I love everything Tom Ford does, and I think this ad for the new Violet Blonde fragrance is stunning.

Here are a few tips that you could use to recreate the look:

1. Shade and highlight the eyes with lilac, pale pinks, and cool browns.

2. Contour under the cheekbones for a sculpted face.

3. Line your lips with a magenta coloured lip pencil and apply a matching lipstick. Finish the look with gloss to achieve the “Lara” pout.

1.OPI Nail Polish in Houston We Have A Purple  2. Le Metier de Beaute Clearly Brilliant Lip Gloss 3. Smash Box Step-By-Step Contour kit 4. Dolce and Gabbana Quad in Divine 5. Tom Ford Moroccan Rouge Lip Colour

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

The advantage of loose pigment is that it’s so versatile. Often used only as an eyeshadow here are our top 8 ways to work with pigment:

1. Add to nail polish to change the colour or create your own by mixing pigment into a clear polish.
2. Iridescent pigment can be mixed with body lotion and applied to arms and legs for customized sheen.
3. Use a mixing medium to turn the pigment into a cream form and use as eyeliner
4. Use for body painting on top of cream products to add dimension
5. Mix with water based mixing medium turning pigment into paint for body painting
6. Use as blush or highlighter
7. Add to clear lipgloss for customized colours
8. Mix into clear mascara or mascara mixing medium

*For mixing mediums go to maccosmetics.com

Lea Michele looks super hot in these images from marktbeauty.com. As a make up artist skin is my favourite feature. These pictures attest to the fact that you should never under estimate the importance of glowing skin.

P.S I can’t wait for Glee to return this Fall!

I didn’t even recognize Alessandra! This is an absolutely fabulous image, another of LOVE magazine’s collectible September issues. The lips, the contouring, and of course the non brow-it’s so good. I can’t wait for the other 6 covers.

Image from models.com

These ladies worked the red carpet last night at the MTV Movie Awards. Scarlett Johansson was best dressed in green Dolce and Gabbana. Her blonde waves, dark eyes and light lips made for the perfect red carpet package. Vanessa Hudgens opted for pale pink lips off setting her tanned skin nicely. Katy Perry let her hair be the focus of her look. If you were to ever wear a bright blue wig this is how it should look! Nicky Hilton’s side braid was very SS 10. Christina Aguilera’s tight coif and red lips were very dramatic, much like her performance on the show.

Images from justjared.com

I have to admit I am a bit of a Miley Cyrus fan! I think for a young girl she has a really great look. Starting with her incredibly long tousled hair (obviously extensions) big eyes, and her pouty nude lips. In an attempt to move away from her Disney image, she’s photographed on the cover of Billboard magazine’s June issue leather clad and in charge.

Images from justjared.com

Powder is used as a finishing product to set foundation or concealer, and to absorb oil. In some cases powder can be used alone to enhance your complexion. When it comes to choosing between loose or pressed a lot of times convenience can be the deciding factor. Obviously if you need to carry powder with you, then pressed will be a better choice.

The advantage of loose powder is that it’s often lighter weight especially when applied with a brush. So for mature skin or dry skin that requires minimal powder loose is a good way to go. The opposite can be true of pressed powder. When applied liberally with a powder puff you can get quite a bit of coverage and a very matte look. Both versions can be applied with a brush or a powder puff depending on the look you want to achieve. A brush will apply less and a puff will apply more.

Expert Tip: Before powdering very oily skin remove excess oil by pressing a tissue or blotting paper to the face, and then finish with powder.

Gwyneth Paltrow is featured on the cover of  Bazaar for May. She looks tanned, healthy, and all American. Neutral eye make up, and soft rose coloured lips is classic Gwyneth. We’ll be seeing a lot of her in the weeks to come as she gears up to promote her latest movie-Iron Man 2. When it comes to promotional tours, I have to say Gwyneth Paltrow knows how to work the fashion, hair and make up. I’m looking forward to seeing both her promotional tour, and the movie when it comes out at the end of May.

I’ve actually never seen any of Diane Kruger’s movies I only know her for her style. The April edition of UK Marie Claire features Kruger on the cover and inside the issue looking quite stunning. I love the way her skin glows and the smoky eyes make her blue eyes look even more piercing.

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.

About five years ago I watched Francesca Tolot do a master class. Her demeanor was so sweet as she shared her tips with a quiet Italian accent. With her portfolio that included editorial pages from Italian Vogue and Glamour, her career in the USA started with a music video for Madonna. Since then she has worked with numerous celebrities: Christina Aguilera, Eva Longoria, Catherine Zeta-Jones, to my favourite Beyonce. The two have been working together for a few years, and Francesca can be accredited for some of Beyonce’s best make up moments. Beyonce’s latest videos and CD cover for I Am Sasha Fierce, as well as the stunning looks in the movie Dream Girls, are all the work of Francesca Tolot.

http://www.francescatolot.com/

The International Collections next stop after London is Milan. Italy never disappoints. You are guaranteed to get smoking hot girls storming down the runway. The exact ingredients for such a look are simple: flawless skin, precisely groomed brows, sultry eyes, and plump lips. All the major Italian fashion houses seemed to cook up this concoction of make up, though the end results varied the theme was the same… STUNNING. Milan ended on Tuesday, it’s time to say bonjour to Paris.

Images from style.com

The eighties were about flash and cash in all aspects of life. This time around there isn’t as much cash so going extreme with make up is a less expensive alternative. There is a lot of precision required with these looks so when trying to achieve that Nicole Miller elongated blue eye, brushes are a must. Don’t even attempt the neon lip without a super sharp lip pencil to define the mouth. While overindulgence is the theme of the trend, no need to amp eyes, cheeks, and lips choose your favourite and let it stand out.

Images from style.com

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.