Spring 2011: The Naked Truth

Fresh, luminous skin is the only accessory you need this Spring, so get glowing with a light, flawless finish that is aimed to enhance our natural highlights and shadows, add some depth with a healthy glow, all while maintaining our girlish prettiness. Massive on countless international runways (see Balmain, Stella McCartney & Ralph Lauren below), you can achieve this barely there look with a few key products. 

Zoe Saldana Spills Her Secrets

Ms. Zoe Saldana-- ever wonder how this stunning star always looks so amazing with her showstopping, perfect makeup? She spilled the details on her favourite makeup and what you need to acheive the same looks:

Beauty Muse Daily Tip: Think Outside the Gloss

There are countless brands, types, colours and formulas of lip gloss on the market, so how can one truly decide which one is the best for them, as different women have different priorities, preferences and needs to be met? PSST! We will let you in on our little secret: create your own! Not only will you have an individualized colour and pigment that no other woman will have (hello individuality!), but you have the ability and freedom to create exactly what you want! How you ask yourself? Simply mix in loose pigments to your favorite clear or already pigmented gloss! With your chosen lip gloss, mix in the smallest amount of loose pigment in whatever colour your little heart desires to create your own, personalized lip gloss meeting your needs to the tee. (Do we hear hundreds of new gloss lines coming out?? Fine, maybe not...)

Beauty Muse Daily Tip: Eyes First

Master your daily routine quickly and precisely with this simple trick: applying your eyeshadow before your foundation. "What?? Are they insane?" No, we are not insane and also know it sounds backwards but it actually does work to your benefit. As always, you should prime your lid with foundation/concealer first, but follow this step with your eyeshadow application vs. foundation. Often times, the castoff from the eyeshadow smears onto your foundation and leaves a residue that is difficult to clean up with foundation applied first, because the product has already spread. Around your eyes, use either a smaller foundation brush or a sponge to avoid smudging your eyeshadow, and to clean up excess shadow or fix any uneven lines. Once your eyes are finished, then you apply your foundation, concealer, powder, blush, etc. etc. Once you get the hang of it, you'll too realize this trick makes a whole-lotta difference.

K.I.S.S. My Pink Chic

Undoubtedly, at your family gatherings, parties and dinners, women are in a pickle with their make-up: "If I go too dark, grandma may lose her mind, but if I..."

Take note from Eva Mendes and Blake Lively and just remember to K.I.S.S. then make-up: Keep It Simple Stupid. For any family event, maintain a look that is both innocent and inviting. Show off your most glamourous self in a subtle yet refreshing way with a soft blush. Right above your cheekbones, on the bridge of your nose, browbones and right above your cupid's bow (your lip point), apply a sheer, irridescent blush in a soft pink to add a natural glow to your skin. Smile, then on the apples of your cheeks apply a muted pink blush. Why pink? This perky colour is great because it compliments all skin tones and immediately adds a fresh finish to the face. Depending on your skin tone, you may simply want to go lighter or darker but staying within the pink family.

Beauty Muse Daily Tip: She's a STONE Cold Fox

We are absolutely obsessed and loving Emma Stone's purr-fectly updated, more structed, foxier take on a smokey eye. The neat, structured liner, peach blush and muted lip makes a major statement on this natural beauty and her perfect, almond shaped eyes only enhance it. To acheive this perfect liner, apply your liner at the inner corner of your eye, along the upper lash line. Draw and extend the sharp angle (or tail) that starts at the outer corner of your eye and points to the end of your eyebrow (this is so important because the idea is to have the illusion of a "lifted" eye).

Note: don't worry if it looks completely different on your eye than hers: it's not that you don't know what you're doing; instead, Ms. Stone has already almond-shaped lids so they look even more amazing with a dramatic cat effect.



Look: Mod-Esque

Feather clutch--check! Satin pumps--check! Glass (or 3) of bubbly--check!... Dark, smokey eyes, defined cheeks, luscious lips--Check, Check, Check! Now you're ready for your night out. Here is the one of my favourite looks as I love a sultry eye and intense lip; it is inspired by the 1920's, yet updated with a modern twist: a fiercer eye and the similar attention-grabbing pout. Pair this look with a vintage up-do and you are ready for anything the night throws your way.
Note: if you are not a usual "make-up wearer", you may not be totally comfortable with this look but it can be toned down in 2 ways quite easily:
1). Do not extend the lid colour up and out the create the cat-eye look--just keep it to the lid;
2). Wear a more neutral, soft pink or nude lip colour to have less intensity.



