Archive April 2010
Makeup Breakdown: Christina Aguilera’s “Not Myself Tonight”
UPDATE: I spoke to Christina’s Makeup Artist for the video! Find out who he is and what he said about the lashes HERE
Christina Aguilera’s music video, “Not Myself Tonight,” from her new album Bionic, was released this morning! Always one to reinvent herself, Christina has done it again, this time hanging up her pin-up pumps in exchange for ballet fetish boots and latex. It is a feast for the eyes and the hair and makeup are to die for.
Makeup Breakdown:
Christina Aguilera’s “Not Myself Tonight”
Look One
The video starts with Christina looking straight into the camera. Her makeup, hair and pose are very similar to the album cover we have seen for Bionic ( Here). The album cover shows Christina in purple eyeshadow, while the video has her in a smokey grey, with a hollowed out crease. Christina’s artist placed some dramatic spiked eyelashes the top lid, and some longer ones on the bottom lashline to make her eyes pop. Her eyebrows are barley there, and her skin is kept super pale with a hint of contouring on the cheekbones, and around the hairline. The look is topped off with a hot, bright red, glossy lip.
I’ve been trying to find out who makes the lashes she’s wearing because I need a pair, and although I haven’t found the exact ID, Makeup Forever’s 130 Jennifer lashes, and 131 Jean lashes seem like they might be pretty similar.
Look Two
I am dying over this look!! The eyes are completely blacked out on the upper and lower lid with a jet black eyeshadow. The outer edges of the shadow are blended and smokey so that the shadow looks intense, but not too harsh. The ‘spikes’ coming off of her eyes are glued right above the crease on the upper lid, and right up against the lashline on the lower lid. I’m 99% sure they were custom made for Christina, so you probably won’t be able to find a pair in stores. The lips are still bright, glossy red, but have a little bit of a more orange hue to them compared to the last look.
Look Three
Christina mixes her old pin-up looks with her new futuristic self for “Not Myself Tonght’s” third look. Her eyebrows are drawn in dark and super arched, reminiscent of a 1950′s brow. Her eyelid crease is defined with a taupe shadow and black liquid liner was applied to her upper eyelid. To keep the look modern, her makeup artist attached long, sharp “wings” to the end of her lashline to give her that pin-up, cat-eye look while still keeping it fresh and very dramatic for the video. Christina’s lips are painted red and red glitter was applied on top for extra sparkle and shine.
While Christina’s eyelashes are probably custom made, Eeyelash.com’s M016 eyelash is very similar to the lashes she wears in this look. They are not nearly as dramatic, but a lot more wearable.
Look Four
For this look, black eyeshadow was applied to Christina’s eyelids, and is extended out into a dramatic cat-eye shape. Black eyeliner was smudged on her upper and lower lids, and her eyelashes extend wayyy out into two points. Love it. The brows go back to being barley there, while the lips stay red and glossy.
For a little bit of a more wearable look, try using Makeup Forever’s 153 Kareth lashes.
Look Five
A big change from the dark smokey eyes in the rest of the video! For her fifth look, Christina was given bright, canary yellow eyeshadow all over her upper eyelid. The pigment is strongest directly on the eyelid, and it fades out as it reaches the browbone. Her lashes are very bold and spiky, and she was given a thick line of black liner on her upper lid, which was slightly winged out. A hint of pink blush was applied to the apples of her cheeks and her lips are an glossy, orangey-red.
For similar lashes, try Eeyelash.com’s #030 lashes.
Check Out The Entire Video!!
What Do You Think of Christina’s New Video?? Do You Like the New Direction She is Headed??
Tarina Tarantino For Sephora
Tarina Tarantino Fashion Collection Eyeshadow Swatches
Tarina Tarantino is best known for her fun jewelry and accessories, as well as her hot pink hair! Last month, Tarnia released her brand new makeup line sold exclusively at Sephora. The presentation is fabulous! The packaging alone makes me want to go out and buy everything 
I quickly snapped a few pictures of the new line last time I was in Sephora. I only tested the shadows from her “Fashion Collection.” They were the brightest products on display and I was instantly drawn to them…
From Left to Right: Bibarucci, Electric Butterfly, Candy Cameo
From Left to Right: Candy Cameo, Victorian Pink, Tokyo Hardcore
Eye Dream Hyper Shadows From Left to Right: Bibarucci, Electric Butterfly, Candy Cameo, Victorian Punk, Tokyo Hardcore
Unfortunately, the shadows were a pretty big disappointment 
Not very pigmented at all, and I had to apply several layers for it to show up bright enough on camera. I wasn’t a fan of the texture either! I like eyeshadows to go on smoothly, these did not. Electric Butterfly was the best of the bunch. It had the best color payoff and slightly better texture. Still, nothing to die over.
The packaging is cute but there are wayyyy better brands out there for the $$.
