OCM: the only cure, more makeup

My Summer Daytime Essentials

     

                                     *Enjoying what’s left of long summer days

Hi Dolls!

During the summer, I love a daytime look that’s easy and sun-kissed.  I don’t want to spend too much time piling on makeup, but I still want a polished but pretty look that’s going to stand the heat. Here are the products I use on a daily basis that I hope you’ll find useful!

                                    

1. Smashbox Photo Finish in Original ($36). Gives me a silky base before foundation and helps it last longer too!

2. Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer in Almond ($42). Used only on my good skin days. :) Provides great coverage for a tinted moisturizer!

3. Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Shell Beige ($35).  If you have oily/combination skin, you have to try this! Perfect for summer days because it doesn’t melt off my face! I just use a water face mist on my face before I apply a dime sized amount to keep it from looking too cakey.

4. MAC Studio Fix Concealer in NW 25 or NW 30 ($17).  Covers all evidence of blemishes and late nights!

5. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Deep ($27).  Doesn’t look powdery and has a luminous finish that mimics real skin.

6. Urban Decay Naked Palette ($48). During the day, I use Half-Baked (a gold e/s) in my inner tear duct and on my brow bone, then Smog (a dark bronze e/s) in my crease and on my lower lashes. I also use Buck to sometimes fill my brows. I’d seriously be lost without this palette!

Tip: Try applying the eyeshadows wet for extra staying power!

7. L’Oreal Liner Intense in Carbon Black (~$7).  My liquid liner for years and it never fails me. Works just as well as my Lancome Artliner.

8./9. My magic formula when it comes to lashes! My short, straight lashes need a waterproof formula that’s going to lock my curl, so I find that the Maybelline Waterproof Lash Stiletto in Very Black (~$7) not only locks my curl all day, but gives me a tons of length.  Then to give me more volume, I use L’Oreal Million Lashes in Carbon Black (~$7) on my top and bottom lashes.  Washes off with ease and doesn’t give me raccoon eyes either!

10. Nars Bronzer in Laguna ($33). My go-to bronzer to contour and gives me a sun-kissed glow perfect for summer.

11. MAC Sheertone Blush in Peaches ($19.50). Love the summertime flush this blush gives me!

Add a pink sheer gloss (like Mac Nymphette), and I’m good to go! What products do you use during the summer?  Do we have some items in common?

Stay tuned for my nighttime essentials and behind the scenes for this shoot!

XOXO, Alyson

*images via Nordstrom.com, drugstore.com, Sephora.com, http://www.onlineshoppingx.com/images/prod_imgs/03016983002.jpg

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Inspired By Full Brows

Every morning, I dedicate at least an hour and half (sometimes even more haha) to browsing through my favorite beauty blogs or watching my favorite YouTube makeup artists. Since summer is coming to an end, today I was particularly interested in the upcoming Fall beauty trends so that I can prepare myself what looks I can wear for the next season. Other than the thick winged liner and bold lashes that I’m already planning to wear, I’m loving the full brow trend seen on the Fall 2011 runways.

D&G Fall 2011 RTW

Prada Fall 2011 RTW 

Remember, the full brow trend isn’t for everyone, so it’s up to you to adapt the trend to your style and face shape. In my case, I’m skipping the dark Frieda brows (as seen in Alexander Wang Fall 2011 RTW) and going for the natural full brows as seen above.

As far as brow products go, I like to use the Anastasia Brow Powder Duo, Mac Lingering, or just plain old eyeshadow (the color depends on my mood or look I’m going for).

What brow products do you like to use?  Any Fall beauty trends you’re going to try?

XOXO, Alyson

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Alexander Wang Anastasia D&G Fall 2011 Mac beauty trend brows inspired by prada

Kim Kardashian Natural Makeup Tutorial

Face
Make Up For Ever Face & Body Foundation #34
Nars Bronzer in Laguna (Nars Casino Bronzer for darker skin tones)
Make Up For Ever Sculpting Kit #2
Mac Cream Color Base in Pearl
Nars Blush in Torrid

Eyes
Mac Cream Color Base in Pearl
Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Lash Mascara
Clinique Mascara
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
Mac Eyebrow Pencil in Lingering

Lips
Make Up For Ever Lab Shine Gloss D10

This makeup tutorial has always been a favorite of mine from Eman.  Check out the original post here.

XOXO, Alyson

P.S.  Apologies for the summer makeup tutorial, I’m holding onto summer as much as I can!

