Red lips, strong black liner, slicked back hair, and oiled up skin. These are often the requirements for girls in men’s magazines. Blake pulls the look off effortlessly as though she always looks like this (which she actually often does!) I especially enjoy the sheen on the skin. Johnson’s Baby Oil Gel gives the same effect to bare legs and arms a must have for the upcoming season.

Image from esquire.com

If your false lashes need to be trimmed to fit your eye, cut from the outer corner and save the piece you cut off. Once your false lashes are glued on take the piece you trimmed and, stack it on top of the lash at the outer corner for more depth.

Image from Monika Robl Photography.

There are only a few months left of Winter and because Spring is not officially here, we’re in between seasons. I think this is the perfect time for a fresh faced natural look. Chloe, Stella McCartney, and Phi (RIP) SS 10, all had excellent examples of the no make up, make up look. I recommend starting with a perfect canvas. Using my usual concoction of a hydrating mist and moisturizer followed by concealer on any unwanted blemishes, and under eye circles. Powder the T-zone but leave the cheeks for a natural sheen. Brush through brows with a clear gel to keep them in place. Curl lashes and add a good dose or lengthening mascara to make the eyes pop. A touch of tinted lip conditioner on lips and you’re good to go.

What’s your routine for natural make up?

Images from style.com

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.

What always stands out to me about Rhianna is her honey coloured skin, and pretty light eyes. Both of these features were a focus in her make up, when she visited the Jonathan Ross show in the UK. Starting with the skin, I would use Nars Sparkling Loose Powder in Gold Rush. Apply anywhere skin is exposed to get a warm shimmery glow. To replicate the cool toned smoky eye, apply the darkest colour in the Armani Eyes to Kill Palette, on top of a cream base shadow to intensify the colour. Use a soft tapered blending brush to pull the shadow out towards the temple to create the elongated shape. Apply the light beige shadow as a highlight on the brow bone. False lashes are a must have to add more drama to the eyes. I like the Make Up Forever Nude Lash 158, they’re thick at the base of the lashes and give lots of length. No smoky eye is complete without the right lip. Rhianna’s bronze peach lip could be achieved with Michael Kors for Estee Lauder Lip Sheen in Honey Blonde.

Image from gossiponthis.com

Statement making hair accessories were on the runway, and red carpet for AW 09 — who can forget the LV bunny ears? Hair ornaments continue to be a trend for SS 10. Feathers seem to be the way to go as they were strategically perched on top of models heads at Chanel. An easy way to glam up any ‘do. I especially like the crystal, and jewel embellished barrettes and combs, it’s like jewelry for the hair!

Here are some of our favourite hair accessory brands:

Carolina Rodriguez

Bambako

Jennifer Ouellette

The obvious night out must haves, that keep you looking as fabulous as when you first stepped out the door are: whatever lip product you’re wearing, compact mirror and powder or something to absorb oil. A couple of cotton swabs to remove unwanted smudges around the eyes.

Expert Tips:

1. Load up a covered brush with your lipstick colour and put the top on. You’ll have enough product on the brush to touch up throughout the night, and it’s one less product to carry in your purse.

2. Stay shine free for photos with either a translucent pressed powder or oil absorbing papers. For those who get super shiny blot with the paper first, try MAC Blot Film. This will remove excess oil without the build up that repeated powdering can leave.

3. Smoky eyes can start to travel as the night goes on. Use a cotton swab to clean up eye kohl that smudges.

Abbey Lee Kershaw is the latest Australian beauty making a name for herself in the fashion industry. Winning a modelling competition set the wheels in motion. A few years later in 2008, Abbey’s big break came when she shot an ad campaign for D&G . The road to success has not been without it’s obstacles. There was the fainting at McQueen due to a corset being too tight at the SS 09 show. Unrelated, but equally problematic was knee surgery, to remove damaged ligaments! Despite these setbacks Abbey has bounced back and judging from the lucrative campaigns (Gucci Flora fragrance), and magazine covers (Dazed & Confused Dec 09) this doll like face is destined for success.

Images from style.com and models.com

Before the end of the year arrives a few big movies will hit the theatres just in time for the 2010 awards season. (Golden Globe nominations were this morning) Over the past week premieres and promotion have begun, where we’ve seen standard red carpet looks that work every time. Rachel McAdams and Gwen Stefani at the premiere of Sherlock Holmes, show off two different shades of red. Adding further evidence to the fact that, there is a red lipstick that works for everyone. Penelope Cruz at the Nine premiere, and Zoe Saldana at Avatar, left their hair down, and focused on dark smoky eyes and neutral and matte lips.

Images from justjared.com

As far as false lashes go these are the best for a natural look. What makes them so wearable, is that the longest length is in the middle rather than on the outer corners. This gives the effect of bigger, rounder eyes, rather than exaggerated length on the corners. #33 lashes are dark brown and not black which also gives a more subtle look. These lashes are made from natural hair, and can be used multiple times.

Truth be told, I’m not a fan of Taylor Swift’s usual look. So when we saw these in T magazine I was pleasantly surprised. I think it’s the combination of bright blue eyeshadow and fire engine red lips that are just so eye catching. We know this might not be the go to look for most peoples day to day lives, but a toned down version could be pulled off under the right circumstances. Therefore we recommend the following key products: Anastasia Brow Gel for groomed brows that take a back seat to the overall look. The YSL Ombre 5 Lumieres in 5 Riviera is the perfect palette of blues. Applied with a soft brush you can achieve a less dramatic look. Recreate the crisp red lip with YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in Red Temptation. For sculpting the cheeks a matte blush works the best, try Revlon’s Barely Buff. Essie Nail Polish in Lollipop completes the look.

