AMY NADINE BEAUTY BLOG

RECREATE THE LOOKS FROM THE 2012 VMA'S!

2012-09-20T14:32:00.001-07:00

I had the best time making these how-to videos for MTV.com! If you watched the VMA's and were dying to recreate the looks from Taylor Swift to Rita Ora, here's how! CAT EYES LIKE TAYLOR SWIFT'S

Get More: 2012 VMA, Artists.MTV, Music

FULL LASHES LIKE MILEY CYRUS

Get More: 2012 VMA, Artists.MTV, MTV Shows

BOLD LIP LIKE RITA ORA + DEMI LOVATO

Get More: 2012 VMA, Artists.MTV, Music

SOFT PINK LIP LIKE RASHIDA JONES

Get More: 2012 VMA, Artists.MTV, MTV Shows

I used all makeup by Covergirl! So fun... the only hiccup I did that makes me cringe is because the set was so hot that day, I placed a fan upwards at my feet to keep cool... if only someone (ahem, Phoebe or Luke!)told me that it blew up my skirt and made me look bigger than the already added 15 pounds! Oy vey! Oh well! I still love these how-to's and hope they help make the makeup easier to do yourself. xoxo

Beauty & Fashion Vloggers Alliance Fall Guru Glam Event with Proactiv!

2011-11-02T18:18:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday night I had a blast getting to know fellow beauty enthusiasts at the BFVA Fall Guru Glam Event. First of all, the party was at the Hollywood Museum where Max Factor used to have his factory! I can't believe I had never been there before. Factor's makeup rooms were divided up into three rooms: one for Blondes Only, one for Brownettes Only and one for Brunettes Only. And there were incredible pieces of history in each room... the Brownette room had makeup used on Judy Garland AND her ruby slippers from Wizard of Oz, the Brunette room had makeup used on Ava Gardner and the Blonde room had Marilyn Monroe's makeup!

Such a perfect venue to bring top beauty and fashion vloggers together. And I got to know everyone up close and personal because I had the privilege of doing mini makeovers on them with Proactiv and Sheer Cover! Not surprisingly, most were pretty familiar with the lines but I got to introduce them to the amazing new products and share my love of them with everyone. It truly was a treat.

By the way, how PRETTY are our fellow vloggers?! Way to represent, ladies!

Photos by CeCe Castle & Frances Lacuzzi

Lauren Conrad Glamour Magazine May 2010 Cover Look

2010-04-14T15:38:00.000-07:00

If there was ever a magazine cover to amp up Lauren's make-up for, of course we chose to do it for Glamour! I rarely stray far from her signature make-up look... but how could we resist adding a little glam to the eyes? Read on for a quick lesson in layering and smudging.

This techinique is very hands-on and Lauren and I always work together to create it (I apply the product with a brush then she smudges it with her finger). First apply foundation to your entire eyelid (try mark Face Xpert Flawless Touch in Natural) and follow with a sweep of powder (I used mark Mattnificent Powder in Natural Buff). **Both foundation and powder should be the same shades that you used on your face and neck. Next, line your upper lash line with black liquid liner (we always use mark Get In Line Hook Up Liquid Liner in Painted Black because it's waterproof so it lasts, and the brush is ultra-thin making it incredibly user friendly). Start with soft pressure at the inner corner then gradually press firmer as you work your way outward and upward; the harder you press, the thicker the line. Follow with mascara (mark Scandalash Hook Up in Blacklash) and a few individual flare lashes.

Now here's how we took it a step further: Using a gel liner and small eyeliner brush (I used mark Keep It Going Longwear Liner & Shadow in Entourage and mark Flat Eyeliner Brush), dip your brush in the black liner then swirl it around on the back of your hand to smooth it out. Start at the outside corner of your lower lashline (so the highest concentration of product is placed there) and drag the brush inward (I use small strokes as I work my way across, but you can also do one big sweep). Then using your ring finger, go back over the line and smudge it back and forth so you "blur" the line. Then decide if you want to add another layer (Lauren and I repeated the process a few times for extra intensity). The result is instant drama and a great alternative if you're like Lauren and you don't love wearing any eye shadow on your lids.

I also had so much fun doing Whitney Port's make-up for the story inside! They're both wearing mark Glow Baby Glow Hook Up Lip Gloss in mPowerment Gold (100% of net proceeds go to Lauren's charity with mark, the mPowerment Fund).

All photos courtesy of Glamour Magazine and Mark Cosmetics.

Melissa Ordway Premieres Her Film "The Last Song"

2010-03-31T12:25:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the privilege to work on Melissa Ordway for the first time (she stars as Ashley in Disney's new film The Last Song as well as on Melrose Place) and she's as lovely as she is talented! She asked for a California beachy look for her make-up so here's exactly what products I used:

FACE
Dior Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Foundation in Sand 031
Mark Get Bright Hook Up Highlighter in Natural (under her eyes)
Youngblood Mineral Rice 100% talc-free Setting Powder in Medium (Youngblood is the cult obsession mineral make-up line that I discovered at Henri Bendel's last month and fell in love with)

CHEEKS & BRONZING
Mark Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint in Peachy (on apples of cheeks before powder is applied)
NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna (in hollows of cheeks, on the temples, across the hairline and under jawline, after the face is powdered)
NARS Blush in Luster (on apples of cheeks after the face is powdered)

EYES
Mark i-Mark Custom Pick Eye Shadow in Magic (all over lid), Gioia (upper and lower lashlines) and Stellar (in the crease).
Tarte EmphasEYES in Black (along the inner rims)
CoverGirl Lash Blast Length Mascara in Very Black

LIPS
Youngblood Lip Shine in Parfait
Mark Glow Baby Glow Lip Gloss in m.Powerment Gold (that Lauren Conrad and I collaborated with Mark to create!)

