The nude lip is always a hit on and off the red carpet. Personally I can’t live without MAC C-Thru Lipglass. I’ve been devoted to it since it launched about eight years ago. The perfect shade of peachy beige, it works on almost every skin tone from fair to dark. The thing to remember when choosing the perfect nude lip is to get the right undertone to match your skin. Olive skin looks good in beige, gold, and peach undertones. If your skin is more fair and has rosy undertones then pale pink nudes work very well. Use a lip liner to softly define your lips, and a little gloss to ensure that your lips don’t disappear but still stand out.

Images from justjared.com

Glitter is one of the easiest ways to add glam to any look, whether it be make up or clothing. When it comes to make up you need to decide how much sparkle you want. This will determine the product you choose. For extremely glittery eyes I would use a product with large glitter particles like Sephora Glitter Eyeliner. The glitter is suspended in a clear gel which adheres to the eyes easily. For a more subtle look glitter pencils are a better choice like the ones from NARS. My favourite is MAC Reflects Gold. Reflects glitter has very small particles so the texture is super smooth — the effect is a more sophisticated glitter look. Stay tuned for glitter application techniques…

Images from style.com and netaporter.com

Using your ring finger, apply eye cream (try one with anti-puff ingredients) in circular motions all the way around the eye. Applying some pressure will  get the blood circulating, and help reduce the appearance of puffy eyes.

Image from style.com

Before there were such sophisticated hair products, women with oily hair often used baby powder as a quick fix. My stylist tipped me off to a less messy and more effective way to be rid of oil-Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo Spray. This spray will soak up the excess oil without completely stripping the hair, boosts volume, and smells of fresh lemon and verbena. A must have for grease free hair.

The 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards brought out quite a few familiar faces. Katy Perry and Leona Lewis looked picture perfect on the red carpet. Both ladies played up their eyes by wearing stacks of lashes, always a wise choice for instant glamour. I also enjoy the white eyeliner in Leona’s water line it makes her eyes appear big and bright.

Images from justjared.com

Prada (as seen above) sent the girls down the runway with what may have resembled a birds nest on top of their heads, but it worked. For those of us who don’t prefer this look for our day to day lives we recommend L’oreal Anti-Frizz Spray. 24 hour anti-humidity, anti-frizz protection, strong hold, and zero residue. Big claims to make, but according to my hair stylist this product does not disappoint. To achieve a completely frizz free look also try Living Proof No frizz Shampoo and Conditioner. Both of these products block humidity which is of course the number one culprit of frizz.

Images from style.com

Lady like sophistication hit the runways this season. Strong feminine shapes like the pencil skirt, sky high heels, and statement necklaces deserve a make up look that takes more than five minutes to apply. Start by brightening and perfecting skin with YSL Touche Eclat. Eyes can be smoky in colour and almond in shape. Or go for a light coloured shadow all over the eyes, and define the lash line with a strong winged out liquid eyeliner using Armani’s Maestro Eyeliner. No lady like look is complete without a classic red lip easily achieved with Chanel Lipstick in Lover. Revlon’s All Fired Up nail enamel finishes the luxe look.

Images from style.com and netaporter.com

Autumn is in full swing, the weather is cooler and the clocks went back. As if these weren’t big enough indicators, I need only look down at my hands to notice that to my dismay, my dry skin has returned. The good news is dry hands are easily rectified with Aveda’s Hand Relief. This is one of my “must have” products of the season. The emollient rich formula penetrates dry skin leaving your hands feeling extremely smooth and soft. For anyone who has allergies or a sensitivity to smell you’ll find the scent is very subtle. For extra dry hands apply liberally before going to bed and cover hands with cotton gloves. You will wake up with softest hands ever!

In Hollywood it seems like another day, another awards show. Kate Beckinsale and Diane Kruger looked effortlessly beautiful at the 2009 Hollywood Awards. Both actresses opted for a red carpet stand by — neutral coloured eyes with a subtle shimmer, and natural pink lips.

