Holiday

Dazzlesphere Mini Gloss Kit in Coral Ornament

MAC Dazzlesphere! Coral Ornament is Peachy Keen!

I know… I know… the label on these little glosses from MAC Dazzlesphere! clearly read “coral”. I’m simply going to beg to differ, and posit that this adorable little sphere ornament is filled with four shades of universally flattering peach glosses ranging from a barely there super-sheer to a medium peach. If you’re planning to give the gift of gloss, selecting these go-with-any-skintone colors are a great pick. [Read more…] about Dazzlesphere Mini Gloss Kit in Coral Ornament

Dazzlesphere by MAC

MAC Dazzlesphere, beauty news, holiday 2011 makeup collection by mac — MAC DazzlesphereMAC Dazzlesphere Product Selection

Dazzlesphere by MAC
aka Another Holiday Makeup Collection My Kids Will Try To Steal

Click HERE to read about the MAC Dazzlesphere Collection.

The Best 100 Skin Care Products: Picked By A Pro!

Ok… this post is a wee bit late , but Dr. Brandith Irwin’s “top 100” skin care picks for the holidays is still interesting reading. After all, it isn’t every day you get to read a laundry list of the most effective skin care products, selected by a dermatologist!

So today, rather than post my own review, I’m going to simply point you in the direction of Dr. Irwin’s Top 100 Skin Care Products for the 2010 Holidays posted on her website, SkinTour.com.

For a wee sneak peek, some of Dr. Irwin’s selections were:
     •    Wrinkle Repair and Anti-Aging: SkinMedica’s Retinol Complex and SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
     •    Oil Control and Acne Care: Vivite Exfoliating Facial Cleanser and Solvere Acne Clearing Gel
     •    Sunscreens: Elta MD UV Daily SPF 40 Pump and Colorescience Powder Sunscreen
     •    Moisturizers: SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel Moisturizer and DDF Ultralight Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew
     •    Cleansers: Topix Citrix Antioxidant Cleanser and Vanicream Free & Clear Liquid Cleanser
     •    Eye Creams: SkinMedica TNS Night Eye Repair and Cellex-C Eye Contour Cream Plus
     •    Natural and Organic Products: Eminence Lemon Cleanser and Eminence Blueberry Soy Night Recovery Cream
     •    Body Care: Avene Akerat Body Lotion and Eminence Cranberry Pomegranate Sugar Scrub

Dr. Irwin is unusual among prominent dermatologists in that she has no financial ties to any line of skin care products or laser company. She does not sit on any boards, act as a spokesperson, accept any fees, or endorse any line of cosmetics. She is a board certified dermatologist who practices in Seattle at the clinic she founded, Madison Skin & Laser Center. Her most recent book is The Surgery-Free Makeover: All You Need to Know for Great Skin and a Younger Face.

“Dr. Irwin is one of the few independent voices in the medical world today who can help consumers make educated decisions about procedures and medical options so they can stay as young as they can for as long as they can,” says Paula Begoun, author of Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me and a consumer skin care product advocate.

New Year’s Eve Eye Makeup Ideas: Jessie Powers Smoky Eye With A Twist!

new year's makeup ideas, eye makeup ideas This look is a little twist on the classic smoky eye. Instead of using black and cool colors you can opt for copper, bronze, gold and rose. The eyes will still be intense and seductive but much warmer and less severe. Instead of applying dark shadow across the entire lid, this eye look leaves the center light to create extra dimension. This look could be equally complemented by a full or barely-there brow. Since the eye shadow is intense and in this case so is the brow, keep the cheek color as a soft contour and the lip as close to the natural lip color as possible with a sheer formula lipstick or peach gloss.

Step 1: Using your middle finger pat a small amount of cream concealer over the entire eye lid surface from lash line to brow bone. Then apply a light champagne or peach shade like shadow #156 or #126 on the center of the lid from the lash line to the socket crease. Use a flat shadow brush and press the shadow onto the skin before blending it. Pressing in the shadow first will help eliminate “fall out” and will give you more control over your shadow placement.

Step 2: Using a dense medium sized squirrel tip brush blend a neutral brown shadow like #76 or #98, slightly darker than your natural skin tone, in the socket crease. You can be generous with this application. The shadow should blend slightly above the socket crease and onto the brow bone.

Step 3: Using a rounded smudge brush apply a rosy brown or brick red shadow like #161 or #122 to the outer corner of the eye blending it up and into the crease with controlled brush strokes. Using the same eye shadow color and brush apply in the same way to the inner corner of the eye. The result should look like soft blended parentheses framing the center of the eye lid. Again using the same brush and shadow trace the lower lash line and blend thoroughly to create a smoky effect.

Step4: Apply kohl liner 6K black gold on the top and bottom water line of the eye. Apply generously so that the kohl can be blended over the water line. Using a soft rounded smudge brush wiggle a little of the kohl over the lower lash line to intensify the smoky effect of the shadow. Pull a little of the kohl pencil onto the smudge brush by rubbing the brush bristles across the tip of the pencil. The residue of the kohl on the smudge brush will act as the final shade to intensify the inner and outer corners of the eye. Using the smudge brush and tiny brush strokes, work the kohl into the upper lash line on the outer corner of eye first. For extra drama and intensity do the same on the inner corner. If you typically have trouble keeping liner in place on your water line, pack a tiny bit of black eye shadow onto a synthetic angle brush and press it on top of the kohl.

Step 5: Curl your lashes and apply 2 to 3 coats of Smoky Lash mascara. Use a zig zagging motion on the first layer to fluff the lashes and add volume.

jesse powers, make up for ever, new year's makeup, eye makeup ideas
Click HERE to buy Make Up For Ever products from Sephora.com

New Year’s Eve Makeup Ideas: Christopher Del Castillo of MAC

makeup ideas, new year's eve

Still fumbling about for a stellar New Year’s Eve Makeup Idea? Follow this step-by-step tutorial for a classic, red-lipped party look– courtesy of MAC’s Christopher Del Castillo!

1.) First, apply a very sheer veil of Ochre Style Paint Pot with brush #217 from lash to brow, blending very well. Define and emphasize the eyebrows using the proper Eye Shadow shade (for your hair color) and brush #266.

2.) Next, sweep Golden Crown Mineralize Eye Shadow (from the “Tartan Tale” Collection) across the eyelid.

3.) Use Brush #224 to contour the eye with Quarry, Saddle and Sketch Eye Shadows. Quarry should shade the entire crease while Saddle adds depth at the innermost part of the crease and Sketch very slightly adds depth at the outer lid starting at the outer lash line using brush #219.

4.) Line the eyes with a thin lick of liner across the lash line using Fluidline in Blacktrack and a #263 Brush. Apply a healthy coat of Opulash Mascara and make sure the lashes look separated, defined and feathery.

5.) Pair this Eye with THE PERFECT Holiday Lip! Delicately line the lips with Vino Lip Pencil and use Gesina Lipstick (from the “Marcel Wanders” Collection). You’ll be sure to turn heads with this classic, polished and alluring look!

christopher del castillo, mac senior artist