Bottom line: Her jewelry is amazing, keep Tarina Tarantino on your body, not your face
2010 Nail Trend Alert: Greige
Greige Craze
Ever since singer-songwriter, Lily Allen, wore this season’s hottest nail color at Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2010 Fashion Show, everyone has been lusting over “greige” nailpolish! Greige, a mixture of grey and beige (with a hint of purple), has been popping up on the fingers of models and celebs ever since, and it is not going away any time soon!
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Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2010 Runway. The show that started the greige craze! Models are wearing Chanel’s Particuliere polish.
Marc Jacobs Autumn/Winter 2010 Runway. Models wore 5 different shades of “greige,” ranging from really light to superdark.
From the runways to the red carpet, Academy Award winner, Sandra Bullock, was seen sporting greige nails when she won her Golden Globe for best actress!! Sandra is also wearing Chanel’s polish in “Particuliere.”
Always one to set trends, Rihanna was seen wearing greige polish late last year at her Good Morning America performance. Rihanna’s nail artist, Kimmie Kyees painted the singer’s nails “Love Em’ Leave Em’” by Color Club.
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Need Some Greige In Your Life?? I Recommend…
The color that started it all… Chanel’s Le Vernis in Particuliere.
From Left to Right: Essie’s “Jazz,” Nubar’s “Sandstone,”Sephora by OPI,
“Metro Chic”
New Study: Makeup Testers are Extremely Unsanitary
Makeup Testers Can Contain Staph, Strep and E.Coli Bacteria
In a recent, two year study conducted by the LA Times, biological science professor, Dr. Elizabeth Brooks, discovered that makeup testers are harboring staph, strep and E.coli”Wherever you see E. coli…just think ‘E. coli equals feces. That means someone went to the bathroom, didn’t wash their hands and then stuck their fingers in that moisturizer.” Brooks says. When she and her team tested the makeup on a weekend, when customer traffic was at its peak! 100% of the makeup testers were tainted! ::GAG::
When I worked at several cosmetic counters a few years ago, we were only told to wipe down and sanitize the makeup at the end of the night, which many sales associates did not even do. One associate (who had been there for over 10 years) admitted to me that she had never cleaned her brushes. She felt like they didn’t work the same clean. WTF?! Needless to say, I almost died right then and there. I have always been a super freak about sanitation and the makeup testers that I had to work with on a daily basis were my arch nemeses.
While bacteria ridden testers may not be news to most of you, there are still a ton of women who don’t know how dangerous contaminated makeup can be. Here are a few guidelines for using makeup testers (if you MUST).
1. Stay far, far, far away from mascara!! Even though most counters cut off the wands, they offer disposables which customers double dip, thus defeating the entire purpose of the disposable. Mascara is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow and you could wind up with pink eye, or a sty.
2. If you want to test a lipstick, ask the associate for alcohol and a tissue. Spray the product with alcohol and rub the lipstick several times onto the tissue. This will sanitize and shave off any remaining germs from the last customer. Dirty lipsticks can spread cold sores and other bacteria which could even make your sick.
3. For eyeshadows, spray the eyeshadow with rubbing alcohol and wipe the top layer with a tissue.
But Just to be Safe:
As a golden rule, test everything on your hand, not your face. If you buy the product and it doesn’t look good on you, simply take it back.
Earth Day Beauty Offers
Today marks Earth Day’s 40th birthday!! Even though awareness of environmental issues has drastically increased over the past few years, the Earth still needs more help than ever! In honor of your mother Earth, please do something to celebrate and show her you care 
Carpool to work, plant a tree, replace your light bulbs with energy efficient alternatives and take advantage of the amazing beauty offers below!
Earth Day Beauty Offers:
The Body Shop: Take 20% off all orders until 4/25! Also receive free shipping on all orders over $60.
Josie Maran: Receive free shipping on all orders over $22 and 22% of the proceeds will be donated to Global Green
Kiehls: Kiehls has partnered with Julianne Moore, Pharrell Williams, Malia Jones and Jeff Koons to raise awareness and money for The Rainforest Alliance. Each celeb has designed their own label for Kiehls 100% Organic Acai, Damage Protecting Toning Mist. 100% of the proceeds for this product (up to $200,000) will go to The Rainforest Alliance
Tarte: Receive 30% off all orders until April 25th with checkout code: EarthDay. Also receive a free “Be Good To Your Mother” tote set on orders over $60!
Some Eco-Friendly Cosmetic Lines to Check Out:
Cargo’s eco-friendly line is called Plant Love, the products are 100% natural and free of any chemicals, dyes and fragrances. Even the packaging is green (it’s made out of corn!). Plant Love has recently been awarded the honor “Best Green Makeup Line” by InStyle magazine!
