I talk a lot about fear in beauty. Fear to wear red. Fear to use an eyeliner or a lipliner to (gasp) fill in the brows. Consumers can be locked in a box by marketing and they feel safe by following the rules. After all, if a company says “this is is a lipliner, this is an eyeliner, and this is a brow definer” they have now sold you 3 pencils at 3 different prices instead of one that you can use for all 3 purposes.
One rule I see set time and time again is the women put on themselves “I can’t wear color.” This is really tragic because everyone can… and should… wear color. It just has to be the right one! The model pictured to the right is wearing a tangerine orange lipstick. When I pulled out the palette, her eyes lit up and she passionately stated “THAT one! Please!?” Even I hesitated, because we had already put a smokey eye on her, and you know the rules “Pick one. Eyes, or lips.” Well, excuse me, but I said forget the rules and put that tangerine color on the model and the results were magic. Surprisingly, the brightness of the lips went perfectly with the smokey eyes and the balance was exactly what we needed to bring life to an otherwise dark and dreary look.
If you are just starting out with experimenting with color, then yes, pick one. I have a client who wore baby blue eyeliner on as her eye makeup for her wedding. The rest of the look was completely neutral. A soft pink lip and no other color on the lid It was divine.
Let’s break down my suggestions, take them or leave them, and post the results:
Eyes: Pick your favorite color and swipe a line across the lids almost as eyeliner. You can definitely apply to the entire lid, but don’t blend it past the crease. My favorite product for this is Aqua Waterproof Makeup from Make Up For Ever.
The color will be quick enough to only show slightly at first and when you blink it will invite that second look at the flash of color. For hazel and green eyes grab a purple, brown eyes go for green, and for blue eyes, try a navy.
Lips: Start with red. I love MAC’s reds like Russian Red but the possibilities are endless. Be bold. Then take it easy everywhere else. A soft blush, great skin and beautiful mascara and you are good to go! You don’t need lipliner, but if you do go there, make sure it matches to the lipstick. Personally and on most clients, I just apply powder foundation, then the matte lipstick and it stays all day.
Neon is really big for Spring and my favorite options for neon are found here at Theo Kogan’s brainchild Armour Beauty. My colorful Armour go-to’s are Grace and Barracuda. Even Bobbi Brown is doing neon this season. The colors are sheer and not opaque which makes a lot of people feel safe, but I say go for something even stronger.
When embarking on coloring your world, think about what feature on your face you love. Then celebrate it! Enhance it! Break out of your routine and see what is out there. You will be surprised and you will definitely surprise those around you… for the better! Be sure to let me know how it goes in the comments below.
This article was written by guest contributor Tiffany Bartok. A Portland, Oregon native, Tiffany has been working in makeup artistry for more than 12 years. Beginning her career as a “counter girl” at Bloomingdales, she worked with brands such as MAC, Smashbox and Benefit. She developed her craft by providing makeup services to friends for their events and headshots. Soon she was working with celebrities such as Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus of The Nanny Diaries, Randy Jackson, Heather Graham, Daphne Rubin-Vega, and many more. Her television credits include The Today Show, The Joy Behar Show, and The Apprentice to name a few. Tiffany works in the corporate realm for companies like Express, Armani, The Limited and Coach and has toured the country as Rimmel London’s national makeup artist. From fashion photography to motion pictures, Tiffany provides a vast array of services for your creative projects and special events. To learn more about Tiffany, visit http://www.makeupbytiffany.com/. read more →
Let’s face it. As much as we love our makeup, sometimes spending $28 for lipstick seems rather unnecessary. Does a higher price tag really guarantee better quality? The fact is many drugstore products are made by the exact same manufacturers as high-priced department store brands. However, there are certain products that are worth splurging on.
When to Splurge:
If you’re ready to invest in new makeup, you should do so strategically. Great foundation, concealers and brushes are essential. Spending a little extra in these areas will actually save you money and time in the long run. Once you’ve incorporated these basics into your beauty routine, you’ll find you don’t need as much of your other makeup.
Foundation and Powder: Department store lines offer a superior selection of colors to match any skin tone. Whether you wear tinted moisturizer, liquid foundation or pressed powder, you need to find a color that precisely matches your skin tone. Top picks: Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX foundation – $38, Becca Cosmetics Fine Pressed Powder – $42, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer – $42.
Concealer: Stealth and texture are two key words to remember when searching for the right concealer. Using concealer that is of poor quality will only bring attention to the imperfections or discolorations we’re trying to hide. Remember — Liquid concealers for light discolorations. Heavier stick concealer for darker spots. Creamy concealers for delicate skin such as under the eyes. Top picks: Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer – $70, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage – $28, Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat – $37.
Brushes: I cannot stress this enough. Good brushes truly are a game changer. Try to look for brushes that are handmade with natural fibers. They will work better and last much longer. Cleaning your brushes once every 1-2 weeks (depending on how often they are used) will also help to extend the life of your brushes and keep them from collecting bacteria. Be gentle — wash with warm water and baby shampoo, then lay flat to air dry. Top Picks: MAC 190 Foundation Brush – $32, Bobbi Brown Concealer Brush – $25, Smashbox Crease Brush #10 – $28.
When to Save:
Although it ultimately boils down to personal preference, experts agree that there are plenty of products for which a high price tag is not synonymous high quality. When it comes to lipsticks, eyeliners and mascara, drugstore cosmetics perform equally as well as department-store brands.
Mascara: Since you’re supposed to replace your mascara every two to three months, buying your mascara from the drugstore is a smart move. When it comes to mascara, finding great formulas that are sold at the drugstore is a piece of cake. Top Picks: L’oreal Voluminous Mascara – $9, Maybelline Volum’ Express Falsies Flared – $8, Rimmel London Volume Flash Bold Curves Mascara in Black, $7.
Lipstick: Lipstick formulations are virtually the same at any price point. Since there are so many drugstore lipstick options out there, this might be one of those categories where it’s better to save. Of course, lipstick shades are subjective. However, when it comes to longevity, the brilliance of their pigments and the smoothness of their application, there are dozens of drugstore brands that earn a high score. Top Picks: Revlon ColorStay Soft & Smooth Lipcolor – $10, CoverGirl LipPerfection Lipcolor – $7, Sonia Kashuk Luxury Lipcolor – $8.
Eyeliner: One of the biggest challenges many women face is trying to find eyeliner that goes on and stays on without bleeding into the corners of your eyes. There are so many eyeliner options these days. Pencil liners are great for smudging (think smokey eye) while liquid liners stay on forever (ala the sexy cat eye). For under $10, you can find eyeliner that won’t smudge or disappear yet are easily removed with eye makeup remover. Top Picks: L’oreal Paris Infallible Eyeliner – $7, Rimmel London Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil – $3, Maybelline New York Expert Eyes Twin Brow & Eye Pencils $3. read more →