Eden's Garden: Liandra for Fashion Gone Rogue

Beauty | 02 January 2012

What do you get when you combine decadent fruits, lush flowers, and rich colors? The stunning beauty that is Eden’s Garden, an exclusive photoshoot for Fashion Gone Rogue. Shot by the talented Michelle Du Xuan with hair by Miha Oshima and makeup by Aya Fujita, this paradise of photos are at once exquisitely delicate and bodly sensual.

(Pics courtesy of Fashion Gone Rogue.)

Beauty How-To: New Year's Eve Eyeshadow Tutorial

Beauty | 30 December 2011

by Laurie Hartt

Sweet pic, right?

When I saw this makeup online, I was instantly smitten and raced back to the photo studio to see if our makeup artist, Sarah, could create a similar look on our own model, Kennedy.

Because she’s awesome, Sarah of course said yes! With the help of our awesome photographer Marty, we’ve created for you the perfect New Year’s Eve Eyeshadow Tutorial! This one is a bit more toned down, but it’s really fun, easy to do, and would be perfect for your New Year’s party tomorrow night!

Before You Begin: Create an even playing field. Even out the skin tone, starting with foundation primer. Then add full coverage liquid foundation and concealer and finish with mineral powder to set it. Finally, fill in the eyebrows to create a strong brow, and add some blush to create a lovely glow.

Step 1: Color and Liner.

Sarah blended together shades of blue, grey, black, and silver to create a sexy smoky eye. In the corners, she added some shimmery gold to add warmth. Black eyeliner is also really important here, not only to add extra drama but also to define the eye shape and add a dark base for the false lashes to hide against. She winged it out just a bit on the sides to accentuate their almond shape and create a sexier look.

Step 2: Fake lashes.

These really amp up the wow factor and pretty much doubled the size of Kennedy’s eyes. To ensure a secure fit, Sarah has two tips: 1. Cut the lashes to fit your eye lid length. If they’re too long, they’ll peel up much more easily in the corners. 2. Keep your eyes closed until the glue has dried! If you move your eyes while the glue is still wet, they could dislodge or stick on crooked. When the glue is dry, apply mascara to both your natural lashes and the falsies to blend them all together. Also, add mascara to the bottom lashes to finish the smoky eye.

Step 3: Gems!

Here’s the fun part! By dabbing the tip of a bobby pin in eyelash glue, Sarah easily created this dazzling rhinestone creation on the outsides and inner corners of Kennedy’s eyes.

Who doesn’t love a Before and After?!? Look at the amazing transformation!

Ta-da! Add your favorite lipstick and a sparkly dress, and you’re ready to hit the town!

What Sarah Used:

Foundation Primer, Liquid Foundation, & Mineral Powder: Mary Kay

Eyeshadow: Sephora color palette, Urban Decay in Jinx, Smashbox Smokebox Palette, Bedhead Cyberoptics in Gray

Liner: Loréal H.I.P. Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in Black

Mascara: Maybelline Great Lash

Lashes: Sonya Kashuk from Target

Gems: Nail Art from Sally’s Beauty Supply (but you can use rhinestones from anywhere)

Lipstick: Kennedy’s favorite! Revlon Iced Ameythst

What She’s Wearing:

Detonate One Shoulder Black Sequin Top

Current Beauty Obsessions

Beauty | 30 December 2011

by Stephanie

Who doesn’t love great beauty products? I will pretty much try any brand from drugstore to high end. I have found that often times quality comes with a price tag and those products will last longer due to their higher quality. I, for one, will gladly shell out a bit more money to get a quality product with great results. I wanted to share with you some of my favorite beauty products that make my routine that much brighter!

Dermalogica Multi-Vitamin Thermafoliant

Starting off with a clean face is a no-brainer but having polished and exfoliated skin will make your skin that much brighter and healthier. Dermalogica is a truly great skin care brand and this is one of their best products! The Multi-Vitamin Thermafoliant is an amzing exfoliant that warms when you apply it to your face. It polishes away dead skin and leaves your skin super soft and healthy.

Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner

Toners are amazing. You can use a little spray whenever your skin feels dry, even over your makeup! The Multi-Active Toner, also from Dermalogica, not only makes you feel refreshed and hydrated, it actually balances your skins PH, preparing it for any treatment products or moisturizers that are to follow. This means your moisturizer will go the extra mile and you may even have to use less! Need a new moisturizer? Read on!

