Diane Kruger's Scarlet Lips at the Inglourious Basterds Berlin Premiere

Growing up, I always heard that one must never mix red and pink for fear of clashing the two colors. Guess Diane Kruger has shown that rules were made to be broken because she looked absolutely stunning in a pale pink dress and creamy, scarlet lips.


I'm not sure I could ever pull off a shade like that, but it so beautiful, I might have to try one day (or, likely night). Any guesses on what the shade is? I'm inclined to think its a Chanel, since the woman does love her Chanel - maybe Chanel Lip Colour in Lover?

Makeup Artist Kay Montano on Thandie Newton's Red Carpet Look

Some of you ladies know what a huge fan I am of Thandie Newton's beauty looks - no matter what the event, she just glows! And so I was excited to find this fairly simple video of Thandie's makeup artist, Kay Montano, explaining how to get Thandie's red carpet look from the premiere of "W." The premiere was a while ago but the look is so classic and pretty natural - you can replicate it in any season.

Kay used the following products to get Thandie's look:

Eyes: Chanel Ombre d'Eau Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow in Seashore, Chanel Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eyeshadow in Smokey Eyes, Chanel Ecriture de Chanel Automatic Liquid Eyeliner in Noir, Exceptionnel de Chanel Mascara in Smoky Noir

Lips: Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in Ming

Deepika Padukone's Side Braided Style

I spotted this super cute hair style on Deepika today!! Its one of the many styles from an dance item number she is doing for an upcoming film.


It looks like her hair was given a deep part, then very loosely french braided with chunks of hair on both sides of the part, then braided or twisted together to the end and finally wrapped with a yellow ribbon. Now its not the type of style you'd wear to work obviously but its a nice change from the standard ponytail on the weekend, out shopping or to the beach.

The only thing I think I would change to this style would be to have wrapped in metallic (gold, silver or bronze) cord or ribbon rather than the yellow - its a little too matchy matchy for my taste, but oh well, I suppose its for a Bollywood film.

Sienna Miller's Mussed Up Ponytail at the GI Joe Premiere

Sometimes Hollywood beauty can be annoying because its too perfect...sometimes you gotta love British beauty for exactly the opposite reason - British ladies like Kate Moss, Thandie Newton and Sienna Miller have an edginess and uniqueness all their own.

I love this ponytail Sienna wore at the GI Joe premiere. I love the volume on top, sleekness on the side and the fact that it looks like she didn't try too hard.

My hairstyling skills are subpar when it comes to putting my hair up....it looks like she might have pinned up some of the hair on the crown but I couldn't find a pic of the back. Anyone have any clue how she did this?!

Lemon Juice - a DIY Remedy for Blemishes

If you have regular blemishes, you know how frustrating it is to try to figure out what is causing these nasty little spots. Lately, with my skin, its not regular pimples that have been appearing...its these tiny little whitehead types that are making the surface of my skin less than ideal. And because these are not regular pimples, my usual zit zapper medicine is not as effective on these bumps. Luckily, I figured out a great skin solution and best of all, its costs practically nothing!! What is it?


Lemon juice. That's it, just a few drops of lemon juice, nothing else.

I had read in passing that the citric acid of lemon juice, applied topically, has properties that to clear up stubborn blemishes. I imagine that citric acid of lemon juice is somewhat like alpha hydroxy acids in sloughing off dead skin cells. I applied the lemon juice with my fingers (or alternatively you can do it with a cotton ball) and let sit for a few minutes. Then I applied my regular night cream on top. When I woke up the next morning, the bumps had cleared up and my skin was noticeably softer.

A few things you should know about applying lemon juice -

• It does have a slightly tingly and itchy feeling, so I let it sit for only a few minutes and then apply cream on top to soothe the skin.


• Don't apply it everyday - like an AHA, too much is not a good thing. I apply it once every 2 or 3 days.


• Don't apply it during the day as the citric acid will leave your skin very sensitive to the sunlight. Be sure to apply sunscreen the next day.


• Don't apply it next to open wounds or cuts - the acid will cause severe stinging! The same goes for really severe acne - the acid will just exacerbate the redness.


• It is best used on oily, blemish prone skin since the lemon juice tends to dry out the skin.

