SUMMER 2013 BEST NUDE MAKEUP COLLECTIONS

Posted by Dorene 05.24.13

There is no better time than summer to try out a nude makeup look. After all, it’s been a runway trend for years, and even lovers of the extreme like designers Versace and Alexander McQueen send models down the aisle with just a smudge of color.

But like all things simple, creating the right nude look to spotlight your assets can be tricky. Nude makeup goes far beyond pale foundation and beige eyeshadow; there is a whole array of neutrals to choose from. The goal is to create a youthful, fresh-faced appearance and you can’t do that with just one color. Find the right shades and textures—dewy, satin, matte—that make you look alive and not washed out. Contour and highlight your face with subtle blushes, bronzers, concealers, and highlighters to maximize your bone structure.

Choose lip, nail, and eye color shades that complement your natural undertones. It’s hard to generalize, but lighter skin tones tend to bloom with taupe-mauve and light brown shades, while darker skin tones will look naturally gorgeous with chocolate hues. But everybody is different, and even your hair color can require a makeup reassessment.

Luckily, some of our favorite color mavens—Bobbi Brown, Tom Ford, and Laura Mercier—have but together nude makeup collections for summer 2013.

From the master of neutral, the Bobbi Brown Nude Beach Collection is all about creating the relaxed, bronzed glow seen on faces at the beach. Start with Sunless Tanning Gel for Face & Body ($33), a non-greasy, oil-free formulation. After developing the right shade of self-tan, shape and contour cheekbones with Nude Beach Bronzing Duo ($42). The fun part starts with choosing one of three Sheer Color Cheek Tints ($26)—options include Summer Pink, Nude Beach or Sunlit Nude. Tube Tint ($19) is a lip-gloss that adds a hint of color, but oh so subtly. Choose from Air Kiss, Pink Cloud, Bronzed Pink, or Naked. For eyes, Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick ($28) in Golden Bronze and Sunlight Gold evoke a natural radiance that won’t melt away. Complete the look with Shimmer Nail Polish ($18) in Pink Pearl, the palest of pinks with just a drop of sparkle.

Designer Tom Ford likes to give women the option to go nude or colorful. His 2013 Summer Color Collection takes the neutral route with shades “created to capture a very particular look of skin that is bathed in sunset light in the summer,” said Ford. Create a natural glow with Skin Illuminator ($65) in Fire Dust, a peach-pink shade that seems to work with many skin tones. Sculpt cheeks with Illuminating Cheek Color ($58) in Bronzed Amber or Guilt to recreate the look of skin reflecting the soft light of dusk. For the most natural of sheens, Lip Lacquer ($30) in Pink Lust is a clear gloss with a hint of shimmer. Eyes will look as if they are casting a glow from within with Cream for Eyes ($40) in Escapade and Pink Haze. Both are non-creasing and long-wearing—perfect for summer. Nail Lacquer ($30) in Vapor is the most neutral of neutrals—white—enhanced by a silvery finish.

Makeup artist Laura Mercier’s extraordinary career (her A-list includes Madonna, Julia Roberts, and Sarah Jessica Parker) is anchored on creating the most beautiful and flawless complexions. Her primers, foundations, concealers, and eye color have all the necessary options to create a beautifully neutral canvas. But for summer, Laura Mercier Limited Edition shades include a range of specialized nudes for lips and tips. Lip Glace ($24) offers non-sticky shine in six neutrals that complement a range of skin tones. The shade names alone say natural; choose from Pout, Pink Diamond, Bare Baby, Bare Blush, Bare Beige, and Quartz. For nails, the Nail Lacquer ($18) options go from soft pale pink to deep coffee. All limited editions, the summer nude nail colors are Bare Angel, Bare Rose, Bare Haze, Bare Mocha, Cocoa Suede, and Bare Espresso.

Natural beauty may look effortless, but we all know that behind every apparently fresh washed face, there is a palette of magical neutrals.

BEST SWEATPROOF MAKEUP (REVIEW)

Posted by Wendy 05.23.13

As temperatures rise, so does the urge to switch to stay-in-place makeup that won’t melt by lunchtime. With some new formulations, you can get through the day and move on to dinner with just a quick touch up.

Great technology is no longer doomed to live only in jars and bottles. It has made its way into color cosmetics. Aren’t you willing to pay extra for makeup that delivers more and adds convenience? With these great time saving formulations, there is no need to carry your entire makeup closet with you just to get through the day.

PRIMERS

One way to get your makeup to stay in place for hours, is to use a primer first, an essential step if your skin is on the oily side. In general, mineral-based makeup is a great choice for those interested in oil control, and a mineral based primer will work wonders to keep your foundation from dripping off your face. Oil-free and vegan friendly, Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer ($52) is a water-repellent primer that dries to a powdery finish and will even help camouflage redness. Great for normal to combination skin By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Primer ($59) is incredibly fun to apply, as it goes on as a foam, dries to a matte texture, and helps fill in wrinkles and pores to create a smooth long-lasting canvas for foundation.

