I know that years ago I was simply horrified at the thought of blue eye makeup; especially blue eye shadow. Boy how times have changed! All over New York's recent Fashion Week, blue eye makeup was the headline-making trend that had everyone talking. From the Proenza Schouler show to Betsey Johnson and Anna Sui, models wore shadows and liners in the shade that once made my head spin. These days, however, I really embrace blue eye makeup color because they really bring out my brown eyes. Here's a sampling of some of the beautiful, very wearable blue eye makeup colors available now:
Stila Borealis Eye Shadow Duo - Light periwinkle and dark rich blue make for a dynamite duo for your eyes. I love to use the lighter shade over the same color pencil under my lower lashes.
GOSH Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Blueberry Ice - Waterproof and extra longwearing, I love this eyeliner from GOSH. I line my lower inner rims with it, and after washing my face in the evening, I wake up with traces of it still on ~ kind of a nice little gift when you wake up to pretty eyes in the morning!
Trish McEvoy Eye Definer in Arabian Nights - Triple pigmented for super definiton along the lash line. This dark blue is great with a simple swipe of black mascara or for an all out smoky eye. Rockin'!!!!
Blue eye makeup comes in many different hues, some more greenish blue, others more in the purple-blue family. Some are lighter in pigment while others are almost as dark as black. If you still have the fear I once harbored about blue eye makeup shades, buy some inexpensive shadows and liners, or just go to your local department store and have the makeup artist test some colors on you. Remember, my best advice when going to the makeup counter: tell the makeup artist upfront that you will not be buying anything until you wear it for a bit. Go outside and see how the makeup looks in natural light, in your work environment and at your abode. Department store lighting is funky at best, and you could love something there that you won't love so much in your normal environment. Be cautioned: wear it before you buy it!
Are you having more difficulty with your shave routine in these days than you do in summer? Are you experiencing more nicks, cuts or irritation? If you want your skin to look great all year round, make sure to use a shave cream like Pure Silk Moisturizing Shave Cream, and be sure to avoid these top three winter shaving mistakes:
* Soaking too long in the bath: If you love taking long, hot baths, don't shave after you've soaked for longer than 15 minutes. Hairs will be less available to the razor's edge, because skin swells up with water after soaking for awhile and you'll have stubble sooner than usual.
* Using a worn-out razor blade: Pay attention to your razor blade. You're apt to change it more frequently in the warm weather when you're shaving regularly. A worn-out blade will deliver a less-than-perfect shave with greater possibility for nicks and cuts.
* Ignoring the bikini line: Continue to shave your bikini line. The "stop in the winter, start in the summer" routine that most women practice leads to greater razor irritation and red bumps. To minimize irritation, use a shave cream such as Pure Silk Moisturizing Shave Cream in Coconut & Oat Flour, which contains aloe and oat flour extract to calm and soothe the skin.
While I love long hot baths I don't shave during them, as I see shaving as a chore and baths are supposed to be relaxing! I'm certainly guilty of number two however, and never fear, I'm keeping my bikini line in check year round! Once you try Pure Silk Moisturizing Shave Cream (I love the Coconut & Oat Flour variety) you'll never go back to whatever you were using before. From the makers of Barbasol, the know it alls of shaving, you'll love the way your razor glides over your skin, doing away with any stubborn stubble in no time flat. I am obsessed with soft, smooth legs so I experiment with all sorts of creams, gels and lotions on my constant quest to keep hair at bay and retain smooth, luscious skin. Also available in Melon Splash, Peaches & Cream and Raspberry Mist, this shave cream will rock your world, trust me.
If you're anything like me, you get all excited, to the point of near hyperventilation, when you open your mailbox and see the Bliss catalogue waiting for you, or perhaps you steal a few minutes of work time scouring over their fabulous website. I know; your eyes tend to glaze over at the wealth of products and information Bliss offers. But I've recently test driven two of their finest products that I wanted to tell you about them so you can check them out for yourself!
Bliss Spiff Upper Lip
This cream comes in a tube with a brush applicator on one end, making it easy to dispense and apply. I have a few vertical lip lines, the dreaded shadowy upper lip pigmentation (which I was incorrectly told by a professional would go away when I stopped taking the pill), and, God forbid, one little dark hair on each side of my upper lip. As painful as all that is to admit, it's comforting to know that Spiff Upper Lip addresses all these issues, plus it pumps up collagen to make your puny top lip look like a real stunner! I've tried other products to deal with the vertical lines and while one worked moderately well, nothing, not even prescription creams, have made such a difference in the pigmentation. Spiff Upper Lip rocks! Really, if you have any of these issues I'd say it's worth a try with this product. The fact that it is a multitasker gives it big points in my book, too!