Gorgeous Two Toned Eyes at Luli Fama and Cia Maritima 2010 Swim

Check out these gorgeous, two-toned eye looks at the Mercedes Benz Swim 2010 fashion shows that were in Miami last week (yeah, I had no idea there was a whole fashion week dedicated to swimwear either). The NARS Eye Shadow Duos and L'Oreal HIP Eye Shadow Duos are pretty awesome for the two toned look as they have bright, contrasting colors in interesting combinations.

At the Luli Fama show, models sported a shimmery dark purple shadow on the upper eyelids and an electric blue lining the bottom lashes. Try NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Demon Lover for this striking look that is perfect for nighttime.

Then, there is the teal-on-top, lime green-on-the-bottom eyes at the Cia Maritima show. I normally don't do my eyes up in such bright, peacocky colors but this I love!! Luckily, we have (hopefully) several more weeks of summer to try this pretty look out!

It looks pretty simple to do as well. The teal color is used to line the top lashline and is winged out. Then the lime green shade is dabbed along the lower lashline. Try the L'Oreal HIP Bright Eye Shadow Duos in Riotous - the darker color is a little duller than the teal, but overall the shadow will work.

Neutrogena Light Night Cream

In an attempt to align my spending habits with the rest of the world in this unending rec-freaking-ession, I decided to give up my beloved Shiseido day and night moisturizers. I just realized that I have never actually blogged about these Shiseido products and well, I feel too guilty too blog about them now because they are so expensive, so let's just move on, shall we?

Anyways, its a HUGE deal for me to give up Shiseido because I've been using those moisturizers for more than a decade (i.e. since I was in my late teens). When I decided I needed to switch to a drugstore brand, I didn't know where to start...so I went back to Neutrogena, i.e. the brand I used through most of my teen years before I started using Shiseido.


While I'm generally attracted to flashy, shiny packaging, I ended up choosing the Neutrogena Light Night Cream as my night moisturizer, which is housed in a very plain white and blue container. Well, don't judge a book by its cover!

The cream is certainly light, like its name, somewhat fluffy, but not so light that I find myself applying it in layers so that my face is hydrated. Only one small dollop is all that it takes to make my face look nice and smooth. Its perfect in the summer because it moisturizes but I have never woken up with a greasy face. The plain packaging has also grown on me - its like the simple creams that your mom or grandma used to use back in the day.

The Light Night Cream doesn't claim to brighten, get rid of wrinkles, walk your dog, do your dishes or anything else except be a good night cream. Its no frills, simple approach is actually kind of refreshing and best of all it works.

Pros

• Light and airy texture
• Smooth application
• Non-greasy effect
• Doesn't clog pores
• Retails for approximately $13

Cons

• Seriously, none that I can think of, unless you like fancier looking packaging

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Daily Nourishment Leave-In Conditioner

Um, yeah, its been a while since my last post. I don't have an excuse except for the fact that I needed a break. I just haven't been home that much to blog but I take that as a sign that I am enjoying the summer, right?!

Having been out and about in this summer heat has actually allowed me to put some beauty products to the test. Especially hair products that claim to moisturize and control frizz.

For example, after some success with Frizz Ease Creme Serum Overnight Repair Formula, I had high hopes for John Frieda's Frizz Daily Nourishment Ease Leave-In Conditioner. I liked the idea of a conditioner in a spray bottle that I can use to touch up dry parts of my hair (like the ends) this summer when the heat and humidity begin to parch my tresses.


My grade? I can't say I loved this spray-on leave-in. In theory, it could be moisturizing. But when I spray it on dry hair and let it soak in, I end up getting patches of oiliness in my hair where I have applied the product. I don't know, maybe I am not spraying from far enough?!

I had better luck with this product when I used it as a post-shower detangler. When my hair was towel dried and damp, I sprayed it on and combed it through with nary a tangle. It was a nice effect, but just not what I was looking for in a product. As a result, I recommend this product for women with fine hair that don't need help in the frizz department but could use a light detangler. If you have thick, coarse hair like mine, this product is too light for us and just won't cut the frizz.

