I love the look Charlotte Tilbury designed for the Donna Karan show. The warm glossy eye lids, matte pink lip, and luminous skin was so perfect. Here are a few tips for how to create the look:

1. Start by prepping the skin with a moisturizer that adds a sheen to the skin. MAC strobe cream was used on the models.

2. Even out skin tone with a dewy finish foundation. Don’t use anything too matte in order to keep the skin looking glowy.

3. On the cheeks hush cream colour base adds subtle dimension.

4. Mid tone sepia cream colour base was wrapped  around the eyes and gloss was put on top for a high shine finish.

5. Finish the look with a pale pink lipstick that has a cool undertone.

1.Giorgio Armani Designer Shaping Cream Foundation SPF 20  2. MAC strobe cream  3.MAC gloss texture 4.Smashbox Photo Finish Lipstick in baby doll pink  5.MAC Cream Colour Base in hush  6.MAC Cream Colour Base in mid tone sepia

If you managed to snag Nicki Minaj’s lipstick this past Friday, good for you! The Mac online exclusive that coincided with the highly anticipated release of Minaj’s debut album Pink Friday, sold out super fast. The Barbie Doll pink shade is only available for the next 3 Fridays. Making it even more of a “must-have” in my make up bag.

Ellis Faas is a phenomenal make up artist.  Her work spans runways, magazines, as well as campaigns for cosmetic companies like MAC, Clinique, and Lancome. What I was most inspired by when I worked with her, was the way she mixed colours. Her concoctions created unique shades that proved that she was a true artist. I met Ellis Faas in Milan for the Fall shows in 2007. I assisted her for the make up test for Blumarine in Milan, Cacherel, and my favourite Giambattista Valli in Paris. I discovered that her make up kit was more like that of a painter than a make up artist. There were unmarked tubes, pots, and palettes of colour. So I was excited to hear last year Faas started her own make up line. I have not had the opportunity to try the line but from what I can see it looks very good. The products are straight forward and concise with sleek packaging.

Images from Management+Artists

Wedding make up is perhaps one of the most important of a girls life. Everyone wants to look perfect in real life, and more importantly in the photographs that are around for years to come. Often the best route to take is something modern yet classic. Long wear products are a must, and skin needs to look flawless.

A soft smoky eye and lashes looks good on everyone. I always apply MAC Paint in Untitled before the eyeshadow products, to prevent creasing and smudging. Dark brown shadow is a softer alternative to black for the smoky eye.

In a world of HD your skin must look flawless and radiant. Choose a foundation that matches your skin tone, and looks invisible. To keep your foundation looking good all day prep the skin with appropriate skin care and use a primer. Add luminescence to the high points of the face. Try a liquid luminzer like the Lorac one, as creams and liquids mimic skin and look more natural. Don’t forget contouring and blush because they add dimension to the face especially in photographs.

Nude lips are the obvious choice with a smokey eye. Be careful not to go too light. I usually recommend lipstick and liner with gloss on top for shine. This gives the lips more depth and lasts longer than gloss alone.

1. MAC Paint in untitled 2. MAC espresso eye shadow 3. Shu Uemura false lashes luxe 4. Laura Mercier second skin cheek colour rose bloom 5. Lorac oil free luminizer 6. Make Up Forever HD Foundation 7. Lorac 3D lip gloss in polished

This past Saturday I purchased the MAC Pro Longwear Lipstain Marker. I wore it for 3 days to give it a good test drive and here are my thoughts:

The packaging is great. It looks like a felt tip pen. That felt tip gives excellent precision when apply along the lip line, no need for lip pencil. The actual stain is a liquid consistency that goes on sheer and can be built up. The initial application I applied it directly to my bare lips, and put a little bit of lip balm on top for comfort. (The stain by itself is a little dry feeling) The second time I wore it I put lip balm on first then the stain. This caused big problems. Once the lip balm got on the tip of the stain, the tip dried up and I couldn’t get the product to flow out evenly.

