Making Up Anna Karenina

via Makeup 411

Skincare

• Applebox Cosmetics Cream Cleanser
• CHANEL Hydra Beauty Crème Hydration Protection Radiance

Foundation

• CHANEL Vitalumière Moisture-Rich Radiance Fluid Makeup SPF 15 in Clair and Cendré, mixed.

Concealer

• Giorgio Armani High Precision Retouch in Ivory and Light Sand, mixed.

Powder

• Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder

Blush

• CHANEL Blush Horizon de Chanel
• CHANEL Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipshine in Liberté

Eye Shadow

• CHANEL Le Crayon Khôl Intense Eye Pencil in Ambre, smudged and applied as eye shadow.

Brows

• Extended with real human hair

Mascara

• Talika Lipocils Expert

Lips

• CHANEL Le Crayon Lèvres Precision Lip Definer in Rose Corail and Pretty Pink
• CHANEL Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lip Colour in Venise

Highlights / Countour

• CHANEL Le Blanc De Chanel Sheer Illuminating Base as the final veil over the whole make-up to give it luminosity and to create a ‘final skin’ to marry all the shapes created on the face into one luminous, seemingly make-up-free skin.

Invest For the Best

 

Photo by Rui Faria via the Guardian

 

Investment tools are often pricey by comparison to the multitude of crap one can stock up on so remembering the mantra ‘quality over quantity‘ will do you a world of good here.  Finding a tool that actually delivers on what it is meant to do is, well, priceless (whether purchased with a Mastercard or not).

All killer no filler list:

Rubis tweezers, $28.22, beautybay.com
You won’t know how different tweezing can be until you own these.

Cloud Nine O Rollers, from $29.99 to $399, cloudninehair.com
Miraculous results and extremely easy to use.

Vogetti Pro Wonder Brush, £5.50, amazinghair.co.uk
Looks like a scrubbing brush, but is the best backcombing tool ever. 

Shiseido eyelash curler, $31.50, feelunique.com
Japanese eyelash curlers are the best (see also Shu Uemura). These give lasting curl with no pinching and bending.

Parlux Compact Hairdryer, $140, folica.com
It’s only when you try a Parlux that you realize how bad most dryers are. 

Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System, from $119, sephora.com
The original and the best: this sonic cleansing brush could transform problem skin.

 

Dita von Yes Please

 

The Queen of Burlesque’s own beauty must-haves and beauty tricks gathered from her Twitter account.

Face

• L’oreal True Match in N1 (which is also Cher’s favorite)
• Dior Capture Totale Foundation in Light Beige
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light
• Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder for under the eyes

Skincare advice: “See a dermatologist for problem skin rather than spend money on miracle creams!”

Eyes

• MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack (applied with a fine brush)
• Guerlain Liquid Eyeliner
• MAC Liquidlast Liners

Lips

• MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo
• MAC Lipstick in Lady Danger
• MAC Lipstick in Russian Red
• NARS Lipgloss in Daredevil
• Tom Ford Smoke Red
• Tom Ford Cherry Crush
• Tom Ford True Coral
• Guerlain KissKiss Lipstick in Exces De Rouge 523
• Dior Diorific in Rouge Bingo
• Face Stockholm Matte Lipstick in Claret
• MAC Lipliner in Beet

Hair

• Garnier 100% Color Intense in Blue Black

Nails

• MAC Rougemarie
• Essie Fishnet Stockings
• Leighton Denny Passion

 

 

Flash Sales

Flash sale sites have been the-next-big-thing for a while now but how many do you actually take advantage of?  Here is a list of favorites that ship to the US, Canada and Internationally.  Unfortunately One Kings Lane only ships within the US, sigh. 

Home & Fashion

• HomeSav
• Gilt
• Fab
• The Foundary
• Red Nook
• Beyond the Rack
• Bespoke Global
• Achica
• 2Modern
• My Habit
• StyleHopper
• The Peacock Parade
• Eluxe

Travel

Spire
Here you can find at least 30% off on top-rated hotels throughout the US.  Spire is probably the most customer friendly on this list—allowing cancellations with full refund after 72 hours of booking—plus an integrated flight-search feature to help you complete travel plans.  Sales are usually available for up to 14 days.