Pros

• Spray on application so don't worry have to getting hands messy
• Pleasant scent
• Great detangler
• Good for thin or fine hair
• Doesn't weigh hair down
• Good deal at around $6

Cons

• Inconsistent application
• Does little to battle frizz and poufiness once hair is dry
• Bad for thick/coarse hair

Misleading and Just Stupid: Priyanka's Chopra's Sunsilk "Thick and Long" TV Commercial

Oy vey. I came across this TV commercial for Sunsilk "Thick & Long" hair products starring Priyanka Chopra today and the ad just irked me beyond belief! I always used to roll my eyes at the Pantene Pro-V hair commercials where the models' hair was digitized to perfection but the Sunsilk commercial is even more stupid, in my opinion.

Not only does the hair in the commercial look totally fake, but Priyanka Chopra doesn't even have really long, really jet black, really silky pin straight hair like that! And she hasn't had that kind of for years!! Instead, P.C. wears her hair dyed brown, sort of wavy and I can tell her hair type is somewhat thick and coarse, like many desi women.



Talk about misleading advertising. My mom once saw a similar hair commercial starring Lara Dutta and kept blabbing about how beautiful her hair was. Rolled eyes then, roll my eyes now. Yeah, maybe in some alternate universe I will get hair like that JUST from using shampoo and conditioner!! - Does Sunsilk really think that adverts like this are the way to go? Wouldn't a more realistic ad starring Priyanka with her normal, everyday hair sell products as well?

Watch the video for yourself - and let me know what you think!

Steal the Look: Aishwarya Rai at the 2009 IIFA Awards

Last breakdown in the 2009 IIFA series...Miss Rai. I've been pretty impressed with the makeup looks of the Bollywood set - on the whole, the ladies looked quite gorgeous!! At the IIFA, Ash went for glossy apricot lips with a hint of pink on the lids to tie the look together. Like Bips, Ash accentuated her eye shape with a classic cat eye.

To get the look:

Eyes: Apply a champagne cream shadow such as MAC Shadestick in Beije-ing all over the lids from lashline to brows. After the cream shadow has set, apply a shimmery seashell pink shadow such as MAC Shadow in Expensive Pink to the crease, following the contour of the eye. Apply a dark gray pencil liner along both upper and lower lashline. Flick the outer corners of the liner toward the end of the brows for the cat eye look. Finish with mascara.

Cheeks: Apply a very light dusting of coral blush such as Bobbi Brown Shimmer Blush in Coral so as not to compete with the color on the eyes and lips.

Lips: Apply an apricot cream gloss such as Revlon Cream Gloss in Peachy Sheen to the lips.

Steal the Look: Mughda Godse at the IIFA Awards 2009

Mughda Godse brightened up her makeup at the 2009 IIFA Awards with sea blue shadows and coral cheeks and lips. While I'm not a fan of makeup that is too bright or garish, I think Mughda looks quite pretty here.

Get the look:

Eyes: Apply an eyelid primer such as Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion all over the eyelids. Apply a shimmery, bright ocean blue shadow such as MAC Eye Shadow in Freshwater on eyelids from the upper lashline until the crease. Apply a navy shadow such as MAC Eye Shadow in Deep Truth in the crease and along the lower lashline. Apply a black eye pencil to line upper lashline and lower waterline. Finish with black mascara.

Cheeks: Brush a coral toned blush such as MAC Blush in Melba from apples of the cheeks to the ears.

Lips: Apply a nude lip liner such as MAC Lip Pencil in Subculture to the lips. Then apply a coral toned cream lipstick such as MAC Lipstick in Ravishing to the lips.

MAC Euristocrats II Collection Review

The MAC Euristocrats II Collection, which hit stores this week, is a collection of seven lipsticks, seven Dazzleglasses and four lip pencils - just lips!!


My recommendations from the collection are:

• Milan Mode lipstick -a rosy pink shade. I initially dismissed this as just another pink and didn't expect to like it so much. However, the pigmentation was great, texture was smooth and the color brightened up my face immediately.
  
• London Life lipstick - a slightly dark rasperry shade. It is a great color for dark skin tones. Not an eye popping shade but one that works equally well for work during the day and a dinner date at night.


• Naked Paris lipstick - a plummy brown. This is a nice "nude" for dark skin toned ladies whose lips already have some pigmentation. On me, it was a "my lips but better" look. Very natural look.


• Euro Beat Dazzleglass - a very shimmery peach. The color goes on very sheer for a hint of peach on the lips.