Images from justjared.com

Alex Box has a wild imagination. Her creations are so incredible they have graced the pages of numerous magazines, and walked many runways. She is responsible for the much talked about Gareth Pugh SS 2010 make up. Alex uses the face as a canvas and pushes the limits of conventional make up to a world of fantasy. So it comes as no surprise that Alex is also the creative director of Illamasqua cosmetics. Illamasqua products are very intensely pigmented and inspired by theatrical make up. I have yet to try anything from the brand (currently not available in Canada) but from what I’ve seen it looks pretty amazing. Earlier this month Alex Box launched her first book entitled The Make Up Artist that showcases her phenomenal work.

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

New to the scene and already making a name for herself is Ranya Mordanova. She’s already been dubbed as a “rising star” and one of the “top ten newcomers” by several industry insiders. Since debuting in New York this February, Ranya’s managed to score editorials in French Vogue, W and V magazine as well as a lucrative ad campaign with Givenchy. And that’s just to name a few!

During London Fashion week in September, I worked with Ranya at Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders. Intense eyes, severe bowl cut, poreless pale skin, and the most adorable pout. A guarantee that she stands out in a crowd.

Images from style.com and models.com

We heart this trend for Fall 2009. Everyone knows you cannot go wrong with sooty dark eyes and pale lips. Almost every makeup line has their version of the “black out” trend. MAC’s Grease Paint Stick with Chanel’s Eye Gloss smudged on top creates a fabulous punky eye. Add to that a sharp shouldered jacket, and leather accessories. It’s so incredibly hot. You have to wear this look with attitude and confidence. It’s not for shrinking violets.

Images from maccosmetics.com, style.com, and netaporter.com

It is virtually impossible to recreate some of the looks we have shown on our blog without the right tools. I love brushes and as a make-up artist I own hundreds, but for most people a starter set of five will do quite nicely. One thing I will say about brushes is that they are worth the investment. While you can often get away with spending less on a lipstick or eyeshadow a cheap brush will not perform, or last as long as one you spend more money on.

Brushes can be natural or synthetic or a blend of both. The important thing is the shape and texture, soft brushes pick up and apply less product and are good for blending. Stiff brush pick up and apply more product these are good for powder and cream products.

From left to right:

1. Powder or Blush-a medium size dome shaped brush made of goat hair is the perfect size to double for powder or blush.

2. Tapered Eyeshadow-a soft haired paint brush shape is ideal for blending eyeshadow through the crease of the eye. Or dusting eyeshadow all over the eye for a subtle blended look. It’s also very good for blending away hard lines so your eyeshadow looks more diffused.

3. Flat Shader-This type of brush is good for powder or cream products. Most companies carry a small or large version, choose according to the size of your eyes. It can be used on the eyes to create intensity because of the shape and density of the hairs. For example to achieve strong colour on the eyes you would pick up the colour on the flat side and press it against the eyelid.

4. Angled Brush-This brush is a definite must have. It can be used with powder, cream, or liquid products to define eyebrows or for eyeliner. Make sure you examine the angle on the brush before buying. The hairs should be tight together along the angle and not too wide.

5. Foundation Brush-This flat brush is for applying liquid or cream foundation. Because it is quite dense it will pick up alot of product, if you are heavy handed use with caution. You can achieve a very flawless finish with this type of brush, and unlike a sponge it will not soak up the foundation.

For tips on how to care for your brushes go to September 9th post on How Often Should I Wash My Brushes?

We say au revoir to the Spring shows as Paris concludes a whirl wind month of fashion. Paris surpassed all expectations this season the inspiration behind each make up look was so intriguing. McQueen was just insane, the models faces looked like prosthetics, and I can’t even imagine how long it took to braid the hair. The skin at Chayalan was so ethereal and beautiful, and then the surprises really came with LV and those massive afros and what looked like pizza oven burns on the girls faces, and Dior with the lavender eyes and ruby red lips was simply adorable. No two runways are the same in Paris, this city sets the trends for the whole fashion world.

Images from style.com