Here are two more pics of her, one with her co-stars Miley Cyrus and Carly Chaikin and the other with her boyfriend, Justin Baldoni, as well as a red carpet interview. Btw, her dress is Herve Leger and her shoes are Badgley Mischka...

All photos courtesy of WireImage, Maximotv.com, CoverGirl, Dior, Mark, NARS, Tarte and Youngblood.

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Krysten Ritter: She's Out of My League!

2010-03-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun working with Krysten Ritter this last month promoting her new film "She's Out of My League." She's such an amazing person and a blast to hang out with... and of course her face is a dream to work on! Since we've been working together for over a year now, we've already figured out the best make-up look to bring out her features without masking who she is (see earlier blog post Krysten Ritter's Signature Red Carpet Look).

So for her premiere in Vegas, I stayed true to her style; using liner on her top lash line to open up her eyes, a few coats of her favorite Diorshow mascara, a gorgeous Pink Lace illuminating blush (also from Dior)and since she isn't crazy about lipstick (she thinks it looks too heavy and makes her look older) I applied an amazing lip stain pencil from Tarte Cosmetics that goes on like a lip balm, is surprisingly super moisturizing and gives her that sheer pop of bright color that she's famous for.

FACE:
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Deauville
Cle de Peau Concealer in Ivory
Dior Lace Poudrier Dentelle Illuminating Lace-Effect Powder in Pink Lace (on cheeks)

EYES:
Mark i-Mark Custom Pick Eye Shadow in Victorian Lace
CoverGirl Outlast Smoothwear All-day Eyeliner in Onyx
Dior Diorshow Mascara in Black

LIPS
Tarte Natural Lip Stain in Lust

Here's a cute red carpet interview so you can see her make-up better, and a cover that I also worked on with her. Enjoy!

All photos courtesy of WireImage, Cle de Peau, Dior, CoverGirl, Mark Cosmetics, NARS, Tarte Cosmetics, Hamas Sanders and Resident Magazine. Video courtesy of Trailer Addict.

Lauren Conrad: Signature Look With an Emphasis on Eye Highlighter

2010-02-20T14:23:00.000-08:00

By now you know that Lauren Conrad and I love a contoured face; I do this by "pushing" features inward to create depth by applying a darker color foundation and bronzer in the hollows of her cheeks, temples, along her hairline and under her jawbone. But lately we've taken it one step further by "pulling" other features forward, using a highlighter under her eyes, above her cheekbones and above her brows. It should be subtle and undetectable (hint: BLEND BLEND BLEND!), but you'll see how it really draws the attention to her best feature, her eyes. While promoting her second NY Times Bestselling novel Sweet Little Lies this month, I used the technique for extra drama on her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live (watch the video clip below), for her last book signing in Los Angeles and her appearance on Good Day NY (see clip below).

Here's how to replicate it yourself. Basically, picture yourself skiing with goggles on and getting too much sun, when you remove the goggles, that's the area above and below your eyes that you want to lighten with the highlighter. Starting on a clean face that has been moisturized and primed, first correct any under-eye dark circles with your favorite concealer. Then, using mark cosmetics Get Bright Hook Up Highlighter (I used the shade "Light" on Lauren), apply the pearly liquid highlighter under your eyes, starting at your nose then working outward. You can use the applicator wand or use the wand to scoop out enough product into the palm of your hand (about 3 or 4 scoops) then apply it with an egg-shaped blending sponge, using the pointed end of the sponge to dab it to the desired areas (this really presses the product into the skin). But unlike under-eye concealer, you don't want to only cover directly under your eyes, instead you want to increase the area down to above your cheekbone, all the way from your nose to the beginning of your temples. Then again on about a half-inch above your brows, starting at the outer corner above your left brow then dabbing all the way across to the outer corner above your right brow.

Next apply foundation to your whole face, reaching the perimeters of the highlighted area, but not covering it. To be more precise in your foundation application, use a sponge or foundation brush, then blend with your fingers. Then contour your face as described in my posts on Lauren's Seventeen Magazine Cover Look and Lessons in Contouring. Finally, set with powder if needed, but leave the highlighted area untouched. Try it, email me pics and I'll post them! xoxo

All photos and video courtesy of ABC, My Fox 10, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Good Day NY, WireImage and Mark Cosmetics.

Lauren Conrad's Seventeen Magazine March 2010 Cover Make-up Look

2010-02-11T14:12:00.000-08:00

For Lauren Conrad's Seventeen Magazine cover look, I wanted to create her trademark California Glow, even though we shot it in November. So I used a foundation color one shade deeper than her skin tone, which can be tricky since it doesn't match, so I made sure to shade in her neck, chest and even her arms as well. I used mark cosmetics Speedway Foundation Stick in Honey with their Foundation Brush for her face then a large sponge everywhere else to save time by covering more area. Because Lauren doesn't like to wear eye shadow, I used the Speedway stick on her eyelids as well. Now that I made her face into a blank canvas, I had to go back and create dimension, so I contoured the hollows of her cheeks, temples, at the hairline and underneath her jawline with Speedway in Golden, a slightly darker shade than Honey. TIP: to find where your cheekbones are (mine didn't come in until I was 26!), suck in your cheeks like a fish, then contour slightly below where the bones protrude.
Next I used mark Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint in Peachy, a brand new color that they sent us that is amazing but not out just yet (sorry!). I applied it with mark's foundation brush on the apples of Lauren's cheeks. TIP: to find exactly where your apples are, simply smile in the mirror and they look like little cherries!