• Rue d'Rouge Dazzleglass - a gorgeous true red shade. This was my favorite Dazzleglass shade of the collection. Without a doubt, it looks gorgeous on tan skin tones. If you love reds, you have to get this!

Now if you can ONLY get one or two items from the collection, my favorites of the collection are the Milan Mode lipstick and the Rue d'Rouge Dazzleglass. Definitely look out for this collection - its worth a check!!

Steal the Look: Sonam Kapoor at the 2009 IIFA Awards

Sonam Kapoor is all over the map these days - it seems like there's not a month that doesn't go by where Sonam isn't on some magazine cover, promoting a movie or in the Bollywood gossip columns. Seems like she's slowly but surely dethroning Deepika Padukone as the reigning princess of Bollywood!!

Sonam is one of my personal favorites of all the Bollywood beauties when it comes to fashion and beauty. In my opinion, she has pretty good taste in both fashion and beauty and is less likely than some actresses to show up at events wearing a dress that resembles drapery. At the 2009 IIFA Awards, Sonam tries out a green smoky eye which ends up looking gorgeous and not hideous.

To get the look:

Eyes: Apply a shimmery green eye shadow such as MAC Shadow in Swimming from lashline to crease. Apply a matte black shadow such as MAC Shadow in Carbon in the crease of the lids and in a thick line along the upper lashline using a wet liner brush - extend line out ever so slightly. Apply a black kohl pencil such as MAC Kohl Pencil in Smolder along the upper lashline and in the lower waterline. Finish with black mascara.

Cheeks: Apply a slightly shimmery bronzer such as Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzer in Bali Brown to cheeks and blend well. Add a pop of any highlighting powder to add dimension.

Lips: Apply a light slick of peachy coral lip gloss such as Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss Compact in Coral Pink to the lips.

Steal the Look: Lara Dutta at the 2009 IIFA Awards

Lara Dutta doesn't often get accolades for her acting ability but when it comes to fashion and beauty, the star usually gets it right. For the IIFA awards, Dutta combined shimmery gray eyes with mauvey pink lips and cheeks.


To get the look:

Eyes: Apply a shimmery gray shadow such MAC Eye Shadow in Silverthorn all over the lids up until the crease. Apply a black pencil liner such as Clinique Kohl Shaper in Black Kohl into the top and bottom lashes. Finish with black mascara.

Cheeks: Apply a mauve pink blush such as MAC Blush in Breath of Plum to the cheekbones. Apply a shimmery highlighter such Benefit High Beam to the tops of the cheekbones for a bit of sparkle.

Lips: Apply a shimmery mauve pink lip gloss such as MAC Cosmetics Lustreglass in Star Nova to the lips.

Steal the Look: Priyanka Chopra at the 2009 IIFA Awards

For those of you that prefer subtle makeup to the smoky, smoldering look, this breakdown of Priyanka Chopra's makeup is for you! If Bipasha Basu is the Bollywood Queen of Smolder and Sizzle, then Priyanka is Bollywood's Girl Next Door. Priyanka's makeup always look perfectly polished, never tarty.

Steal the Look:

Eyes: Blend a shimmery mushroom brown shadow such as MAC Eye Shadow in Cork all over the lids into the crease. Apply the same shadow along the lower lashes. Apply a champagne shadow such as MAC Eye Shadow in Orb to the browbone. Apply black liquid liner such as MAC Penultimate Eye Liner along the upper lashline. Apply black mascara to top and bottom lashes.

Cheeks: Apply a rosy pink blush such as MAC Powder Blush in Ambering Rose to the cheeks.

Lips: Apply a creamy rose pink lipstick such as MAC Lipstick in Sophisto to the lips.

Steal the Look: Bipasha Basu at the 2009 IIFA Awards

I don't have satellite TV so I didn't get to catch the 2009 IIFA Awards this past weekend...from the still photos, though, it appears there was plenty of glamour, fashion, dancing and other Bollywood flashiness going on!!

First up, Bipasha Basu looks gorgeous as usual with a contoured cat eye and coral peach lips. I didn't love her blue outfit but this isn't a fashion blog, now is it? So let's continue with the breakdown!