Images from nytimes.com

Who doesn’t need more moisture on their skin right now? For maximum hydration spritz your face with a water based mist, like Stella McCartney Toning Floral Water and then apply your moisturizer. Moisturizer penetrates better on damp skin for a more smooth, supple complexion.

As winter sets in we inevitably gravitate towards this seasons tweeds and woolies. A neutral palette for the face is the perfect make up look for this trend. This monochromatic look is brought to life by playing with texture. MAC Bountiful Brown Power Point Pencil has a subtle bronze shimmer to it. The Kevyn Aucoin eyeshadows contain both matte and frost finishes to add dimension to the eyes. Finish with the ever so relevant nude lip, in either lipstick or gloss. You have yourself an understated, yet beautiful look.

Images from style.com, and netaporter.com

Currently I am loving DiorSkin Nude foundation. I’m all about skin that looks flawless but not made up. Skin that glows without looking oily. This foundation does exactly that. The key ingredients are 100% natural mineral pigments, and mineralized water, which leave your skin looking hydrated and glowing. I use a duo fibre round foundation brush for a quick and even application.

Sometimes it’s quite challenging to find the exact match in a foundation. Either you are in between shades, or your skin is more than one colour (especially if you have a dark skin tone). Buying two foundations can solve both of these problems. If you are in between colours, having two shades gives you the option of mixing a darker and a lighter to create your own custom shade. For those who are darker on the forehead, sides, and chin use the darker colour around the perimeter of your face, and under cheekbones. The lighter shade can then be used through the centre of the face. The end result is an even complexion that’s naturally contoured.

On Sunday night at the American Music Awards, both Alicia Keys and Fergie had some major red carpet style. They shared a designer in common, both wearing Armani Prive gowns but their makeup looks were completely different. Alicia, who often wears colourful make up matched her eyeshadow to her dress. This is not usually my favourite way to do make up. I think it worked this time because the blue didn’t over take her entire eye, and the black eyeliner and lashes kept it looking modern. Fergie’s voluminous hair made a bigger statement than her make up. She’s really low key with her make up these days often wearing neutral eyeshadow, and pale peach lips. I actually really liked the contrast between her understated make up, and the hard rock dress, anything else would have been just too much.

Images from justjared.com

As a follow up from last weeks post on glitter, here are our expert application tips:

1. Pour a small amount of glitter out rather than dipping your brush into the container. You’ll have better control over how much product you want

2. For a strong glitter eye apply a cream shadow or vaseline first for better adhesion

3. Apply glitter with a small flat eyeshadow brush or finger, and press onto the cream or vaseline

4. For an eyeliner look that doesn’t budge apply a thin line of surgical adhesive along the upper lash line (Try Duo Surgical Adhesive) pick up glitter with an angle brush and apply directly on top of the Duo.

5. For a more subtle approach apply fine particle glitter to the inner corners of the eye to brighten up a smoky eye

6. To make an all over body shimmer add two parts moisturizer to one part glitter

7. Sprinkle glitter on top of wet nail polish to create high shine nails

8. Use tape to clean up glitter that falls on the face where you don’t want it to

It’s all about the skin, and not just your face. To recreate Charlize’s all over golden, glowing look we suggest:

1. Start by using a body scrub or exfoliator

2. Apply a rich moisturizer or try Neutrogena Body Oil and let dry

3. With a soft powder brush, dust MAC Mineralized Skin Finish in Gold Deposit down the arms, across the chest and collar bone, and down the shin bone. For more intense shine, you can mist the brush with water and then dip into the Skin Finish.

For a fabulous bronzed face, all you really need is a bronzing powder preferably with some luminosity. The Dior Face and Lip Palette above contains a bronzer and shimmer powder as well as a gold lip gloss to complete your sun-kissed look.

Image from dior.com

Jourdan was spotted at the age of 16, where many 16 year old British girls can be found — at discount fashion superstore Primark. A few years later and she’s gone from Primark shopper to British Fashion Council’s “Model of the Year” in 2008. Jourdan was also on the cover of Italian Vogue in July 2008 with the entire issue celebrating Black models. Her most recent cover was Teen Vogue’s November issue. There have been countless runways from Louis to Prada, and campaigns for Calvin Klein, YSL, and Topshop to name a few. Her feline features are truly captivating, it’s no wonder this girl is a star.

Images from models.com, style.com, and teenvogue.com

This is by far the best time of year to buy cosmetics. All the brands put out special edition sets, and palettes for a fraction of the price that they are usually available for. Above are some of this seasons best.

From left to right:

1. MAC Naughty Noir Eye Bag-Mascara, Fluidline Eyeliner, Eyeliner brush, Pigment, & small bag.

2. NARS Lipgloss Collection-5 shades of Lipgloss

3. Bobbi Brown Chrome Beauty Kit

4. Sephora Mascara Deluxe Samples- 10 popular Mascaras

5. Armani Mini Brush Set-5 brushes & case

6. Dior Holiday Eye Palette