SniqueAway
A TripAdvisor owned site, SniqueAway offers up to 50% off at the top-rated hotels and indulgent tours.  Sales are typically available for purchase for one week with a new escape introduced each day.

TripAlertz
New deals on hotels pop up every Tuesday at TripAlertz and last for about two weeks. And, the site has a social networking aspect to it: as more people book a deal, the price goes down, so everyone gets a break in the end.

MindBodyGreenTravel
Deeply discounted, multi-day yoga retreat and Eco-resort stays in exotic locales all over the world are what you’ll find at MindBodyGreenTravel. Sales are up for long periods of time but dates are inflexible. All travel packages must be paid in full at time of booking, and are non-refundable.

Groupenture
Adventure junkies can save up to 65% at Groupenture for activity-driven vacations on six continents—and prep ahead with free video briefings—with new itineraries introduced weekly. Also, as more travelers join up, the price goes down. Plus, booking only requires a deposit, not full fare.

Voyage Privé
High-end travel excursions up to 75% off for members can be had at Voyage Privé, with each vetted by their team of travel agents. New trips are introduced daily and sales last an average of 6 days.

Retro Make-up

Ten Steps to Retro

1. Start Blissful!  If you don’t already have a daily skin care routine, now is the time to start!  Every great work of art needs a proper canvas.

2. Flawless skin! Inspired by old Hollywood movie stars, even outskin tone with MAC Studio Fix Fluid. 

3. Let Secrets be Secrets.  Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage for under eyes and little “problems”… for extra umpth use the light side as a highlighter on the top of cheek bones, brow bones, down the bridge of the nose and center of the chin for some photo-perfect contouring. 

4. Power Puff.  Finish out the contouring by using MAC Blot Powder (“Dark” seen in photo) on cheek bones, creases of eyes, down the sides of the nose and under the jaw line. 

5. Apple Cheeks!  Right in the apple of the cheeks this blush will add a nice healthy pop of red, NARS Powder Blush in Exhibit A.

6. The Framery.  Eyebrows frame the face, just look at Hepburn or Bacall, so give them the Hollywood shape with Laura Mercier Eyebrow Pencil!

7. All about Eyes.  Keep it simple, Le Métier de Beauté in Sugar all over and Tamarack in the crease and at the lash line.  For night time add an extra application of Tamarack for very hooded eyes.

8. Play ‘em up.  Mascara, mascara, mascara… I love mascara!  Apply as many coats as needed of MAC False Lashes mascara which makes big glossy lashes that don’t smudge around the eyes yet washes off at night easily. 

9. Flirty Eyes.  This is where it gets good.  It doesn’t take much, just 5 to 7 flares per eye to fill it in but it makes all the difference especially in photographs!   

Step by Step:

1. Squeeze a TINY drop of Duo Eyelash adhesive (Use dark tone and Duo as it does not damage your natural lashes and washes off easily).
2. Using tweezers pull 1 flare and lightly dip the base end in the glue. 
3. With the tweezers holding the flared end set them on top of your eye lashes as close to the base as possible but not on the eyelid. 
4. Repeat as much as you like! 
5. Let dry for 5mins or so then apply a final layer of mascara, gently pinch the false lashes to your real ones to give a seamless illusion. 
6. Bat those babies all night.

10. Paint it RED.  What is a retro diva without red lips?!  All time classic combo.  Start on the outside of lips with Cargo Reverse Lip Liner (Use “light”), draw the shape and fill in the lips lightly with MAC Lip Liner in SPICE, then top it off for show with MAC lipstick in LADY DANGER.  

Et VOILA!

DIY: Restore Broken Powder Makeup

via Katrina Lomidze

If you’re anything like me then you have at least five powder compacts that are broken and lying somewhere at the bottom of a drawer.  Here’s how to resolve this unsightly, messy and expensive problem.  This works for any kind of powder based makeup, bronzers, blot powders, eye shadows, etc.