Wrinkle Twinkle
While crows feet are not something I have to deal with, I do have what amounts to some crêpe-y looking skin under my oh-so-young looking eyes. A few minutes after using Wrinkle Twinkle, I truly see my fine lines seem to be diffused - to the point that I can happily ignore them! A dot of concealer glides on happily over Wrinkle Twinkle, and don't forget this line filling eye cream also goes to work on your dark circles. So stay up watching tv or kissing or yakking on the phone with your girlfriends or what ever it is you do till the wee hours, and know that you can wake up to Wrinkle Twinkle with a smile on your face in the morning.
These products are sold separately or as a duo. I love both of them and use them daily, which contributes to my Bliss-ful looks and attitude. I'm also thrilled that a Bliss spa is opening in my town, so I can go and enjoy some TLC any time I want to!
Look out Divas, because the fourth and final lipstick in the Pout-à-Porter designer lipstick series makes its highly anticipated debut Friday morning (2/8/08) on lancome-usa.com. Lancôme Color Fever Shine Lipstick in Pixel Pink is a beautiful sheer raspberry shade created by celebrated emerging designer Thakoon and celebrity makeup artist Gucci Westman for Thakoon's Spring 2008 show. All the models - Catherine, Hye, Jessica, Coco, Irina and the others - wore Pixel Pink as they walked down the runway.
Thakoon had a very specific muse in mind for this collection. He envisioned a young, modern Japanese woman who leaves her life behind and escapes to Hawaii. Once there, she loses herself in the surf and sun. "Her makeup is very minimalist," says Gucci. "I could see her dabbing this color on her lips to go with the tan and flushed cheeks she has from surfing all day."
Beginning February 8th, Pixel Pink will be available in limited quantities on lancome-usa.com and on March 1st it will debut exclusively at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Lancôme's five U.S. boutiques with a suggested retail price of $25.
Anyone who has tried to get their hands on these fab designer shades knows they tend to sell out quickly so get them while they're hot and available!! Pinks and nudes are my preferred lipstick shades so I'll certainly be sure to get my hands on Pixel Pink before it strolls off into the sunset. Count on me, the Glam Diva, to keep you "in the know" about what's new and notable in beauty!
Spring is so close, I can almost taste it! Although the weather outside still screams "winter," I think we're all ready for the warm sunshine that spring normally brings. I am warmed, heart and soul, by all the fab new spring makeup that is hitting the stores as we speak. Today I'm introducing some great new eye makeup products that you will surely want to check out for your Diva self this upcoming season!
Too Faced Eye Shadow Primer
Get chic eyes that last all day by applying Too Faced Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer, a silicone based primer that will not only keep shadow in place, but also keep it from creasing, fading, melting and blurring during your busy day (and evening!) Unique binders in the formula lock down color pigments and secure a barrier between oils and skin so your makeup won't smudge or budge. It works with both powder and cream shadows, too.
Origins Eye Shadow
Next, glide on a sheer wash of Origins Eye shadow in Palm Tree, debuting in February 2008 on the Origins website and at all Origins cosmetic counters. This lovely green brings out any eye color (you know how I am always encouraging the Divas to wear colored eye makeup, but if you are still resisting, try these Origins shadows as the can be worn sheer or layered for more intense color) and looks particularly pretty with navy or amethyst eye liner. Another fave of mine in the new Origin eye shadow colors is Lemonade. It's a slightly iridescent yellow and looks great alone or layered over other colors.
Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara
Complete your look with new Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara, which promises 400% more volume in one sweep of the exclusive super sized Visible Volume brush! I must say this mascara made my lashes lush and lengthy...and I LOVE that it is safe for contact lens wearers and comes right off with mere water! This unique formula also moisturizes lashes and keeps them in optimum condition. Look for this new Neutrogena formula soon on drugstore.com.
So remember divas, hope springs eternal and spring always brings new and noteworthy makeup to get all excited over. Here's hoping that spring arrives early this year!!