GET THE LOOK (applied in this order): Lid: Stila Smudgepot in Jade + Stila Smudgepot in Black Cat
-Once your lid is covered with equal ration of both colours, now you will add in the "cat-eye" portion: with a flat-ended brush (I used a concealer brush, surprisingly {Sephora #45}), extend Jade beyond the lid. Holding the brush down (brush end pointing down), apply Jade to your eye by whisping it up. It may be a defined line but don't worry because you're going to blend and layer. With your fingers, blend up any harsh,
messy lines until you get a nice diffusion.
-With these cream-based shadows, don't be afraid to blend them with your fingers for easy movement
because our fingers are naturally warm and allow them to move easily.
Crease: Stila Smugepot in Jade (pull eye up for easily blending)
Liner-TOP: Stila Kajal in in Onyx
-With your liner, follow the "cat-eye" Jade shadow as far how as you like, then blend it up into it
Liner-BOTTOM: Stila Kajal in Onyx
Brow Highlight: Make-Up Forever Diamond Shadow in Diamond White
Mascara: MAC Zoom Lash in Black
Concealer: FACE Atelier Camouflage Concealer in Medium
Foundation: FACE Atelier Foundation #7
Powder: Make-Up Forever HD
Blush: MAC Blush in Breezy
Lip Liner: Bobbi Brown in Rum Raisin
Lipstick: Make-Up Forever Flash Colour in Red 017 + Blue 014 (2 parts blue, 1 part red)

Beauty Muse Daily Tip: First Comes Shading Then Comes...

An essential step in a make-up routine that is frequently forgotten is contouring. Generally, contour simply means shading, defining, an outline or silhouette. With make-up, it changes the entire look of your face by creating a sense of balance, adding definition to your face with color. Facial features are viewed as a combination of light and shadows; therefore, by applying a dark tone, you create a false shadow, making it appear as if there is more depth or recession. One way to create the most natural yet effective contour is using creams BUT the trick is to apply it before your foundation. Using any shade of brown that is slightly darker than your skin (depending on your skin tone), apply the cream right beneath your cheek bone, only as far as the middle of your face (do not go beyond the no-mans land). Then you blend it out so it is diffused without any harsh lines, and finally you apply your foundation and blush just like normal and you will definitely see a more defined difference.

Toner Made Easy

It doesn't get much more convenient than a toner in a pad. And you may ask yourself, "Why do I need a toner anyways?" Jam-packed with skin loving ingredients, it helps you remove residual dirt, shrinks pores, nourishes and protects, and balances the PH of the skin. Cranberry Toner by Arcona ($30) comes in convenient cotton pads that cleanses, tones and hydrates the skin, infusing it with protective antioxidants to leave it glowing and refreshed. Protect and clarify skin with antimicrobial cranberry, containing vitamins, phyto-nutrients and essential fatty acids; neutralize free radicals with vitamin E tocopherols and tocotrienols; and nourish and heal skin with omegas 3, 6 and 9 and rice milk. Just pull one of these babies out of the jar to remove excess makeup, tone and hydrate after cleansing, or refresh your face after a workout or a good night's sleep. Yes, skin care can be this easy...

Beauty Muse Daily Tip: Mix Masters

A clear complexions secret weapon is concealer, yet many of us are unaware or unsure of what colours to use and where. One thing worth remembering is to not be afraid to mix them: no one colour will perfectly match everyone's skin tone, and not every area on our faces is all necessarily the exact colour. Mixing concealers together is great to achieve lighter or darker coverage or help get that perfect colour combination to eliminate that dreadful under eye baggage we all (unfortunately) have.

Rando Dando

Beauty Muse Daily Tip: The Root of the Problem

Want thicker, fuller, and denser looking lashes? It can be done in one simple step: apply your eyeiner directly to the base of your top lashline --the exact point where your lashes and lid meet. With an angle or flat-ended brush, apply a line that is ever-so thin and barely noticeable but will immediately give the illusion of intense, thicker, and dense lashes.
Note: gel, cake, or liquid liner work best as they are the most opaque giving the most intense line and results!

Look: No Grey Area

The main attraction to this look? Smoke & shimmer! Shimmer is big for the party season, as long as you don't go shimmer-happy and become a frosted ice queen. You can always adjust the colours I used to fit your preference, comfort and skin tone. Also, to add a big (yet good) BANG! pair these eyes with a glossy, bold blue-based red lip.