Now that all the cream work was finished, I powdered her entire face with mark Mattenificent Oil-Absorbing Powder in Golden Honey using a mark Powder Brush. Then I contoured and blushed the same areas again, this time using powder formulations. For the hollows of the cheeks, jawline, temples and along the hairline, I used mark Bronze Pro Bronzing Powder in Pro Golden with their Angled Contour Face Brush for better precision. I used mark Good Glowing Mosaic Blush in Chica on the apples of her cheeks with my favorite Kabuki Brush.

Of course then we lined her signature cat eyes with mark Get In Line Hook Up Waterproof Liquid Liner in Painted Black. If you have trouble or are intimidated, a great technique is to start with drawing the wing first by imagining a line from the corner of your lashline to the end of your eyebrow, then use that angle to start building your wing with small brushstrokes. Then go back and line your lashline starting at the inner corner. I followed with two coats of mark Make It Big Lash Plumping Mascara in Raven.

Finally I coated her lips with mark Dew Drenched Moisturlicious Lip Color in Mist followed by mark Juice Gems in Juicy HoneyDew.

All photos courtesy of Seventeen Magazine and mark Cosmetics.

Krysten Ritter's Signature Red Carpet Make-up Look

2010-01-11T21:04:00.000-08:00

I love Krysten Ritter's signature make-up look because it's a lot like she is: bold and chic yet effortless. She has amazing features and can rock a red lip while still playing up her eyes, which is hard to pull off for most of us. The keys to this look are opting for tinted lip balm in lieu of a heavy lipstick or gloss (creating a softer finish), a light grey color on the lids (anything darker paired with a red lip becomes too 1920's costume-y) and a nude-colored blush (again not to compete with the strong lip color).

SKIN PREP
I prepped her skin for make-up and the dry winter weather with Amala Hydrating Face Cream; I love it because it's eco-certified (rare in the USA) and 100% natural.

FACE
First I used Dior Diorskin Nude Hydrating Glow Make-up in Linen all over her face applied with a foundation brush in light sweeping motions. I concealed under her eyes with Cle de Peau Concealer in Ivory then powdered her t-zone (forehead, nose and chin) with NARS Loose Powder in Snow.

CHEEKS
I highlighted Krysten's cheekbones by applying Dior Diorblush in A Touch of Blush starting at the apples of her cheeks and continuing outward along her cheekbones.

EYES
Using a lay-down eye shadow brush, I swept Dior 1-Colour Ultra-Smoothing High Impact Eye Shadow in Chrome all over the lids and crease. This style of using only one eye shadow color all over the lids is called a color wash and it's always a good option if you're wearing a bright-color lip. I then lined the upper and lower lashline with Cle de Peau Intensifying Cream Eyeliner in 101. This product has amazing staying power yet glides on like a paint. Lastly, I applied two coats of Dior Diorshow Mascara in Black to her lashes, the only mascara that Krysten ever wants to use!

LIPS
Still both of our all-time favorite tinted lip balm, I used Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Sheer Liptint in Berry.

Be sure to keep your eye out for Krysten starring in the upcoming STARZ series Gravity, as well as the feature film She's Out of My League, both premiering this Spring!

All photos courtesy of WireImage, Amala Beauty, Dior, Cle de Peau, NARS and Elizabeth Arden.

Pretty Pearlized Lids on Whitney Port

2009-11-23T18:14:00.000-08:00

On today's episode of The Bonnie Hunt Show (seen in the clip above), Miss Whitney Port wore a gorgeous and flirty pastel dress from the Spring '10 collection of her own line Whitney Eve. So I kept the make-up soft and pretty, using a pearl color on her entire eyelid, pink blush and light pink lipstick. Here are the highlights of this look:

FACE
I prepped her face with Rodial Skincare Glamotox, a cult favorite moisturizer that super hydrates and plumps up the skin, diminishing any fine lines.

EYES
Using one of my all-time favorites, I applied the lightest color (pearl) from The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes. But I applied it WET for more intensity and impact! Pour a splash of water in the lid of the package and dip your eye shadow brush in it until it is fully soaked. Then drain out excess water by pressing the brush against the side of the lid. Dip the wet brush in the pearl color and swirl it around to make a paste then test the consistency on the back of your hand. If it's too water-y, go back in the product and swirl some more until you've loaded up the brush with a nice "paste". I always go back and test it on the back of my hand before applying it to the eyelid. When you're happy with the solution, do a "color wash" (a single color on the entire lid and crease) by sweeping the color across your lids and crease. Break up any small clumps with your ring finger. You'll find that this eye shadow applied wet is the most gorgeous finish ever! (And the 3 other colors are amazing wet as well, when you're in the mood for something darker.)

CHEEKS
My favorite 3-in-1 cheek palette right now by far is the Shimmer, Shape and Glow Face Defining System from Mally Beauty. On Whitney, I used the "In The Pink Lighter" palette because the bronzer isn't "muddy," the pink looks gorgeous on everyone and the highlighter has the perfect amount of shimmer. Apply the bronzer with a kabuki style brush on the hollows of the cheeks and directly on the cheekbone. (Then of course add a quick sweep across your hairline, temples and under your jawline.) Apply the pink shade to the apples of your ckeeks and the highlighter just above your cheekbone.

LIPS
I used Cle de Peau Extra Silky Lipstick in #105, a really happy and feminine pink color that feels like silk when you apply it. It's a little bit of a splurge but it does last a long time and is such a treat for your lips.

Here's a shot of Whitney wearing this look later that night (after a quick wardrobe change!) at the Alternative Apparel launch of Rethink.