How To

• Add a few small drops of 75%+ based rubbing alcohol (the higher the alcohol concentrate, the faster it will dry but any percentage will do if you leave it overnight)

• After adding the alcohol to the broken powder it will seep through and the powder will become soft

• Smudge the soft soaking powder around, making it into a paste-like substance and re-form it by smoothing it out with your finger (use the back of a spoon to make it really smooth)

• Let it dry overnight for best results

Easy peasy!  Go ahead and try your new ‘old’ makeup!

Indulgent Must Haves

Getting over indulgence by indulging yourself?  Sounds heavenly.  The best way to get over the holidays is by creating a mini at-home “spa” in your own bathroom.

Easiest way to achieve this blissful space is to keep it stocked with scrubs, lotions and potions that are sure to keep you looking young and feeling alive,  and if it doesn’t, you’ll still feel like a million bucks.  

Soft lighting and rich luxurious towels, are also a must.   Make sure you also have a great toothbrush and natural toothpaste.  My favorites have been curated from around the world, either in person or through the magic of online shopping, here are some of the must have’s:

• Fresh – Brown Sugar Body Scrub
• Origins Ginger Souffle Body Lotion 
• Bed Head Hair Stick
• Aqua Di Parma Bath & Shower gel
• Neutrogena Body Wash
• Molton Brown Body Milk
• Aveda Mint Shampoo
• KMS Daily Fixx Everyday Shampoo
• L’Occitane Foot Cream
• Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub
• Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Moisture Cream
• Aveeno Shaving Gel
• Burt’s Bees Cuticle Cream

Bella Swan’s Bridal Makeup

In Breaking Dawn, the fourth installment of the five-film franchise, Bella finally marries her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen, in what may be the most anticipated wedding of 2011.

Make-up by Stacey Panepinto, breakdown by Makeup411.

Skin Care:  SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic and SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture in the morning, SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Masque after removing make-up.

Foundation:  La Prairie Skin Caviar Concealer Foundation SPF 15 in Peche combined with Sensai Brightening Make-Up Base Concealer.

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat in 2 Luminous Ivory and Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer in Beige Powder.

Powder:  Make Up For Ever HD Powder on the face; Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder under the eyes.

Blush:  Stila Custom Color Blush – Pink

Eye Shadow:  Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow in Winter Nights (discontinued)

Eye Liner:  Lancome Le Crayon Khol Waterproof in Black on upper lid while the two darkest shades were used on the lower lid.

Brows:  Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencil in Brunette/Dark Brown

Mascara:  Diorshow Waterproof in Black

False Lashes:  3-4 bunches of individual lashes in black, applied to the outside edge of each eye.

Lips:  Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 for moisture.  For the wedding, M.A.C. Lip Pencil in Soar lightly applied and then topped with a custom mix of glosses.

Additional:  To give a pick-me-up through the day, Panepinto dabbed Dr. Hauschka Moisturizing Day Cream on forehead, cheek bones and cheeks to refresh the make-up and keep skin glowing.

Kim Kardashian’s Bridal Makeup

Makeup by Mario Dedivanovic, breakdown by Makeup411

Skin Care:  La Mer The Moisturizing Lotion

Foundation:  Dior Diorskin Nude

Concealer:  By Terry Touche Veloutée

Powder:  Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre

Bronzer:  Guerlain Teracotta Bronzing Powder

Blush:  Lancôme Blush Subtil in Rose Romantique

Eye Shadow:  Lancôme Color Design Palette in Golden Frenzy

Eye Liner:  Cover Girl LineExact Liquid Liner in Very Black

Brows:  L’Oreal Paris Brow Stylist Custom Brow Shaping Pencil in Light Brown

Mascara:  Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Lashes Mascara in So Black!

False Lashes:  The artist designed Kardashian’s lashes himself using several cut-up strips and individual lashes.

Lips:  Lancôme L’Absolu Nu Lipstick in Coral Sand, topped with Lancôme La Laque Fever in Ravishing Coral. Yves Saint Laurent Dessin Des Levres in Nude Beige as a lip liner.

Highlights / Countour:  Giella Eye M Glam. Dedivanovic applied this product to Kardashian’s cheek bones to give a dewy look to her skin. He also applied it on the bridge of her nose, the Cupid’s bow of her lips, the inner corners of eyes, her décolletage, shoulders and arms.

*For touch-ups, Dedivanovic used Tacha Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers

Illusion