To get the look:

Eyes: Apply a shimmery champagne shadow such MAC Eye Shadow in Femmi Fi from lashes to the browbones. Apply a matte brown shadow such as MAC Eye Shadow in Cork in the crease from inner corner to outer corner. Apply a thick black liner such as Benefit Bad Gal Eye Liner on both top lashes and bottom lashes (including the lower waterline). Using a stiff liner brush, run the brush along the black liner to straighten out the line and flick up the color at the outer corners. Finish with black mascara.

Cheeks and Face: Apply a peachy nude blush such as MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul to contour the cheekbones. Apply a gold powder highlighter such as MAC High-Light Powder in Golden Nectar on top of the cheekbones and blend with the blush. This is a very matte look so be sure to finish your face with a loose matte face powder.

Lips: Line lips with a nude toned liner such as MAC Lip Pencil in Oak. Fill in lips with a peachy coral lip gloss such as MAC Lip Glass in Lychee Luxe.


I saw this Getty photo of Bipasha and had to post it. Doesn't she look pretty in it? Stay tuned for breakdowns for Priyanka, Ash and Mughda!!

Photos via Santabanta and Getty Images

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Lip Gloss in Rose Sugar

Did you ladies get anything from the online Bobbi Brown sale last week?! One of the things I picked up was the Shimmer Lip Gloss in Rose Sugar.


Rose Sugar is a super, super shiny gloss in a sheer silvery pink tone. The shimmer is fine so you don't have to worry that your lips resemble a disco ball. As for the color, the website describes Rose Sugar as a rosy pink but to me, it comes out mostly clear with a hint of color. It probably looks a little more rosy on fairer skin tones.

I have mixed views on the lip gloss. On the one hand, I heart how super shiny the gloss is. I can practically see my reflection when I put it on!! I do, however, wish the color was a teeny more pigmented, more pink and then I'd be sold. And the one thing that annoys me about the gloss is how sticky it is - living in the Windy City, I can't walk more than a block with half my hair sticking to my lips!!

Here's a lip swatch - what do ya think?


Pros:

• Super shiny
• Nice, neutral shade for summer
• Tackiness helps the gloss stay on longer than most glosses
• Sophisticated shimmer

Cons:

• Tiny tube compared to a lot of other department store lip glosses
• Not much pigmentation compared to lip glosses by MAC or Dior
• Really tacky gloss - my hair kept sticking to my lips!!
• Not a steal at $20

25% Off MAC Cosmetics!!!

Here's a little treat for you ladies this week!! I know a lot of you are huge MAC fans and from June 16th to 18th, you can get 25% of all MAC Cosmetics online!!! Just enter SUMO at the checkout.

Now here's a little hint - sometimes if you let your local Nordstroms know about a makeup sale like this one at MAC, they will honor the sale and give you the discount themselves. I did this for Bobbi Brown's sale last week, got the 25% off and didn't have to worry about paying extra for shipping!!

Cover Girl Perfect Blend Eye Liner

I generally like switching from black eye pencils to dark brown in warmer months so I can have definition around the eyes without a harsh look. I decided to bust out my MAC addiction and explore the eye pencil offerings of some drugstore brands. I have tried L'Oreal's Le Grand Kohl before, which I know and love, but seeing as Cover Girl is making a mark these days with its Lip Stains and other products developed by Pat McGrath, I thought I'd see what CG had to offer.



I picked up the Cover Girl Perfect Blend Eye Liner in Black Brown, a dark chocolately brown. On one side of the pencil is the actual color and on the other side is a sponge tip for blending. The pencil goes on very smoothly with little dragging. The color is perfect and no matter how much I layer on, my eyes don't look harsh or tired. The sponge tip is awesome if you apply liner less than precisely as you can just use the tip to soften the line and straighten it out.

The one downside is durability - perhaps because of the smooth texture, the color tends to fade away after a couple of hours so I tend to reapply if I wear the CG Liner to work and need to go to an after work event.

Pros:

• Soft texture makes for smooth application
• Sponge tip including for blending
• Cheapo eye pencil at around $5, great for the girl that runs out of eye pencils practically every month (me!)!

Cons:

• Gets slightly smudgy after a while (similar to MAC Eye Kohls, in fact)
• Only lasts a couple of hours

MAC Just a Pinch Gel Blush

I'm on a roll when it comes to lip and cheek stains this spring/summer. First it was the Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tint that I reviewed last week and now it is MAC's Just a Pinch Gel Blush.