All photos courtesy of WireImage, Rodial Skincare, The Body Shop, Mally Beauty and Cle de Peau Beauty.

Whitney Port's Eyes Sparkle in Gemtones

2009-11-21T11:10:00.000-08:00

Wednesday night at US Weekly's Hot in Hollywood party, Whitney Port wore a vintage cream-colored lace dress and a tousled faux-bob, the perfect canvas for a dramatic gem-toned eye in garnet, topaz, gold and pearl. The best tip I can give you for pulling off this look is to blend blend blend! I applied the darkest colors (garnet and topaz) on the lids, closest to the lashline, then used a golden sand color to soften any hard lines in the crease. To really make it pop, I added a true gold color in the inner tear duct, opening and separating the eyes. Because the eyes are the headliner, I kept the lip and cheek colors light and airy in soft rosy nudes. I used all NARS Cosmetics.

FACE
Sheer Glow Foundation in Deauville
Sparkling Loose Powder in Venus

CHEEKS
Blush in Oasis (sparkling pink champagne) on the apples
Bronzer in Laguna in the hollow of the cheeks

EYES
Eyeshadow in Grenadines (garnet) all over the lid
Eyeshadow in Nepal (shimmery rose) in the crease
Eyeshadow in Voyage (golden sand) to blend above the crease
Eyeshadow in Goldfinger in the inner tear duct
Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Aigle Noir (black infused with gold shimmer) on the waterline (inner rim)
Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara
Eyebrow Pencil in Panama

LIPS
Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bahama
Lip Gloss in Belize

All images courtesy of WireImage and NARS Cosmetics.

Dewy and Casual-Chic Look on Whitney Port

2009-11-13T09:38:00.000-08:00

Last night I did a dewy and casual-chic look on Whitney Port for the Undrest Store Opening on Robertson, complimenting her understated yet fashion-forward outfit. The look is gold-shimmered eyes and flushed cheeks in peachy tones of a true California girl. Here are the products I used:

FACE
Mally Smoothskin Cream Compact Foundation in Light
mark Mattnificent Powder in Natural Buff

CHEEKS
NARS The Multiple in Orgasm
NARS Blush in Luster
Smashbox Bronze Lights in Sunkissed Matte

EYES
mark Making Eyes Eye Shadow Duo in Down to Earth
MAC Fluid Line in Blitz & Glitz
Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara in Black

LIPS
MAC Lipstick in Ravishing
mark Glow Baby Glow Hook Up Lip Gloss in mPowerment Peach (developed by Lauren Conrad and me)

All photos courtesy of WireImage, MAC Cosmetics, Mally Beauty, Mark Cosmetics, NARS Cosmetics and Smashbox Cosmetics.

Lauren Conrad at the Avon Hope Honors Gala: Forties Glam With A Modern Twist

2009-10-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday night in NYC, Lauren Conrad attended the Avon Hope Honors Benefit on behalf of the m.powerment campaign, her philanthropic initiative with mark. Cosmetics dedicated to breaking the cycle of dating abuse and partner violence. Lauren wanted a retro look, reminiscent of Rita Hayworth and Veronica Lake and here's exactly how I created her Forties glam, using all mark. products:

Face: For a perfectly-polished complexion, I evened out Lauren’s skin tone with Powder Buff Natural Skin Foundation in Natural, giving her a super-velvety finish. To emphasize the delicate contours of her face, I applied Bronze Pro Bronzing Powder starting in the hollow of her cheeks, then directly under her cheekbones, up to her temples, across her hairline and under her jaw line. I then swirled Good Glowing Custom Pick Powder Blush in Star Glo on the apples of her cheeks for a subtle rosy glow.

Eyes: Lauren loves her signature winged-out black liquid liner look which I amped up tonight by drawing Get In Line Hook Up Liquid Waterproof Eyeliner in Painted Black a little thicker in the outer corners of her eyes. I then coated her lashes in Make It Big Lash Plumping Mascara in Raven for thickness and length and added individual lashes (4 smalls and 6 mediums on each eye) to complete the look.

Lips: I gave Lauren a classic red old-Hollywood pout with Dew Drenched Moisturlicious Lip Color in Wave, a true Hollywood red that is warm enough to look gorgeous on everyone. To properly set the color to last all evening, I dipped a cotton swab in Matte-nificent Oil-Absorbing Powder in Natural Buff and carefully traced the outer rims of the lips. For that final touch of extra impact and depth, I added a dab of Belle of the Ball Lip Balm in Sheer Red in the center of the lips with my finger.

All photos courtesy of WireImage and mark. Cosmetics.

Lauren Conrad at the Style Awards: How to Create Feminine with an Edge

2009-10-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

At last night's 6th Annual Style Awards, Lauren contrasted an ultra-feminine look with a rock twist, from her floral bubble dress paired with studded punk pumps to her braided half-up-do and soft curls contrasted with a hot pink lip and black liquid liner, all in honor of her stylist Britt Bardo, to whom she presented the Style Star Award. I am obsessed with mixing things up because overly girlie comes off a little cutesy, while overly punk comes off... well, just that...

To create the look, I first filled in her entire lip with Kissink Lip Tintmarker in Berry Bitten, a lip stain favorite of ours that lasts all night yet isn't dry or flaky. Then I added a coat of Lip Exotics Lip Lacquer Hook Up in Pop for a luscious wet look with a huge color impact. For her cheeks, I applied Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint in Cheeky, a perfect true pink cream blush, on the apples of her cheeks then dusted above her cheekbones in Twinklebelle (Rose), a shimmery pearlized powder that I also used on her collar bone and shoulders. Finally, to keep all of the emphasis on her winged-out cat eyes (Get In Line Liquid Liner Hook Up in Painted Black), I left her lower lash line undefined, except for a coat of Make It Big Mascara in Raven.