As far as it being long wearing, it did stay on for about 4 hours but it wears off the lips unevenly. Touching up is easy, you just go right over whatever is left on the lips.

I have Stylesetter-bright pink which fits the bright lip trend without being too bright.

As I have mentioned before, I am a true fan of lining the water line. For intense looking eyes always use black or a dark colour. To make the eyes look bigger and brighter, white or beige pencil will open up the eyes. Here are some of my tips:

1. Always use a soft pencil or eye kohl it’s more comfortable. Try Guerlain Terracotta Kohl for intense black. For brightening the eyes I like MAC Fascinating Eye Kohl.

2. Use a pencil that’s heavily pigmented otherwise the colour won’t show up.

3. For long wear use a water resistant pencil. I wear MAC Technakohl in Graphblack. Or a waterproof product like MAC Fluidline. Admittedly, Fluidline doesn’t feel great in the eye but it stays put for hours!

4. Run the pencil along the inner rim both on the upper and lower part of the eye.

Images from style.com

I’ve been using  MAC Mineralized All-Over Lotion on myself and others and I only wish it came in a larger size! It contains key ingredients like muru muru butter, aloe and charged water infused with diamond powder. It feels very lightweight and gives tons of moisture and hydration to the skin. What I like the best about this product though, is the gorgeous sheen it leaves behind. It’s not shimmery in anyway, but instead leaves dewy glow. Amazing on the face as it’s fragrance free. Love it on the body for moisture and a beautiful glow.

Ever since I picked up this product I have been mixing it every day with my foundation. I am a huge fan. And my dry skin loves it! Care Blends has a base of four richly conditioning botanical oils like avocado and soybean oils that conditions and moisturizes the skin. It comes in two scents: grapefruit and chamomile to soothe and calm, and sweet orange and lavender to energize the skin.

What I love is the versatility of this product. Apply it to those really dry, rough areas like the elbows and knees. Use it as a serum after cleansing and before your regular moisturizer. It’s great as a cuticle oil too. But what I like best is adding it to my foundation. Just add a drop and blend it with a brush before you apply it to your face for instant glowy skin.

Affectionately known as CCB, Cream Colour Base is a multi purpose product that should be in every girls make up bag, and every make up artists kit. This product comes in lots of colours from light to dark, but Pearl is definitely one of my favourites. It’s my go to product for fashion shows, photo shoots, brides, and for the everyday person who just wants to look perfectly highlighted, and dewy. The lightweight cream texture makes it really easy to use with a brush or fingers. It’s the best highlight colour on almost every skin tone. Apply on tops of cheek bones, under the brow, cupids bow, and collar bone. Use it underneath frost eyeshadows to intensify the shine and depth of colour. It is whatever you want it to be: lipstick, blush, or eyeshadow.

We’re about to say goodbye to AW 09 and hello to SS 10. The end of season sales are in full swing and for those of us in Canada, Boxing Day is on Saturday! This marks the last chance to pick up this seasons trend items before it’s too late. Here’s what we’re planning on picking up:

Leah’s picks: The new Michael Kors collection with Estee Lauder launched recently. As it always goes with these limited edition things, they sell out fast. As an avid peach lip gloss wearer I can’t wait to get my hands on the starlet peach gloss. This gloss will work with pretty much any make up I wear, it’s also going to look quite nice on top of my beige/nude lipsticks, and take me right through to Spring. MAC’s Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Sense of Style is a dark navy infused with black. These eye  kohls have intense colour,and  a pearlized creamy texture. The pay off is richer and more opaque than regular MAC kohls. Kohl Power is  also limited edition so I have to get this quick too. Then there are the Ferragamo pumps. I’ve been obsessing over these since I first saw them at the beginning of the season in Selfridges London. The covered platform and 5″metal heel make these the ultimate versatile shoe for me. I’m really hoping for a half price ticket!