LIPS

Getting your lipstick to last beyond the first cup of coffee is a challenge no matter the weather. In summer, balm-like and cream finishes will slide off with your first sip. Try matte and long lasting lip colors to stay professionally primped all day long. Before applying, remember to clean your lips of oils or balms. Again Hourglass Cosmetics offers one of our faves: Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick ($28). Unlike most long lasting lip colors, this one has humectants to keep your lips comfortable, and polymers to keep its vibrant color from melting away. Allow it to set for 30 seconds to 1 minute after application. MAC Pro Longwear Lip Creme ($18) is said to last up to 12 hours!! Available in 22 shades, it resists feathering and does not require a top-coat for no-slide wear. Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner Pencil ($18.00) is a non-transferable pencil that can be used on the entire mouth for all over color or as a liner to sharpen the shapes of lips

EYES

A little known secret is that cream eye shadow actually works better than powder during hot, humid weather. Sweat and powder just don’t mix. Summer is also the time to bring out the waterproof eyeliner and mascara—a little harder to remove, but isn’t that the point? Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow ($24) and Long Wear Gel Eyeliner ($23) are the perfect duo to keep your eyes looking fresh all day long. The neutral eye shadow shades perform as a base for deeper colors or can be worn alone with the eyeliner for a subtle finish. Chanel Long Lasting Eyeliner  ($30) features 12 soft pencil, easy to apply waterproof shades. A definite stay-in-placer, it takes a bit of work to remove. The finishing touch for melt-free eyes is a waterproof mascara like Lancôme Hypnôse Star Waterproof 24 Hour Mascara ($28), which adds clump-free length and volume.

FACE

To avoid having foundation drip into your cleavage, pick one with long lasting, transfer-free, and oil-free claims. Mineral makeup might be the best option for oily skin, but there are some great no-drip liquid foundations out there too. Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24h SPF15 Sunscreen ($45) gives full coverage with a matte, not cakey finish. Eight years in the making, it is the first 24-hour makeup from Lancôme. Clinique Even Better Makeup SPF15 ($27) not only offers coverage and protection, but it promises to even out skin tone to boot. Plus like Teint Idole it has that summer necessity, sun protection. Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup ($36) has a terrific matte finish that doesn’t slide off. If you have normal to oily skin, it can hold up from morning til nighttime.

REMOVERS

Getting it on is one thing, but taking it off can be tricky. Sweatproof makeup won’t dissolve with a run of the mill cleanser. Specially formulated for eyes and lips, Bobbi Brown Instant Long Wear Make-Up Remover ($25), takes care of tough to budge waterproof mascara as well as that tinge of color left on your lips. And from the cover-up pros at Dermablend, Longwear Makeup Remover ($22) works on face, eyes, and lips with a gentle formula that is suitable for sensitive skin and contact lens wearers.

It may take a bit of an investment to create your sweatproof palette, but the payoff of less hassle and more time will be worth it.

 

 

ESSIE INTRODUCES SPECIALIZED BASE AND TOP COATS

Posted by Charu 05.18.13

Customization is the name of the game for beauty this year and nail care is no different. Whether you have fragile, split, short, or strong nails, Essie has a top coat, base coat, and treatment plan that targets your specific need.

Pick and choose from the Essie Everyday, Anti-Aging, Strong and Grow ranges to create a personalized nail regimen.

The Everyday collection is suitable for all nail types and includes All in One Topcoat, Apricot Cuticle Oil, First Base Base Coat and Good to Go topcoat. Personally, I love All in One, a combo base coat, top coat, and nail strengthener. I keep it on my bathroom shelf as a handy nail fix when I’m on the go and need a speedy touch up. When I use it, my manicure does indeed last for at least a good week without chipping. For the complete treatment, apply Apricot Cuticle Oil first for soft and nourished cuticles. First Base Base Coat contains rubberized adhesives to make your nail polish stick, and Good to Go top coat dries like a breeze to give you a finishedlook touch.

The Anti-Aging category is highly specialized, and yes there’s a way to fight aging of your nails. Fill the Gap is formulated to visibly sculpt and plump nails for younger looking hands, and contains nutra-keratin and bamboo extracts. Follow it with Ridge Filling Base Coat, which will smooth out ridges and discoloration and create a perfect canvas for nail lacquer.

The Strong lineup works to nourish nails and prevent them from chipping and breaking. The collection comprises Grow Stronger and my personal favorite Millionails, which basically gives you “bullet proof” nails. Formulated with iron, amino acids and kevlar, each bottle contains 1 million fast acting molecules to help resist peeling and splitting for visibly stronger nails.

The Grow category aims to help nails grow stronger and more beautiful thanks to two product stars: Grow Faster protects and prevents breakage, and No Chips Ahead promotes long lasting color with an extended wear color shield that prevents fading and chipping.

It’s time to put the spotlight on primers and nourishment for nails. With all these base and top coats retailing for $8-$10 a piece, you’ll never have a bad nail day again.