All photos courtesy of WireImage, Life.com, Just Jared and Mark Cosmetics.

A Girlie Chic Look on Whitney Port

2009-10-04T18:18:00.000-07:00

On Friday, Whitney Port wanted a girlie chic look for her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel to compliment her amazing pink and lace vintage dress. (Be sure to watch the video above in FULL SCREEN so you can see the make-up better!) I love this look because it's feminine and sweet yet modern and cool... kinda like Miss Whitney! Anyone can rock this look and here's exactly what I used on her:

FACE

Armani Beauty Designer Shaping Cream Foundation in 5.5 all over her face and neck with a foundation brush.

Stila Convertible Color in Gladiola applied with a foundation brush on the apples of her cheeks.

NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna under her cheekbones and jawline, on her temples, across the top of her forehead and along the bridge of her nose.

NARS Blush in Luster on the apples of her cheeks then a quick sweep from the apples up to her temples.

EYES

Stila All Over Shimmer Eyes in *12 (this product is discontinued which kills me but if you do a google shopping search you can find it like I did on the link above). I shook a little of the powder out, wet my flat eyeshadow brush then dipped the brush into the powder. Work on the consistency on the back of your hand until it has enough intensity to be sheer but still have enough color impact. Then sweep all over your lid and crease.

Smashbox Muse Cream Eyeliner Artist Pencil in Antique Gold (this product is also unfortunately discontinued... ugh... but you can find it like I did at the link above then cherish it until its last stroke.) I gave Whitney a cat eye by starting in the inner corner of the upper eyelid then dragging it to the end of her eyelid, then winging it up at a 45-degree angle. The color is absolutely gorgeous so it saddens me that they are no longer making it. The good news though is that mark. Cosmetics comes out with their eyeliner pots this Spring and has the exact color (in a gel liner) that I used on Lauren Conrad's magalog shoot for the brand last month.

mark. Make It Big Plumping Mascara in Raven on top and bottom lashes... a cult favorite mascara of mine.

*Note: No liner or shadow on Whitney's lower lash line. Just mascara.

LIPS

Cle de Peau Lipstick in 22 all over her lips.

Then I finished the look with a mixture of the lip glosses that Lauren and I developed for mark., mPowerment Peach and Gold.

All photos courtesy of Armani Beauty, mark. Cosmetics, Smashbox, Stila, NARS and Cle de Peau.

Lauren Conrad in NYC: 5 Days, 6 Looks, 1 Signature Style

2009-09-21T10:11:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a week of fashion shows and concerts in New York with Lauren, who unfortunately was pretty under the weather and battling the flu. But with the aid of our favorite mark. products and her fighting spirit, no one could tell! (Thank heaven for mark.!!)

We wanted to create looks that were her (now-famous) signature style: winged-out black liquid liner, glowy & bronzed apricot cheeks and nude lips, but add a few variations to mix it up. The look above was for VH1's Diva's concert so I added extra diva-drama with a thick & extended black line on her lower lash line (I used mark Get In Line in Painted Black that is her staple go-to product for her cat eyes, but this time used it on the bottom as well.) A trick to liquid liner is to steady your elbow on your vanity so the only pivot action comes from your wrist. Start with a thin line in the inner corners then press down a little harder as you extend the line outward (making the line thicker), ending a couple millimeters passed the eye.

For the 3.1 Phillip Lim show, I accented the inside corners of her eyes with i-Mark Custom Eye Shadow in Nomadic. Using a small eye shadow brush, dip it in the powder, press it gently in the inside corner of your eye in a circular motion then drag it 1/4 outward along your lower lash line:

For the Nanette Lepore show, I used Eyemarker Color On Line in Jet along her lower lash line. Draw a line like a marker starting at the outside corner of your lower lash line and end 3/4's inward:

For the Rebecca Minkoff show, I used Metalliner Eye Glam in Blue Chrome along her lower lash line. Again, sweep it like a pen in the method described above:

For the MTV VMA's, she wanted an all-nude matte face illuminated with hints of shimmer so I used Bronze Pro Bronzing Powder in Pro Glow and Dew Drenched Moisturlicious in Skinny Dip:

We also worked on an amazing photo campaign for mark. cosmetics featuring a few new products that you're going to DIE for (stay tuned!). Here's a shot from the m.Powerment campaign where I used Glow Baby Glow lip glosses in m.Powerment Peach and m.Powerment Gold (that Lauren and I helped develop with mark. and turned out to be soooo gorgeous!). 100% of the net proceeds go to the m.Powerment philanthropic initiative to break the cycle of dating abuse and partner violence:

Here are the mark. must-have products for Lauren's signature red carpet look that I have used on her religiously for two years:
Speedway in Honey all over the face, Glow Xpert in Candle Glo as a highlighter above her cheekbones, Get Bright Highlighter in Natural under her eyes and accenting the brow bone, Bronze Pro in Pro Golden to support her cheekbones, on her temples, along her hairline and under her jawline, a combination of Good Glowing Mosaic blush in both Love Rush and Hush Baby on the apples of her cheeks, Winkstick in Demure all over her eyelid, Get in Line Waterproof Liquid Liner in Painted Black along her upper lash line, winged up and out, a couple coats of Make It Big lash plumping mascara in Raven, Mini Mark-It Stick for Lips in Goldie Pearl all over her lips followed by a coat of Juice Gems in Juicy Fig.