The Just a Pinch Gel Blush is part of the Rose Romance Collection. It is a gel blush housed in a tiny pot that you can either dip your finger into or dip a brush into. The color can be described as a bright, juicy cherry red color!! But if you're afraid of brights, don't let that stop you from buying this great product. Although it is pigmented, I haven't once applied it and ended up looking like a clown. Instead, it adds a nice bright flush to the cheeks and really wakes up my skin.

The MAC makeup artist used a stippling blush to apply the blush to my cheeks but I prefer using my fingers. Using fingers is easier to control the amount of product and to blend the product than a brush. I just stick my middle finger in (remember to wash your hands!), rub a little product on, and tap tap tap the gel blush onto my cheeks and blend.

So how does MAC Just a Pinch Gel Blush compare to the Bobbi Brown Tint, you ask? They are both tints but a little different. Go for the MAC cheek stain if you want your blush to be a brighter and more noticeable or if you really need to wake up your face in the mornings, like I do! The BB Tint is more suitable for a natural, working out type flush and the color Blackberry as I mentioned is a little more sophisticated and suitable for night than the bright cherry of Just a Pinch.

Pros:

• Gel texture is extremely smooth and blendable
• Very pigmented so a little goes a long way
• Love, love, love the bright cherry color
• Even looks nice on the lips as a lip stain
• Instantly brightens up the face

Cons:

• Ain't cheap at $19.50
• Like most cheek stains, it only lasts a few hours before you need to reapply although I think it lasts a little longer than the BB Tint due to greater pigmentation
• A little messier since it comes in a pot as opposed to a stick or pen.

L'Oreal EverPure Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner

L'Oreal jumped on the "green" bandwagon and introduced its EverPure Sulfate-Free Color Care System recently. The system is targeted at color treated hair which requires special care. The shampoos and conditioners don't have sulfates, contain natural botanicals and are 100% vegan. The line is meant to prevent color-stripping and dryness that occurs with sulfates. The EverPure line comes in Moisture, Smooth and Volume for varying hair types.

Now, I've never colored my hair but I wanted to try the Moisture line to see if it had any effect on the hydration in my curly, moisture-challenged hair. I was a bit surprised to see that the shampoo still lathers even though the sulfates have been removed. The ingredients that cause the lather are apparently derived from plant oils (such as coconut and palm oils).

The Moisture shampoo cleanses well, doesn't dry my hair out and I like the gel-like consistency. The thick conditioner moisturizes quite well - the texture reminds me of conditioners from higher-end lines. While I wouldn't say it was the most phenomenal haircare I've tried, it certainly does its job.

Since my hair isn't colored, I couldn't tell you personally whether it preserved hair color well but from the online reviews, it seems as though women really like it for color-treated hair.

Pros:

• Very thick, moisturizing conditioner - texture of a body butter
• Shampoo till lathers without the sulfates
• Conditioner rinses away without leaving any heaviness or residue
• One of the few hair lines without sulfates
• Price is right at about $7 each

Cons:

• For those that are sensitive to scent (like me), the shampoo has a slightly musky smell - a little too strong for my taste
• The term "pure" in the name is a little misleading - 99% of packaged shampoos or conditioners we buy are going to have some degree of chemicals

Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tint

Summer is the time to layer on sheer washes of color due to the intense heat and humidity. And cheek stains or tints are the way to go to add a hint of color instead of piling on the powder blush.

Bobbi Brown has come out with the Sheer Color Cheek Tint, a cute little twist-up tint that you can throw in your bag when you need to brighten up a bit. The tint comes in 6 colors - the best colors for darker skin tones are the Sheer Blackberry, a plummy pink, and Sheer Raspberry, a brighter mauve pink.

The Sheer Blackberry, in my opinion, is especially well suited for desi skin tones because it exactly mimics the flush you get from working out. The Sheer Blackberry also looked really pretty on my lips - sort of like a Clinique Black Honey color.

To apply, either dab it on the cheeks directly OR rub the color on fingers and then apply it on the cheeks.

I would have loved to provide a swatch on my cheeks but my camera is behaving badly - you'll just have to try it out on your own!