Check out Plant Love and shop their amazing products: Here
Tarte Cosmetics is brand that is doing incredible things for the environment! From their eco-friendly offices, all the way to their products. Tarte carries a line of Vegan makeup as well as a whole range of products with their special t5 super fruit complex. With every purchase of a t5 super fruit complex product, Tarte supports the Sustainable Amazon Partnership to promote management of the Brazillian Amazon Rainforest! Last but not least, Tarte enforces a customer recycling incentive program! Send in certain empty containers and receive 15% off your next purchase.
All information about Tarte’s efforts can be found on their website: Here
As an awesome drugstore, budget friendly option, Physician’s Formula offers their line “Organic Wear.” All ingredients are 100% certified organic and the packaging is also environmentally friendly, using 93% less plastic than regular compacts!
Check out Physician’s Formula “Organic Wear”: Here
Happy Earth Day 2010!
Remember, Earth Day is celebrated only one day a year, but it is important to keep up with your environmentally friendly efforts throughout the whole year! The future depends on it.
The New and Improved Last Looks!
Last Looks Beauty Blog has just undergone an Extreme Makeover!
Let me introduce you to the new layout! Everything is pretty much the same as the last layout, but we’ve added some new features and certain things may be in a different place.
Categories:
All of the main categories can be found on the top of the page, under the main logo. I’ve incorporated subcategories that will drop down to help you find what you are looking for that much quicker!
If one of your favorite categories is missing, check the sidebar on the right. All of my smaller categories (Fashion, Beauty Launches, Natural Beauty etc) will all be there.
Contact Me:
My contact page has moved to the very top left hand side (above the main logo). If you have a question/comment/inquiry please feel free to send me a note!
Featured Posts:
The new layout has given me the opportunity to keep certain featured posts on the homepage! You can find these at the top of the page, under the main category lists. These are my most popular posts (new and old), and I will be updating new ones frequently.
Recent Posts and Twitter Feed:
Recent posts and my live twitter feed can be found at the bottom of the page in the footer, or on the sidebar.
Leave a Comment Button:
If you wish to leave a comment on any of the posts, the “Leave a Reply” link at the very bottom right hand side of the post is the place to do it! You can also click on the post’s title, and scroll down to the bottom of the page as well.
RSS Feed:
If you wish to subscribe, my RSS feed is toward the top of the sidebar
If the site has been down on any of your past visits, I apologize. Let me know what you think of the new layout, or if you experience any problems getting around 
Thank you so much for reading and subscribing!!! Last Looks has been growing rapidly and I’m excited to tell you about some stuff that will be happening in the near future!
Hautelook Sale: 75% Off Urban Decay
Urban Decay is currently 75% off at HauteLook!! Their loose pigments are only $5 each (off of $20) and their Ultra Glide Lipglosses are $4.25!! Amazing deals.
Has anyone tried the pigments? I wanted to pick a few up but the reviews I read are swaying me the other way. I love love love Urban Decay’s products though! I wish they would have put more of their popular products on sale! 24/7 liners to be exact
If you want to snag a few products, hurry! The sale ends today and the best items go fast!
To Go to HauteLook’s Site Click Here
**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 Eve Pearl, Laura Mercier, CoverFX etc..
What’s the Deal With Green Concealer?
Have you ever been makeup shopping when you run into a green concealer or face primer?? Were you confused?? The first time I discovered green concealer was in high school. I snatched it up right away because I was desperate to conceal the redness in my cheeks. Unfortunately, after I applied it for the first time, I was pissed! It did what it promised by concealing the red, but I was left with green cheeks!! haha.
If the mere thought of rubbing green all over your face freaks you out, keep reading It actually makes a lot of sense and works great when properly applied…
How to Conceal and Correct Redness with Green Primers and Concealers:
Why Green Concealer Corrects Redness:
The concept behind concealing certain colors (ie: redness, blue under eye circles, brown sun spots etc) with other colors, goes way back to art class and color theory!! Whichever color you want to conceal or counteract, choose the color directly across from it on the color wheel to get the job done!
In our case, we want to conceal red (rosacea, pimples, rosy cheeks, injuries). Directly across from red on the color wheel is green, so as a rule, we should use a green concealer. It will effectively neutralize the redness.
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Now that the underlying concept makes more sense, you’re probably wondering how to wear green concealer/primer without looking crazy..
When To Use Green Primer vs. Concealer:
My favorite method to use green as a way of counteracting redness is in primer form. If you have minor ruddiness, or just wish to cover up slight inflammation, primer will probably be your best bet. I feel that since a primer is much more sheer, it takes way less effort than using a heavy concealer, which is harder to layer on top of. On myself, I use Makeup Forever’s Green HD Microperfecting Primer. It doesn’t completely erase the red, but I notice a huge difference, as it takes the color down a few notches. By the time I am ready to apply my foundation, my redness is much easier to cover, and as a bonus my skin is already perfectly primed!