Estee Lauder Day Wear

Estee Lauder has been a long time favorite of mine when it comes to skin care. Day Wear is my favorite moisturizer right now and, believe me, I have tried several of their other day time moisturizers. This is really smooth and oil-free and offers up a hefty SPF 25 as well as anti-oxidants! My skin feels so soft after putting it on and it creates some kind of barrier where it stays that way all day. It even has anti-aging properties if you are interested in looking as beautiful as you do now forever!

Benefit High Beam

An absolute go-to of mine is Benfit’s High Beam. This face highlighter can be blended all over the face to give a dewy glow, but I prefer to use it as a spot highlight. Applied down the bridge of the nose, along the very top of your cheekbone, a small spot on the chin and a few spots on the forehead and your skin will have a really healthy glow! This is by far the best thing to help you look more awake and refreshed in the morning and also to look totally picture perfect. It is the ideal pinky-shimmer that compliments all skin tones!

Urban Decay Naked 2

In pretty much the most anticipated followup product ever, Urban Decay recently released Naked 2 a sequel to their extrememly famous Naked palette. These palettes focus on neutrals but trust me, they are anything but boring! Naked 2 is packed with 12 rich shades of gold, browns and coppers some matte as well as several shimmers. I can’t wait to get my hands on this new palette. I know I will be obsessed!

Miss Dior Cherie

This is my favorite scent of all time! Girlie yet fresh with a sweet undertone. Everyone needs a signature scent to be remembered by and this is definitely not one you can easily forget! A little goes a long way so make sure to use sparingly. Again, when you pay more you often get more in the long run!

What are some of your favorite beauty products!?

12 Strange and Bizarre Beauty Tips (That Might Actually Work!)

Beauty | 22 December 2011

by Laurie Hartt

I don’t know about you, but in the midst of all this holiday shopping, my budget for splurging on pricey face creams and fancy beauty treatments is completely nonexistent.

However, it’s also the season where I want to look my best, so something’s gotta give, right? I decided to see if there were any cheap and awesome beauty tips out there, and I was amazed to find a plethora of. . .

Some of these sound pretty awesome, while I have my doubts about others. Are they fact or fable? You decide!

1. Old Coffee Grounds Reduce Cellulite

Mix ¼ to ½ cup coffee grounds with about 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil. Rub into your lumpy bits, and then wrap it all up with plastic wrap and let it cook for ten minutes before you rinse. (Tip: Use your old grounds from this morning’s pot! Yay recycling!)

2. Hemorroid Cream Reduces Puffy Eyes and Reduces Red Pimples

Gently rub a dab onto puffy or red areas. Good for damage control after a round of sappy movies.

3. Adding Beer to Your Shampoo Adds Volume and Repairs Hair

Beer for me, beer for my hair . . . Put 3/4 cup beer in a pot on the stove and boil until you’ve got 1/4 cup left. Once cool, add it to a cup of whatever shampoo you’re already using.

4. Whiten Your Nails with Baking Soda and Lemon

Sprinkle some baking soda on a wedge of lemon and scrub. Ta-da, squeaky clean.

5. Add Chopped Garlic to Your Nail Polish for Long and Strong Nails

Mince garlic really finely and dump it in a bottle of your nail polish. Let the bottle sit for a few days, allowing the chunks to settle, and then apply as usual (avoiding the chunks).

6. Freeze Your Eyeliner So It Doesn’t Crumble

Throw it in the freezer 15 minutes or so before you want to apply, and the tip won’t break off or crumble when you apply it.

7. Rub Your Hair with Dryer Sheets to Prevent Frizz and Static

Choose a sweet-smelling dyer sheet and rub it through your hair in the morning before you head out. Stash it in your purse for touch-ups during the day. Avoid the sheets that smell like moldy laundromat.

8. Put Toothpaste on a Zit

Dab it right on top of the infection. Think of an excuse as to why you have minty spots all over your face. Rinse when dry.

9. Brush Perfume through Your Hair

Spritz your favorite perfume directly onto your hair, then brush through for frangrant strands all day long. Practice your hair tossing skills.