Pros:

• Dual purpose - can use it both on cheeks and lips!
• Very natural flush
• Sheer texture makes it difficult to screw up
• Bright, summer-ready colors

Cons:

• Slightly sticky
• Very small tube for $22 but I believe it will last a while
• Color doesn't last more than a few hours (but this is typical of stains or tints)
  

20% of Smashbox Cosmetics!!

Today and tomorrow (May 28th and 29th), Smashbox Cosmetics is having a 20% sale off of all of its cosmetics (except Curtain Call cosmetics and other cosmetics purchased via other offers). If you've never tried Smashbox and want to, here's your chance to get some discounted makeup!

Even though its not as hyped as other brands, I've found Smashbox Cosmetics to be completely wearable with some very pretty colors. I really liked the Fall 2008 Wicked Lovely Collection, especially the Sweet Lip gloss. Popular products include Photo Finish Foundation Primer and Lip Enhancing Glosses. Products that I have my eye on are the Double-Ended Eye Brightener and Cream Liners.

All you need to do to get the discount is enter the following code, FFSB9, when you purchase products through the Smashbox website.

Steal the Look: Aishwarya Rai at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival

Wow! So you ladies certainly had differing opinions on my last post on Angelina's makeup at Cannes - some of you were "eh" just like me while others couldn't disagree more and loved her makeup!! Well, I love a little debate so keep the comments coming, whatever your view! : )

I'm guessing most of you, though, will like the steely, smoky gray eye look that Aishwarya pulled off during one her days at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Reader "a" requested this look and I have to agree, her makeup looks very pretty. I also like the sleek low ponytail, a departure from her usual long waves.

To get the look:

Eyes: Pat on a concealer all around eyes to even out skin tone. Line the upper lashline and lower waterline with a black pencil like MAC Eye Pencil in Ebony (you'll go over the line again later to intensify). Sweep a shimmery mid-tone silver shadow such as MAC Eye Shadow in Silverthorn all over lids up until the crease. Apply a bit of silver shadow along the lower lashline. Line the upper lashline and lower waterline again with black kohl pencil. Go over the upper lashline with black liquid liner such as MAC Liquid Liner in Boot Black. Apply tons of black mascara to make eyes pop.

Cheeks: Sweep a dusty rose blush such as NARS Blush in Mata Hari from apples of the cheeks to the ear. Blend well.

Lips: Apply a silvery pink lip gloss such as MAC Lustreglass in Flusterose to the lips.

I Hate Angelina Jolie's Cannes Makeup!!!

I know, "hate" is such a strong word but I seriously dislike Angelina Jolie's makeup at the Cannes screening of Inglorious Bastards. I realize that there are some people out there who rail at the fact that she usually wears same and simple makeup and a wardrobe of mostly black, but sometimes, you gotta stick with what works.

Its great to see Angie switch it up a bit with a bright pop of red lipstick but there's something that's not working for me here. Its not the lipstick color itself - its the red lipstick paired with a nude - pink dress (the colors of which do not seem to compliment each other), the red lipstick paired with a mostly sallow complexion and the red lipstick paired with a lighter hair color.

In general, I don't think the color of that dress is doing anything to brighten up her complexion. In fact, I think she would have looked amazing with the lip color if she wore an all black or white gown and kept her very dark hair. But there's something about this that just adds 10 years to her look - she appears tired, not vibrant.

If You're Shiny and You Know It, Blot Your Face!!

I've probably prayed for really, really hot weather about 3,000 times in the last four months of disgusting Chicago weather. And then it happens - the heat and humidity set in, you start sweating, your face becomes an oil slick and you want to destroy every photo taken of you with said oil slick. Even celebrities aren't immune from "shiny face" - check out Padma L.

At least its only Padma's forehead that is shiny - my pet peeve is a shiny nose!! Sometimes just cleansing and toning don't cut it in the summer. So here's how to enjoy the summer without feeling like you have a Crisco mask on:
Blotting Papers

When you're shiny and you know it, whip out some trusty blotting papers to reduce the reflection. There are a ton of brands of blotting papers out now so you don't have to spend a fortune on these disposable products. Simply take a sheet of paper and press to your forehead and nose. Whether or not you get glee from looking at the sheet afterwards to see how much oil you picked up is, well, up to you! Repeat with a clean sheet if necessary. The glamour factor with blotting papers though is probably a zero - its a little weird so keep the action in private areas such as a restroom rather than blotting in public.

