Archive March 2010
Christina Aguilera Looking HOT
Christina Aguilera’s Bionic Makeup
I LOVE Christina Aguilera, always have. She’s not afraid to take risks with her makeup and she reinvents herself all the time. Have you seen the new promo pics for her new album Bionic, out June 8th? HOTTT. Her cat eyes (above) are killing me and I need those lashes (below)!! Does anyone know who makes them?
I’m still not sure if I’m feeling her new single, “Not Myself Tonight,” but she looks good so I’m not too worried about it. 
What Do You Think of Her Look? Love it? Hate it?
LEAVE A COMMENT!!
Shu Uemura leaves the US!
Shu Uemura Exits the U.S Market
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Well, today is a sad day for Shu Uemura fans!! L’Oreal, who owns international rights to Shu Uemura, has just announced that they will be pulling the makeup line out of the United States! Most well known for their cult favorite eyelash curler, cleansing oils and luxury lashes, Shu Uemura has been a staple in many artist’s kits for years. Apparently, Shu Uemura only brings in
$20 million dollars annually in the United States, and L’Oreal has decided to focus their efforts on their other luxury brands. Carol Hamilton, president of L’Oreal’s US luxury division states:
“Going forward, we decided that L’Oreal USA would bebetter served by focusing on our other strategic luxury brands like Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, Kiehl’s, and fragrances.”
The brand will no longer be available in retail stores but you can still purchase it online 
25% Off Illamasqua Lashes!
Have you heard of Illamasqua? They are a brand new London-based makeup brand that have done exceptionally well over the last year. They are a creative and colorful line with an amazing selection of eyelashes!!
Lucky us, Illamasqua’s eyelashes are 25% off until March 31st!!! Pick a few up before time runs out!
SHOP NOW
**I was a little bit confused while browsing for the eyelashes. Once you click the “Shop Now” link (above), you will be presented with what looks like only 2 eyelash options. Click on one of them and you will see a ton more options. There are over 24 to choose from!
Les Pop Up De Chanel
Summer 2010 CHANEL
Les Pop-Up De Chanel
I’m loving the bright, poppy colors in Chanel’s summer makeup collection. The nail polishes are my favorite! The turquoise color needs to be on my fingers right now!
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Nail Polish- Les Vernis
Mistral- Soft Pink
Nouvelle Vague- Turquoise
Riviera- Hot Pink
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Lipstick- Rouge Allure
Super- Rose
Genial- Rosy Beige
Darling - Coral
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Lipgloss- Gloss Fluo
Laser- Fuchsia
Pop- Orange/Red
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Glossimer- Levres Scintillantes
Bikini Peach- Soft Peach
(Love the name of this one! Can you imagine sitting on the beach during summer, sipping a cocktail and wearing ‘bikini peach’ on your lips?? Can’t wait for summer!)
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Bronzer – Soleil Tan de Chanel
Terre d’ore
Terre Halee
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Is There Anything You are Dying to Have from This Collection?
Want to Name a Lip Tar??
OCC’s New Lip Tar Could be Named By You!
Photo: MakeupArtistBackstage
Victoria Stiles, an amazing Washington D.C based makeup artist is working with the 2nd annual AER Walk With Style event, to benefit Cancer Care. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics has come up with a brand new shade for event and is giving Victoria’s blog readers a chance to give it a name!
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What You Need to Do:
1. Go to Victoria’s blog:
www.makeupartistbackstage.com
2. Leave her a comment with your suggestion for the name of this new lip tar!
The Winner Will Be Announced on Friday, March 26th and will receive a gift bag of OCC products, the new lip tar, and some serious street cred
Review: GHD Hair Straightener
GHD Flat Irons – Worth the Money?
I love how it matches my room
What’s All the Fuss Over?