GET THE LOOK (applied in this order): Foundation: Make-Up Forever Mat Velvet in Neutral Beige
Concealer: FACE Atelier in Medium
Powder: Make-Up Forever HD
Lid: Urban Decay Stardust Eyeshadow in Moon Spoon
Crease: Make-Up Forever Eyeshadow in Slate Grey
Outer 1/3: MAC Eyeshadow in Carbon (blended inwards towards lid colour)
Line (both top, bottom, tarsal plate): TOP: Stila Kajal in Onyx;with flat ended brush, blend liner for a diffused finish
Highlight: Laura Mercier Eye Shadow in Pearl
Mascara: Chanel Inimitable Mascara in Black; FALSE: MAC # 3
Lipstick: MAC Lip Pencil in Oak + MAC LipGlass in Clear
Blush: Sephora Blush Me! Mono in Brun Timide 7
Highlight: FACE Atelier Ultra Sheer in Opal

Get a Blu-tiful Canvas

No longer just for your morning oatmeal, blueberries are an anti-oxidant rich fruit (along with apple and lemon peel) that help fight the signs of aging. Say Yes to Blueberries Smoothing Daily Cleanser ($10.99, Shoppers Drug Mart) is a gentle start to your skincare regimen. Formulated with apple, rich in powerful anti-oxidants and natural alpha-hydroxy acids to help refresh and brighten skin; and lemon peel, a naturally derived cleanser to help sweep away dirt and grime and brighten the skin they work together to remove dirty and repair damage while coconut oil smoothes the skin. Check out all the products from the Say Yes to Blueberries line as they are all age refresh products that enhance skin firmness and diminish fine lines, as it is created with blueberries, cotton thistle and paracress flower. This milk-based facial cleanser is paraben-free and will make you scream YES to more than just a fresh face...



Rando Dando

Beauty muse Daily Tip: More Drama, Please!

The saying "less is more" definitely does not apply here: spiky, dramatic, thick and voluminous is what we desire and yearn for, and it can be achieved so easily, might we add. Kim Kardashian is notorious for rocking her lavish lashes, and Eva Longoria dons a faux pair every now and then, as well. When 3 or 4 (or 6 or 7) coats of mascara just don't quite cut it, fake it! You can effortlessly achieve this look with a strip of falsies-- for easier application, cut the strip into 3 smaller pieces and apply. With a shorter spine, it will make application much, much easier.

More Cover, Less Cake

Want the coverage without the cakiness? TEMPTU Undereye Concealer ($28, sephora.com) is your go-to cover-up. This innovative concealer is infused with reflective diamond dust and anti-aging vitamins, to help reduce and improve tired looking eyes and fine lines. The reflective diamond dust effectively diffuses the appearance of lines, dark circles, and any discolouration on the skin to leave you with radiant, flawless skin. With Vitamins A, C, E, and K working alongside cucumber and aloe, they provide a ton of moisture, allowing for smooth, delicate and revived skin.

Feel Good Beauty

First created in 1991, the co-founders of Fresh Cosmetics, Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg, had one goal: to create the ideal artisanal soap. The creation and launch of their Oval Soap Collection ignited their infatuation to develop products that are both decadent and effective. This infatuation led Fresh to be the first company to pioneer use of natural ingredients like sugar, milk, soy and rice in contemporary beauty treatments. A Fresh Favourite (and ours, too) is the Black Tea Age-Delay Cream ($95, fresh.com). An advanced skin-perfecting moisturizer, made with collagen-boosting lychee, which combines natural ingredients with revolutionary technology shown to strengthen the skin’s structure, firm the complexion, and visibly reduce the appearance of lines. This advanced formula contains black tea to purify the complexion and improve shine and lychee to encourage collagen fusion, helping to maintain the skin’s elasticity and flexibility.

Rando Dando

Beauty Muse Daily Tip: What Lies Beneath is Key

A flexible beauty accessory that can be teamed with practically any outfit is red lipstick (and it is a must-have for the holidays!) If you have never applied or worn red lipstick before, wear it with confidence, be brave and be ready to make a bold statement! Pair your red pout with flawless, glowing skin to pull this look off perfectly. Love the look but unsure of which colour suits you? Look at your undertone: if you have a warmer undertone (like Jessica Alba), try a warmer red (think oranges), and if your undertone is cooler (like Scarlett Johansson), try a cooler red (think blues or purples).