1. Clean and Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets - 50 sheets for $5.29

2. Shu Uemura Blotting Paper - 40 sheets for $12

3. Shiseido Pureness Oil Control Blotting Paper - 100 sheets for $17

4. NYX Blotting Paper - 50 sheets for $3

5. Brown Paper Napkins - $0

The NYX blotting sheets are a bargain at $0.06 per sheet but if you prefer to go high end, the Shiseido sheets are $0.17 each and you get a 100 - most likely enough to last you the whole summer.

If you're a true recessionista, you may want to more about option #5. That's right, brown paper napkins double as blotting papers and I know a few people that swear by these, particularly the ones in Starbucks. And since there's a Starbucks on practically every corner of this country now, if you forget your regular blotting papers feel free to stop on by and steal some napkins to pretty yourself up.

Blotting Powder

Now if you're so oily that blotting papers aren't going to do anything but disintegrate once they touch your face, consider purchasing blotting powder. In my opinion, blotting powder isn't ideal because you're probably tacking on makeup on top of makeup which will give you a more matte look. However, if its a necessity, consider some of these options:

1. MAC Pressed Blotting Powder - $21.00

2. IMAN Perfect Response Oil Blotting Powder - $14.99

I've used and loved the MAC Pressed Blotting Powder. Its very light and somewhat translucent so you don't need a perfect skin tone match. And I never found it to clog my pores, only provide a light veil to stop the oilies.

25% Off Becca Cosmetics!!!

This recession/depression/repression (is it over yet??!!) is doing all of us ladies a favor by dragging down retail clothing prices but high end makeup costs never ever seem to budge, right? Well, today's your lucky day!!

Becca Cosmetics, which is known for its beautiful but natural makeup colors (think along the lines of Bobbi Brown rather than MAC if you've never tried the line), is having a 25% deal on its entire collection through the Daily Candy. Popular items from Becca include its Luminous Skin Color, Beach Tint and Glossy Lip Tint.

All you have to do is enter this code DCBECCA09 at checkout!

Happy shopping!

The Golden Girl is Baaack!

The Spring/Summer 2009 trend of the season is shine! Both silver and gold are now a girl's best friends. So, bring on the dazzle as you brighten your day with a little shimmer or should I say...a lot of shimmer.

To play up the metallic look, the makeup should be modest with a little pizzaz around the eyes. Try not to overdo it and check this look out! The bright eyes with copper, pewter and gold are all blended into the other, yet the lips are a subtle pale pink. Or I think just choosing one of these eye brightening colors that matches a tone of metallic you are wearing - shoes, dress, etc. will really 'Wow!' the crowd.

Eyes: Sweep the eyelid area with a cream shadow in a light, neutral color sparingly to add staying power for your metallics. Try Givenchy's Prismissime Mat & Glow - Sunny shades which has the perfect match for the bronze on the eyelid and gold on the browbone. This shadow compact also lets you blend a matte shadow with the metallic to tone it down if necessary. Then for the platinum punch add a little Heavy Metal shadow by Lorac's Multi-Platinum Palette to the inner corner of the eye extending up to the brow and add a little shimmer to the lower lid for balance. Then apply the Dreamy shadow to the outer corner, again extending to the brow. Finally apply Lancome's Defincils black mascara to upper and lower lashes to finish the eyes. These are all available at Sephora.com (http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P218907&categoryId=B70)
Lips: Try a pale pink or neutral color for the lips to really make sure the eyes steal the show. A great lipstick with a subtle shine is Sephora brand Rosy Mad which gives a soft pink shimmer to the lips or for a more matte look try Lorac's Babydoll cream lipstick.

Cheeks: The cheeks should have just a light wash of color looking as natural as possible. Laura Mercier's new Second Skin Cheek Color in Rose Petal fits just the bill for the summer heat.

Skin: Impeccable skin that again has a light hand and a matte finish is essential. Try DiorSkin AirFlash Spray Foundation in a shade that matches your skin tone.

Most importantly remember to have fun with metallics and play with some colors like metallic blues, greens and even pinks!