GHD produces one of the top selling hair straighteners on the market. Folica.com rates it as one of their top 10 straighteners and professional hairstylists have been using them for years. One of the coolest things about GHD stylers is that they are not just for straightening! The rounded barrel allows you to curl, flick and add volume all with the very same iron. The advanced ceramic technology senses the porosity of your hair, applying the perfect amount of heat each time (eliminating too much heat on areas of your hair that are damaged). Another cool feature is that it has universal voltage for travelers! GHD stylers seal in your hair’s natural oils, moisture and color and they have a “Sleep Mode” that shuts the styler off after 30 minutes of no use! This is one of my favorite features of the straightener. I can’t even count the number of times I have left my curling irons and straighteners on alllll day long because I forget to switch them off before I leave the house. Last but not least, the irons go into “shiver mode” if the room temperature drops below 5 degrees. Shiver Mode fights condensation that occurs in such low temps, which could damage your iron. Cool! Now you can straighten your hair inside your igloo with no worries! 
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Does it Work As Well as it Claims?
Yes! I have been testing my flat iron out on set for s everal weeks, on all different hair types. The first time I used it, I was shocked at how quickly it heats up! I usually turn on my hot tools way before I actually start using them, to give them enough time to heat up. In less than 30 seconds, my GHD made a chirping sound, letting me know it was hot enough for use! It straightens hair perfectly, leaving it shiny and soft. Last week, I was working with Asian model who had very straight hair already. The photographer wanted to add a little bit of body to her hair, while keeping the straight style. I used my GHD to add lift at the roots and curl the ends under. It was so easy, and made her hair look voluminous and full. The other day I was experimenting on myself, making curls and crimps, it’s insane how many styles you can create with just this one tool! Definitely makes my job a lot easier! I have already replaced my current straightener, and my GHD is my new go-to flat iron.
Which Styler is Best for Me?
There are three different sizes of the GHD stylers. The regular size is their most popular, and will work with all hair types. They have one with wide plates which is great for super long hair, or really thick hair. The wide styler will create larger curls. Lastly, they have the option of a ministyler for short hair. This one is also great for men!
regular
wide
mini.
Any Cons?
- The price! Unfortunately, GHD stylers are on the more expensive side. Expect to pay between $200-300 depending on where you buy from .
**I haven’t owned the iron long enough to vouch for it’s lifespan. A lot of flat irons (from all different companies) have a reputation for dying too early. GHD does offer a two year guarantee though which gives me some confidence.**.
Check out GHD’s website. They have styling videos as well!
www.ghdhair.com
Disclaimer: From time to time, companies will send me products to review. I pride myself in providing my readers with honest feedback of the products I am testing. I will not recommend something I would not use personally or professionally. Sending me product does not guarantee a review and I accept no monetary compensation for in exchange for reviews.
Do you own a GHD? Do you want one? Tell me what you think!
LEAVE A COMMENT!
A Look into the Makeup of “The Runaways”
The Runaways Makeup
I am dying to see The Runaways starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning! The movie was released on March 19th, and is a biographical drama about the rise and fall of the 70′s all-girl rock band, The Runaways. Kristen Stewart plays Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning plays Cherie Currie in the film! Robin Matthews was the makeup department head for The Runaways, and she used Makeup Forever to create the character specific looks for the girls.
.Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning at the premiere of The Runaways. Makeup by Makeup Forever.
Sephora has come out with a Runaway’s collection where you can buy the three essential products used to create Kristen Stewart’s smokey, smudgy look!
The Collection Includes:
-Makeup Forever Eyeshadow in Bronze 84
- Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes in Mat Black
- Makeup Forever Aqua Smokey Lash in Extra Black
Joan Jett Makeup Tutorial Created for Kristen Stewart
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Cherie Currie Makeup Tutorial Created for Dakota Fanning
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I found a great interview on Elle’s website with makeup artist Robin Matthews, where she talks about how she transformed Stewart and Fanning into rockstars.
“How does Joan’s makeup look transform in the movie?
Going off the pictures, she initially just used a brown eye shadow and that was it. Then that morphed into a smoky eye with brown eye shadow and black liner. She added blush and lipstick to it during her glam phase but eventually went through more of a punk stage where it was just harsh black liner everywhere. At the end of the film, we show Joan in the ’80s, where she really went into pinks—she’d wear a bright pink jacket with bright fuchsia lips and a pink-and-purple smoky eye. But that look was created mostly for promotional photos; once those promotional days were over, she went back to her basic black liner and brown shadow without any lip color or blush. And that’s the same makeup look she wears today.”
