeup. Until now........








MAC Opulash Optimum Black

For those girls/guys who have oily lids, Opulash Optimum Black contains kaolin clay, which is known to absorb oil. It keeps my curl, lengthens, adds volume and is the blackest black. Taking it off is a breeze and it is the only one I have tried that I haven't thrown out after 6 weeks due to it drying out.



The down and dirty:

• Brush- teddy bear
• Formula - slightly wet/dry
• Effect - volumes, lengthens and curls
• Price - $19 cdn.

Available at MAC stores

Makeup Products/Companies that Deserve More Lovin'

When reading blogs and looking on YouTube, there are some products that are reviewed and hyped up over and over again. Yes, I am talking to you Naked Palette, Revlon Lip Butters, and Maybelline Tattoo cream shadows..... and yes, I succumbed to some of the much deserved hype. But what about the other little products that just want to be liked?

I decided to look to my own ridiculous amount of makeup and pump up some underrated products:

Clarins



Clarins Rouge Prodige

First of all, Clarins is more known for their skin care. However, their makeup line is beautiful. I have had the pleasure of using many of their products and they have some of the best foundations out there. However, I want to talk about their lipstick -the Rouge Prodige lipsticks to be exact. They are hydrating, well pigmented and on trend. Worth looking into.


Shiseido




Shiseido blush

Shiseido.... Again, known more their skin line then anything else, but this Japanese company does know how to work it. Dick Page, has done an amazing job with their makeup range. I particularly love their Luminizing Satin Face Colour blushes.Awesome lasting power, blending ability and pigmentation.


Lancome



Lancome Colour Design

This is a brand known for its rose and luxury skin care. While, I have underwhelming opinions regarding some of their products, I adore their Colour Design eyeshadow. There are some amazing, unique colours and finishes - matte, lustre, shimmer, metallic, and intense.  The pigmentation, blend-ability, and lasting power are incredible.


Fairy Drops Scandal Queen Mascara





Fairy Drops Scandal Queen

Now this might not be for everyone as its formulation is wetter than most and pricier than some. However, this little gem of a mascara made my already-lengthy eyelashes long, thick, dark and curled. I never had raccoon eyes by the end of the day nor was it hard to remove. Love the brush.



SkinCeuticals



SkinCeuticals SPF 50

Their Physical Fusion UV defense SPF 50 sunscreen is amazing. It is a physical sunscreen that has a slight tint to it. It doesn't make your skin oily and you don't get that grey-zombie looking face. Bonus!

Bourjois

Bourjois 3D Effects Lip Gloss

We all know about their blushes and their baked eye shadows, but their 3D effects lip gloss is just as good if not better than the other two products. There are great neutral shades, without the stick factor. They hydrate and make my lips look incredibly shiny.  Plus they smell like Swedish berries.








More to come :)

xo Megs

A/W 2012/13 Trends - Deep Hued Lips

The Autumn/Winter collections this year were not just about the garments. Whilst at most shows, the makeup was graphic and bold, others had the simplicity of a poignant, groomed brow with little else.

This will be the first in a series of looking at the Autumn/Winter makeup trends. I have to say, that researching the upcoming collections made me giddy and I can't wait to try them out.

The Deep Hued Lip

The first of  the series will look at the slightly Gothic, edgy, and mysterious deep hued/ berry stained lip. The keys to pulling this off is finding the right shade for you and pinch of colour on the cheek that's within the same colour family.




Camilla Belle at the Met Gala 2012



Viktor and Rolf A/W '12 backstage makeup

Here are some of my picks:

MAC Sheen Supreme- Good to be Bad- sheer, creamy deep plum
Chanel - Rouge Noir - deep, blackened purple.
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick- Violet Frenzy - sheer deep violet
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick - Blackest Cherry- rich deep red
Laura Mercier - Black Orchid - sheer plum
Cover Girl Lip Perfection- Euphoria- rich dark plum
Clinique Almost Lipstick- Black Honey - sheer deep reddish brown



L-R  Laura Mericier Black Orchid, MAC Sheen Supreme Good to be Bad, Chanel Rouge Noir

The red lipstick

It is just a colour of lipstick........ or is it?

Okay, I have found that some people are "red lipstick" personalities and can pull off a red lip like no body's business. Look at Gwen Stefani, she is a fierce red lip girl. And Paloma Picasso is a striking beauty that makes the red lip her own.  Me, well I have toyed with  the red lip for years. Always thinking it was the shade,i.e., not blue based enough, too blue-based, etc. . Let's face it, wearing the iconic red lip is bold and takes confidence. It also draws attention to your mouth and directly what you have to say, thus ultimately you.

For women, makeup is very powerful. One swipe of a colour can transform and allow us to see ourselves differently. Red lips add instant glamour that every woman wants. Even the economy can sometimes be explained as a"lipstick economy",where women still want luxury, i.e., lipstick, even when times are financially tough.

Wearing the red lip also has a primitive and a more deep rooted meaning. Anthropologists, look at the red lip as sensual and a mating signal for the opposite sex. I think we can fully appreciate what the "red lip" is suppose to emulate

With all of that said, I have compiled some beautiful reds - some bold and some that are for us girls not wanting to retouch our lips all the time:

Chanel- Paris 22- blue-based cherry red
MAC - Russian Red- blue-based deep red
MAC Viva Glam Cindy- sheer pinky-red
L'oreal Colour Riche - British Red - classic warm red
Burberry- No.09 - pinky-red
Revlon Lip Butter- Candy apple -sheer warm red
Rimmel Kate Moss 01- coral red.




L- R Burberry No.9, Chanel Paris, MAC Viva Glam Cindi, MAC Russian Red

I know there are more out there. Let me know if you have a beautiful red to share.