Remember that make-up is temporary and if you mess up (applying liquid liner), merely wipe it off and try again! I promise if you practice you can definitely master it. Lauren applies mark. Get in Line liquid liner by herself 7 days a week! If you think it might take you a few tries, use mark. On The Edge liquid liner in Cleo because it isn't waterproof like Get In Line and easier to wipe off until you get it perfect. I had a blast on this trip with Lauren and I hope you have fun re-creating her looks.

All photos courtesy of WireImage and mark. Cosmetics.

Bright Red Lips

2009-09-10T16:40:00.000-07:00

Last night Jacinda Barrett and I paid homage to old Hollywood allure at the premiere of Whiteout with a bright red lip color and I love how it turned out! Anyone can add instant glamour with a coat of red lipstick, as long as you keep everything else understated (I used a simple champagne powder on her lid, a nude blush and a few individual lashes). Jacinda is wearing Estee Lauder Double Wear Lipstick in Stay Scarlet. I feel confident sending my clients down the red carpet wearing it because it has 12-hour staying power and won't fade. If you're not comfortable wearing a true red, stop by a make-up counter and work with a specialist to decide if you need a blue-red (for cool undertones) or an orange-red (for warm undertones). Or next time you're at your friend's house, play with her reds... force yourself to get up the nerve to wear it out just once and I swear you'll be hooked. Just promise me you won't pair it with a smoky eye... ;-)

All photos courtesy of WireImage and Estee Lauder.

Bronzed Copper Eyelids

2009-08-28T10:26:00.000-07:00

If you want to play up your eyes, rich dark browns and coppers are a beautiful and modern alternative to the traditional gray smokey eye. A favorite for achieving this look is NARS Duo Eye Shadow in Cordura. Here on my client Shantel VanSanten, I applied a bronzed-copper "wash of color" on her entire eyelid by wetting my brush with Ben Nye LiquiSet before applying (for more intensity and lasting power) then let it dry. Next I applied the gold with a dry brush (for more blendability) along the crease for a "sunset" effect and back down over the brown. Finally I rimmed the waterline with Benefit BADgal pencil and added 2 coats of Mark Make It Big mascara in Raven.

Here is a picture of the make-up I did on Shantel for Nylon Magazine's TV Issue Party on Monday night... she rocked oh-la-lashes and amazing over-the-knee slouchy suede Christian Louboutin boots! Not only does she star in One Tree Hill, but her new movie The Final Destination opens TODAY and I looooved her in it. And the busy actress has another film coming out this Fall, You and I, opposite Mischa Barton.

Photos coutesy of Complex Magazine, WireImage, NARS, Ben Nye, Benefit and Mark Cosmetics.

A Lesson in Contouring

2009-08-12T15:41:00.000-07:00

Contouring is one of my favorite steps in applying make-up and always surprises me that for most women, it is often a skipped step. When you apply foundation to your entire face, you are creating a blank canvas, making it critical to go back and add the dimensions back in. Technically, contouring is about shadows and light; if you've ever taken an art class you'll remember that you use darker shading to push an area inward and lighter shading to pull an area outward. This is great for creating the appearance that you have a stronger jawline, more defined cheek bones, a slimmer face and nose. For the red carpet or a photo shoot, I'll take the time and use both cream-based cosmetics for contouring and then go over it with powder-based ones for extra intensity and longevity. But you can just use powder based ones if you were only to pick one or the other.

Cheekbones
Immediately after applying foundation all over the face and neck, look in the mirror and suck in your cheeks. This helps to see exactly where your cheek bones are. Then with your fingers, feel precisely where the bottom of them is. Depending on your age, your cheek bones might not have come in yet (mine didn't arrive until I was 24!), or if you are holding on to a few extra pounds during a certain time of the month, they might be hiding. This is where contouring can become your best friend. Using a sponge (The Beauty Blender Egg) or blunt-shaped brush (Sonia Kushak Synthetic Flat Blusher Brush), apply a cream-based bronzer or foundation that is at least 3 shades darker than your own skin color exactly under your cheekbones, from the apples of your cheeks all the way to your ear. Blend lightly with your fingers but not too much to lose the drama. This will create more of a shadow that would appear if you had really strong cheekbones. Then apply a cream-based highlighter above your cheekbones to draw the light to the area. I love Hourglass Illume Bronzing Duo because the darker shade is a pretty universal color for light-to medium skin tones and the lighter shade is a beautiful highlight with a hint of shimmer. My favorite cream-based foundation right now is CoverGirl Simply Ageless because it offers great coverage without feeling like you're wearing any make-up.

Jawline
To really give the effect of a strong jawline, you'll want to create a shadow directly under your entire jaw. Using the same cream-based foundation or bronzer, sweep it from underneath your ear to your chin, then finish at your opposite ear. Then continue to "color in" your entire neck (and chest if your wearing a plunging neck line) with the remainder of the product left on the sponge/brush.

Nose
Not everyone has a perfect little button nose, and if you're like me and a lot of my clients, you might want to contour your nose a little, though this is the least dramatic and most subtle of the illusions. With a sponge, small eye shadow brush or your finger, take the same cream-based foundation or bronzer and "shade in" each side of the bridge of your nose (starting at the inner corners of your eyebrows and ending at your nostrils) if you want a slimming effect, or the tip of your nose if you want it to appear shorter. Then take the cream-based highlighter and apply it directly on top of the entire bridge. It is crucial to really blend with your fingers so it can't be detected.

Forehead
Strictly speaking for the law of dimensions, don't forget when applying bronzing to sweep it across your hairline and temples, because you've thinned out all the areas from eyes down, it wouldn't look right if your forehead was still a blank canvas. This is also great when creating a sun-kissed glow, because the top of your forehead is the first place the sun would hit if you were outside.