Lisa’s picks: In the past I’ve been a bit of a sceptic when it comes to glitter. I always thought it looked so juvenile, so Lip Smackers if you know what I mean. But after seeing glitter used in a much more sophisticated way (Prada, LV) I’ve decided that I need a little sparkle to glam up my party makeup. So I’m planning to pick up Mac’s 5 Sexpot Smoky Mini Pigment/Glitter from their holiday collection. I think it has the perfect colours of glitter and pigment to wear in a much more grown up way. Wear the Dark Soul with a smoky eye or add Naked to clear lip gloss for sparkly lips.

I’m also planning to order some Zoya matte nailpolish in Dovima. It’s a matte black nailpolish with a bit of sparkle. Seems like an oxymoron but somehow it works. And for my third item I’m planning to get the CC Skye Benatar clutch. At a reasonable $150 it’s a real steal.

What are your AW 09 last chance must haves?

Blackened wine colours are not just for the nails this season. Cosmetic brands like Chanel, Nars, and MAC all launched the intense hue for the lips too. To some, wearing black lips may seem way too goth than fashion forward. But the reality is anyone can wear the black lip depending on how it is applied. (See point 4.) Also to be taken into consideration is skin tone. What may seem far too extreme on a fair blonde can be absolutely stunning on someone with dark skin.

Here are our tips for wearing black lipstick:

1. Prep the lips before starting. MAC Prep & Prime Lip lightly moisturizes, smooths the lips texture, and helps prevent bleeding.

2. Line the lips with a lip pencil. Try a black cherry color like MAC Currant Lip Pencil to take the edge off the black. Make sure to follow your natural lip line and then fill in your lips about half way.

3. Use a lip brush for precise application. It also applies less lipstick to the lips for a more smooth and even look.

4. If you still are too scared of black, try a deep wine color lipstick like Lipstick Queen’s Wine Sinner. Or try mixing in a little black lipstick to darken up your reds, and burgundys.

Images from maccosmetics.com and style.com

M.A.C. Cosmetics has collaborated with Jin Soon Choi, a New York based celebrity and editorial manicurist to create 6 new stunning colours for fall. Product has just hit the stores so make sure you get in there before they run out. Top Row: Cool Reserve, Dance All Night and Dry Martini. Bottom row: For Fun, Rich Dark Delicious and Beyond Jealous.

Now that we are well into Summer most of us are looking for a little refreshment.  MAC Fix+  is an amazing hydrating mist that is the perfect antidote for sweltering Summer days.  Packed with spring water to refresh, cucumber and chamomile to soothe, Fix+ can be spritzed onto the face before or after make up.  This is one of those products that you try once and it’s instant love!

Expert Tip: Spray directly onto the face before moisturizer for extra hydration.

Skin that looks healthy, radiant, and gorgeous is not just reserved for models, and celebs, but rather it is an absolute must have for every woman. Almost every woman I meet over thirty, covets glowy skin because glowy skin is youthful and who doesn’t want to look young?

Expert Tips:

1.   Prep the skin with a hydrating mist like MAC Fix+ before applying moisturizer. This boosts the skins moisture level and creates an instant glow.

2.  For an all over glow mix a few drops of  an illuminating  product into your liquid foundation. Try Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer.

3.  Highlight the high planes (tops of cheek bones, apples of the cheek, and brow bone) by gently tapping on a cream shadow. Or use a powder that has iridescence and apply with a soft brush.

This season the brighter the better whether it be make up or fashion. We’re seeing a big trend towards stand out shades. When it comes to make up the bright lip is quite frankly the quickest way to get you from zero to wow. A few favourite products to precisely accomplish this look are Nars Lipliner Pencil in Funny Face, Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick in Provocative, and MAC Vegas Volt Lipstick. To incorporate this trend when getting dressed, keep it looking 2009 as opposed to 1989 with a single neon item. The McQueen shoes are a definite must!

Images from style.com