10. Blow Dry Your Eyelash Curler

After you’re done blow drying your hair, zap your (metal) eye lash curler for a couple of seconds. Make sure it’s not going to burn off all your eyelashes, then crimp. The heat works the same way curlers do on your hair, and your curled eyelashes will be lovely all day! (P.S. It works even better if you use waterproof mascara!)

11. Shaving Your Face Exfoliates and Makes You Look Younger

Some claim that shaving your face in the shower every day creates a more youthful appearance by exfoliating and smoothing. Also prevents cases of the fuzzy-wuzzies.

12. Monistat Chafing Relief Powder Gel Works As a Primer

When you compare about $7 at the store to Mac’s $40…and I think you’ll agree. Nobody has to know your beauty secret!

* * *

So what do you think about these ideas? Will you try ‘em or are they too weird? Do you have any of your own magical tips?

(Pics courtesy of Google Images. Tips courtesy of cosmopolitan.com, sophiemagazine.com, girlsguideto.com, realbeauty.com, womansday.com, and skinverse.com.)

Holiday Hairstyles: 10 Celebrity-Inspired 'Dos

Beauty | 21 December 2011

by Laurie Hartt

Alright my lovely ladies, ’tis the season to ditch your old gym ponytail and frizzy clippies, because it’s (drumroll, please) . . .

HOLIDAY HAIRDO TIME!

In the spirit of Christmas, New Years, Hanukkah, and whatever else you may be celebrating in these next few weeks, I have compiled a list for you of my top ten favorite fancy celebrity hairstyles.

1. The Sparkly Pin

As you can see here on Emma Stone and Kirsten Dunst, this style works for pretty much any style or cut. You can use an old brooch for a retro feel, or just slip in some inexpensive clippies from the drugstore for some quick sparkle. You can even make your own by hot-gluing some rhinestones to your bobbie pins, and ta-da! Instant bling.

2. Curly with a Part

This style works best for hair that’s at least chin-lenth. On the left, Jessica Alba’s tousled curls have a younger beachy vibe, whereas Stacy Keibler’s hair is a bit more polished, with large barrel curls and height at the front.

3. Braid Parade

Okay, so maybe I’m a bit obsessed with Jennifer Morrison, but she’s just so dang cute! AND, she shows off just how versatile braids can be. If you want to wear your hair down, just braid back the front to add a bit of interest. If you want to wear it up, why not go all out and rock it princess style with crown braids?

4. Fun Bun

My bff in grade school used to give me guff all the time for rockin’ the bun, but it looks like I was just ahead of my time! Reese Witherspoon’s soft and smooth bun on the left is perfect for a really classy affair, while Jessical Biel’s messy one on the right keeps things a little more casual without sacrificing one ounce of style.

5. Side Pony

I love love love Hilary Duff’s leather-wrapped braid/pony/creation. It’s so unexpected, and paired with the bright red lips, effects a totally biker-chic ensemble. Selena Gomez’s luscious locks (drool!) are so shiny and awesome, all she had to do was wrap a strand of hair around the rubberband for instant glam. So jealous.

6. Headband

What could be easier than a headband? Tie hair back in a bun, tease the crown, slip on the band, and you’re done! Olivia Wilde and Charlize Theron prove it’s both simple and lovely.

7. Totally Bangin’

Can Zooey Deschanel do no wrong? Sigh. She has the most epic bangs ever. I want them! And Lea Michelle’s fringe pairs just perfectly with that megawatt smile. If you’ve got ‘em, rock ‘em.

8. French Twist

The classic French twist is timeless, à la Evan Rachel Wood. If you want to, er, add a twist, try starting just above the ear for a wraparound style. (Here’s a great tutorial if you want help making the perfect twist. Her accent is a bit thick, but the end result is adorable.)

9. Messy Updo

Once you’ve invsted in a billion bobby pins, use either your natural wave or curling iron assistance and simply pin back your hair until it stays. Leave a few romantic tendrils around the front like Leighton Meester and Taylor Swift. (Check out this tutorial if you need some assistance.)

10. Go Retro

Vintage and retro are definitely in right now. Try some polished waves with a deep side part, like Ashley Greene, or add some victory rolls like Katy Perry. And, while you’re at it, throw some pink dye in there for good measure.

Now get stylin’! If any of you try these looks, I’d love to see a pic!

(Pics courtesy of elle.com, cosmopolitan.com, dailymakeover.com, and Google images.)