Finally, quickly repeat all the steps above with a powder-based bronzer and highlighter so it will last longer. I love NARS bronzer in Laguna if I want a little shimmer or Hourglass Superficial Waterproof Bronzer for a more matte look (both applied with NARS Ita Kabuki Brush) and my favorite highlighter right now is Mark Twinklebelle in Gold.

Here are a few more shots from my latest fashion story in the August 2009 issue of Malibu Magazine, shot by Tatijana Shoan.

Photos courtesy of Malibu Magazine and Tatijana Shoan.

The Drama of Pale Skin

2009-08-02T17:34:00.000-07:00

There is nothing prettier to me than pale skin. Nothing. But this is a new view for me... My whole life I've been a bronzed beach girl and I've even learned to love my freckles, but after spending nine days on an international press tour with Cate Blanchett (unfortunately I didn't get to work on her myself but loved working on her co-star Geoffrey Rush), I became obsessed with her milky white skin. It truly is the perfect canvas for make-up. Then I met my client Krysten Ritter this year and was blown away by hers! She can rock red lips, fuchsia lips, even nude lips with more contrast and drama than anyone I know. Such an amazingly gorgeous face to work on that I have to pinch myself everytime.

Here's the make-up breakdown of Krysten's look: First I prep her skin with Amala Hydrating Face Cream, my favorite line of skincare with all organic ingredients. I add a sweep of Hourglass Veil Fluid Make-up Foundation in No. 1 Ivory and conceal any dark circles or redness with Dior Hydrating Concealer in Light Golden. I contour her cheeks with a light bronze powder (Dior Matte Sunshine in Honey Matte) and add a nude cheek color to her apples (DiorBlush in A Touch of Blush). Then I define her eyes (but not overkill them) with a wash of pale grey shadow all over her eyelid (Mark Cosmetics i-Mark Custom Pick Eye Shadow in Minx), Illamasqua Eye Liner Cake in Mislead on both the top and bottom lashlines, two coats of mascara (CoverGirl Lash Blast Luxe in Black Platinum) and a few individual lashes on the upper outside corners. Lastly I play up her lips with a tinted lip balm (Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Sheer Lip Tints in Berry, Blush, Honey or Plum, depending on our mood).

Here are some more snapshots of my work on Miss Ritter's snow-white skin taken by Hama Sanders... I still love a California glow but am now secretly jealous of the pale few out there. (And never again will I leave the house without wearing my SPF 70, because a girl can dream!)

And three more shots by Eric Ray Davidson:

Different Hair Color Calls for Different Make-up

2009-07-28T21:04:00.000-07:00

For fun, Lauren Conrad sported a brown wig for this month's issue of Harper's BAZAAR. They called in the darling Ken Paves for his wig expertise and me for her signature make-up look, with a little more intensity. So I deepened her bronzer and blush and added a little more definition to her eyes. To do this, I used the same shades that I normally use on her, but applied more coats with more product on the brush. If you're in the mood to disguise yourself with a different hair color wig, make sure to snap a quick digital picture of yourself before you go out and you'll easily see how you'll need to change up your make-up. If you go darker, don't forget to darken your eyebrow color with shadow or a pencil. Be careful with red lips because they might make you look too costume-y... but if you have dark hair and you're sporting a blonde wig, you might need a little more color on your lips than you're used to. Wigs are a great way to see yourself in another light and a good test before you dye your hair.

Here are the products that I used on Lauren, all by Mark Cosmetics :

Foundation: Face Xpert Flawless Touch in Natural
With: Foundation Brush
Concealer: Good Riddance Hookup in Light/Medium
With: Concealer Brush
Powder: Mattenificent Oil-Absorbing Powder in Natural/Buff
With: Powder Brush
Bronzer: Bronze Pro Bronzing Powder
With: Blush + Bronzer Brush
Blush: Good Glowing Mosaic Custom Blush in Hush Baby
With: Kabuki Brush
Browbone: Winkstick Hook up Eye Shadow Stick in Demure
Lid: Urban Neutral Flip For It Eye Color
Eyeliner: Get in Line Waterproof Liquid Liner Hook up in Painted Black
Bottom Lash Line: i-Mark Custom Eye Color in Corset
Mascara: Make It Big Lash Plumping Mascara in Raven
Individual Lashes: On top: Long (3), Medium (5) and Short (2) on each eye;
Lip Contour: mini Mark it stick for Lips in Peachy Pearl
Lip Gloss: Glow Baby Glow Luxe in Sun Luxe

Here are some more shots from our shoot, including one from the passenger van where I'm hiding behind a fedora and shades. ;-)

All photos courtesy of Harper's BAZAAR and Todd Cole. http://harpersbazaar.com http://toddcolephotography.com http://hairuwear.com http://meetmark.com

Make-up Sophistication

2009-06-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

Here's a beautiful fashion story for July's Jezebel Magazine's cover issue of 90210's AnnaLynne McCord that I worked on a couple of months ago and have been DYING for it to come out!! Because the clothes were so luxurious and chic, I created a make-up look that was polished and sophisticated.

Here's exactly what I did:

FACE:
I applied Giorgio Armani Designer Foundation in #7 then powdered all over with Giorgio Armani Loose Powder in #1.

I contoured under her cheekbones for extra drama with Mark Cosmetics Bronze Pro Bronzing Powder in Pro Glow, then dusted directly on her cheekbones with Mark Good Glowing Mosaic Blush in Sandy. Make sure to sweep both all the way up to your temples, into your hairline.