How to Use Green Concealer:
If you have sensitivities to primers, need more coverage, or wish to spot-cover redness from a pimple or a cut, opt for a green concealer instead. Using an appropriate sized brush, apply the concealer to the area you wish to neutralize. Blend the edges so that they feather out seamlessly into your skin. Once you apply enough product, go over the concealer with your regular foundation. Finally, set the area with powder to increase longevity and to ensure that the makeup doesn’t move.
**Important Tip: Remember, when using unnatural color correctors, the less product the better! The last thing you want is a green overcast to your skin. You’ll wind up looking ill and people probably won’t want to hang out with you for fear of catching your germ
Primers I Recommend:
Left to Right: Smashbox Photofinish Primer in Green, Makeup Forever’s HD Microperfecting Primer in Green
Concealors I Recommend:
Physician’s Formula Gentle Cover Concealer Stick in Green
Green Vs. Yellow!!!
While green concealer’s do work, I actually prefer to use a yellow-y concealer to counter-act redness!! The extra hassle of having to cover up green is a little too much for me when I’m working on set, where time is of the essence. Yellow (not primary yellow, but more of a golden undertone) works like a charm and looks a lot more natural if you mess up :) But, I’ll talk about that a different day…
Canadian Readers: Makeup Artist Trade Show 2010
Sorry, it’s a little bit of late notice but Makeup Artist Magazine’s International Makeup Artist Trade Show is happening today and tomorrow (April 17th & 18th) in Vancouver, Canada!!
Read all about what it is and why you need to be there!
Review: Yaby Creme Foundations
Have you heard of Yaby cosmetics?? If not, you need to know about them asap! It’s a makeup line designed for makeup artists by a makeup artist and everything I have tried from from the line has been amazing! I am always on the lookout for new foundations because my favorite thing to perfect is the skin. After being completely impressed with their pearl paints and eyeshadows, I decided to try Yaby’s creme foundation palette and have been testing it out on set (and on myself) for about a month. It’s slowly becoming my go-to foundation palette. If you are on the hunt for awesome coverage with a lightweight feel, definitely look into Yaby!
What is it?
A waterproof, silicone based, full coverage foundation with a lightweight feel and amazing texture!!
Why is it Amazing?
Ohhhh, where do I begin?? 
Texture and Pigment
I decided to buy the yellow-based foundation palette after hearing rave reviews from other makeup artists. The first time I used it I fell in love with the texture!! It is sooo buttery and smooth! At first, I was a little disappointed in the size of the refills but once I used it for the first time, I realized why they are so small… They are so pigmented so a little bit really does go a long way. You don’t need much at all to cover the whole face and if you decide that you need more coverage in certain areas, simply go over them again with another thin layer and viola!
Staying Power
After using these foundations several times on set, I decided to try it on myself because I was getting jealous! lol. Let me tell you, I’m super picky when it comes to my own foundation and this is the best foundation I have ever found for my skin! No exaggeration. I have really rosy cheeks naturally (that I hate, and cover as often as possible), and this foundation completely erased the red. It was full coverage but I didn’t feel like I was wearing any at all! As the day went on, I kept checking the mirror and nothing changed! No oilyness, none of it rubbed off, nothing!! That reminds me, since I don’t usually dig into my kit to do my own makeup, I need to buy myself my own color asap!
Great for Pale Skintones
Another thing I loved is that their palest shade is super pale! Sometimes it’s hard to find colors to match really really light skintones, and this is my new go-to foundation when making up super pale models that haven’t seen sun, ever.
Two In One
If you’re a makeup artist these are perfect because you get a full coverage foundation, but if you desire a lighter coverage, they can be thinned down with a silicone based thinner. It’s like two products in one!
Price
Oh, and did I mention that they are only $8.75 each! SUPER CHEAP! You can’t even buy a Revlon foundation for that cheap.
Where Can I Buy it?
You can purchase Yaby on their website at www.yabycosmetics.com (they are a Canadian based company). If you’re looking for a retailer in the U.S, www.camerareadycosmetics.com carries it too!
Any Cons??
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There’s not a lot of darker shades.
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You have to buy online so you can’t test the colors on your own skin. Major bummer.
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Each color is designed to fit inside of a palette, so when you buy 1 shade, there’s not a set compact that it comes it.You basically just get a refill (great for makeup artists, not for consumers) so you will have to get creative.
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Some of the shades may be a bit too yellow for regular consumers who don’t have the means to mix different shades to get the perfect match. (Again, I only tried the yellow palette, I’m not sure what the pink palette looks like).
I used Yaby Creme Foundation for this shoot!
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Have You Tried Yaby?? What Do You Think?
LEAVE A COMMENT
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Important: 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. For this particular product, I have not recieved any compensation, incentive or product for a positive review.