“How does Cherie’s makeup change over the course of the movie?
We did about 10 or so different makeup looks for Cherie. She was so all over the place with her makeup that I had plenty of choices to pick from. I sat down with the director and Dakota and we chose which looks we wanted to use because there were so many. Cherie was a real shapeshifter with her makeup. She did this brown winged eye shadow for awhile, and then she did this crazy silver shadow with glitter and thick black eyeliner with bright striped cheeks. She also did a blue-and-gold smoky eye which is really cool—I would’ve never thought to use those two colors for a smoky eye.”
Toward the end of the film, we really see Dakota’s look change as Cherie gets more and more haggard and tired. It’s a big, shocking look—very different from how Dakota Fanning has appeared in other films. So I’m waiting with bated breath to hear what people think because it’s a shocker. I can’t give away too much, but if you know about the demise of the Runaways, you’ll understand why Dakota looks the way she does at the end of the movie.
“Was there a universal product that you used on everybody?
Since the Runaways were all about accentuating their eyes, eyeliner was the most-used product. I went back and forth between different eyeliners, depending on what the scene was. The main one I used was Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes. The color range is crazy—most waterproof, smudge-proof eyeliners don’t come with the extensive color range. They have bright blues and silvers, which worked great for Cherie’s look. For the scenes where I needed the makeup to stay put, I’d apply that and smudge it quickly—because once it dries it doesn’t move. For other scenes, though, I needed the eye makeup to be really runny, like the band had been on the road for days—because this movie is about realism, it’s not a glossed-over Hollywood beauty movie. So in those cases, I’d use this kohl eye pencil by MAC that’s really smudgy and moves around a bit more.”
To read the entire interview on Elle.com click HERE
What Makeup Look Do You Prefer, Joan Jett’s or Cherie Currie?
Eve Pearl Sale!!
Eve Pearl Products Over 60% Off!!
If you suffer from dark under-eye circles you NEED to know about Eve Pearl’s Salmon Concealer!! I love love love this product! The salmon color counteracts the blueness under your eyes and makes it disappear! Eve Pearl is the makeup artist for The View and The Today Show. and her salmon concealer is a cult favorite item among makeup artists. I just picked up the medium/tan and tan/dark ones because this price is unbeatable. It’s usually pretty pricey but at 65% off, you couldn’t find a concealer at the drugstore for cheaper!
Hurry though, it’s selling out fast!
Go To HAUTELOOK
**Hautelook is a website which hosts private, online sales. It’s similar to GiltGroup. You have to register to see/buy from the sale, but I have bought from them in the past and they are totally legit Past beauty sales have included Kevyn Aucoin, Laura Mercier, CoverFX etc..
Our Perception of Beauty
Perfection = A Big Fat Illusion!
I came across this video about a year ago. It is a one minute, realistic look into how we are falsely led into believing that the models and celebrities gracing the pages of our favorite magazines are “perfect.” I cannot count the number of times someone on set has said “oh, we’ll just fix it in photoshop!” While I love my job with a passion, what we are seeing is not reality, it’s a beautiful illusion that I wish more people were aware of.
Let Me Know What You Think!
How to Look Good Under Fluorescent Lights
Makeup Tips For the Office
Millions of people work in an office environment. We sit inside classrooms from the time we are five years old, until we are 18+. With so much of our lives spent beneath fluorescent lighting, it is a shame just how unflattering it really is!! While candlelight may not be ideal, it sure as hell would make us all look a lot better ! On a recent trip to the doctor’s office, I was visually assaulted by the powerful, cobalt blue eyeshadow beaming off of the receptionist’s eyelids. While mildly inappropriate at 8am under most circumstances, the fluorescent lighting was not doing this poor woman any favors. If you are working in an office or attending school, these next few tips are dedicated to you! Your makeup can still look hot despite your unfortunate lighting circumstances 
Keep Reading for the Do’s and Don’ts of Fluorescent Lighting