EYES:
I used a combination of the lighter gold shades in Dior's Sunset Cafe 5-Colour Palette along her entire eyelid, blending up and into the crease.

I used Dolce & Gabbana Crayon Intense Eyeliner in Stromboli along the entire lower lash line, drawing the line thicker than expected, almost using it more as a shadow for drama instead of a liner for definition.

Followed with two coats of DiorShow Iconic Mascara in Nior, then I applied individual lashes along the upper lash line.

LIPS:
I wanted AnnaLynne's gorgeous mouth to to be highlighted, but not compete with her eyes and the dresses, so I applied Dior Addict High Shine Lipstick in Champagne Blush, an elegantly sheer golden pink.

Here are some more shots from the story, shot by John Russo in his studio in Los Angeles. I am obsessed with the long white dress by Issa London!

All photos courtesy of John Russo, Jezebel Magazine, Dior Beauty, Mark Cosmetics, Dolce & Gabbana Make-up and Giorgio Armani Beauty.
www.johnrussophoto.com
www.jezebelmagazine.com
www.beauty.dior.com
www.meetmark.com
www.dolcegabbanamakeup.com
www.giorgioarmanibeauty.com

Crimson Lips

2009-06-01T08:32:00.001-07:00

Lauren wanted a dark berry lip color at the MTV Movie Awards last night, inspired by the crimson roses in her Moschino dress. I used Mark Dew Drenched Lip Color in Juicy, the same color we used on the models from her first fashion show last year at LA Fashion Week. I'm so proud of her for being daring!

All photos courtesy of Wire Image and Mark Cosmetics. www.meetmark.com

Soft and Touchable Lashes

2009-04-06T14:35:00.000-07:00

I am a strong advocate that lashes should be soft and never stiff... you want your man to feel like he can pet them! Nothing makes me cringe more than when I see pretty make-up ruined with a starchy and stiff mascara job. Sorry to all the Great Lash lovers out there, but that one is the worst offender! A trick to avoid committing such a crime is to use a creamy formula mascara; Make It Big Lash Plumping Mascara by Mark Cosmetics (www.meetmark.com) is one of my all-time favorites because you can build volume without clumping. Then simply take a clean disposable wand and brush through your lashes. Start by placing the wand at the roots then drag and pull it through like a comb until you've reached the ends.

I used it on Lauren Conrad for MTV's The Hills Season Five advertising campaign seen here.

All photos courtesy of MTV (www.hills.mtv.com) and Mark Cosmetics (www.meetmark.com).

Tinted Lip Balm

2009-03-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Tinted lip balms are a great alternative to lipstick and gloss. They add a hint of color and shine when you don't want to look too "made-up." My client Krysten Ritter, who is absolutely adorable in Confessions of A Shopaholic and just filmed the pilot for the Gossip Girl spin-off, is as obsessed as I am with Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick Sheer Tint . Here are two red carpet shots where I used it on her in Berry for the I Love You Man premiere. And it has SPF 15 as an added bonus. It feels like heaven!

Photos courtesy of WireImage and Elizabeth Arden www.elizabetharden.com

A Lesson in Lashes

2009-02-28T09:03:00.000-08:00

In April's issue of Seventeen Magazine, you will find a perfect example of how you can add lots of drama with individual lashes! You will fall in love with how they really elongate your eyes. At your local drug store or beauty supply, pick up Short, Medium, Long and Mini Individual Flare Lashes, or online you can find Combo Packs that have Short, Medium and Long's and a separate pack of Mini's. I prefer Duralash by Ardell Flare Individual Lashes. You'll also need a lash glue, and I use DUO's Eyelash Adhesive in Clear because it goes on white then dries clear. All can be found online at www.madamemadeline.com

First, I applied two coats of Mark's Make It Big Mascara in Raven on Lauren's top and bottom lashes. (www.meetmark.com) I always focus on applying lashes one eye at a time. Squeeze a pea-size dollop of the lash glue on the back of your hand. You want to give it a minute to get tacky, so I always do this first. With tweezers or your fingers, pull out 4 Long's, 4 Medium's, 3 Short's and 3 Mini's from their case and place them in separate rows on the back of your hand. Starting with the outside corner of your eye, place two Long's on the very end of your lash line, as close to each other as you can get them. Direct them outwards at a 45-degree angle to create more of a cat-eye look. Directly next to the 2 Long's, start adding lashes towards the center of your eyes in this order: 1 Medium, 1 Long, 1 Medium, 1 Long, 2 Medium's then 3 Short's. If you find that you don't have a lot of space between your lash line and your eyebrow, making the Long's look too costume-y, forgo the Long's and instead use 6 Medium's and 5 Short's, same as above, with two Medium's at the outside corners, then every other until you only have Short's left. Repeat with your other eye. If you stick to this order, I promise you will have head-turning lashes!!

On your bottom lash line, place 3 Mini's on the outside corners, carefully placing them between your own lashes. If you are lucky enough to have really long bottom lashes, use 3 Short's instead. Just make sure with bottom lashes, you apply the false ones as if they are backwards! I use my fingers to apply all of the top and bottom lashes, because I really like the control of being able to get in there, but a lot of make-up artists prefer to use tweezers. Lauren also loves to use tweezers when she is applying them on herself before she goes out at night. Just have fun with it, practice until it becomes second nature, or have a girlfriend come over before you go out and apply them on each other!

Here are some more pictures from our shoot...

Here she is with the lovely Lo Bosworth, who had her make-up done by my colleague Natalie Miller:

All photos courtesy of Seventeen Magazine, Kenneth Willardt, Ardell and Duo. www.seventeen.com