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Basics: Classic Eyeliner

I always refer to this video to get the perfect eyeliner. I also like his mascara technique to get longer looking lashes!

Sorry I can’t embed the video into the blog, Mac didn’t give one on their website.  In fact, this older video was a little difficult to find!

STEP 1
Prep the eye with a primer. Apply on the eye lid and crease using a soft brush.

Prep + Prime Eye, $17
MAC 242 Shader Brush, $24.50

STEP 2
Set the primer with a beautiful light olive/taupe eye shadow. The lid should look like real fresh skin.

MAC Eyeshadow Satin Taupe, $15
MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush, $30

STEP 3
Look at the shape of the eye and start the line in the center of the eye and then continue outward to the outer crease using a gel liner.

MAC Fluid Line Blacktrack, $15
MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush, $30

STEP 4
Take a step back and look at the shape of your first attempt and then continue to extend the liner in stages until you are satisfied with the results. Achieve intensity by going over the liner a few times to get the liner super dark with no spaces or gaps!

MAC Fluidline Blacktrack, $15
MAC 266 Angled Eyeliner Brush, $19.50

STEP 5
Add a lighter eye pencil to the lower lash line to counter balance the dark liner on the top.

MAC Eye Kohl Fascinating, $15

STEP 6
Curl lashes to add definition to the look.

MAC Lash Curler, $16

STEP 7
Apply a generous amount of  mascara (if this look needs some more drama, add one of our ravishing false lashes)

MAC Plush Lash Mascara Plushblack, $15

STEP 8
Add a medium dark shadow to the lower outer corner of the eyes to extend the liner look and contrast against the lighter eye pencil.

MAC Eyeshadow Club, $15
MAC 219 Pencil Brush, $24.50

STEP 9
Apply a bit of clear brow gel to the eye brows to groom and complete the look. Extend and fill in the brow if necessary!

MAC Brow Set Clear, $15

XOXO, Alyson

PDF step by step instructions here and video instructions here.

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Base Training

Even though the tides of fashion week haven’t fully crested yet, it’s looking like certain beauty trends will rise to the top. Flawless, natural, dewy skin is among the standouts, which one might argue never really goes out of style, but is definitely in greater demand at the moment along with all manner of nude and buff-toned makeup. It’s fitting, then, that a slew of new foundations has just hit counters to help impart that radiant complexion seen backstage. Here, we rounded up the most promising debuts backed by science, paired with customized brushes, and available in a veritable rainbow of flesh-toned shades.

—Kari Molvar

What: Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus All-Smooth Makeup SPF 15

Best For: Correcting uneven spots

Seen At: Spiked with peptides to plump fine lines and ultrasomes to repair UV damage, this youth-preserving foundation was road-tested backstage at Karen Walker, where Clinique global color artist Jenna Menard employed its multi-action benefits, which marry the skin-smoothing abilities of the brand’s hit antiaging serum of the same name (Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector) with buildable coverage.

$32.50, www.clinique.com.

What: MAC Matchmaster SPF 15 Foundation

Best For: Airbrushing away fine lines

Seen At: This fluid’s moisturizing demi-matte finish is pretty amazing, as makeup artist Tom Pecheux illustrated when he turned to its line-reducing, soft-focus powders to help blur the appearance of dark shadows and wrinkles backstage at Marni . Available in a full spectrum of 14 light to deep-dark shades, the foundation glides on especially well when applied with the brand’s two new brushes—the 193 Angled Foundation Brush and the 190 Foundation Brush for allover coverage.

$32.50, www.maccosmetics.com.

 
What: Diorskin Forever Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Makeup

Best For: Customized skin enhancing

Seen At: The first foundation from Dior to adapt and adjust to the skin’s chemistry, this high-tech skin-enhancer just launched and will presumably make a cameo backstage at Dior’s Spring show on Friday. It’s inspired by Asia’s “slurry powder” technology, in which micro-fine powders are combined with water to allow for a silky, feather-light finish. It’s also infused with mallow flower extract to stimulate cell renewal, so your skin actually looks better after every application.

$46, www.dior.com.

What: Sisley Skinleya Anti-Aging Lift Foundation

Best For: Long-lasting coverage

Seen At:This is a favorite around the office that has gone unnoticed at the shows but is currently playing a starring role in our makeup bag. Bridging the gap between powder and fluid formulas, the cream-gel foundation contains microspheres to conceal imperfections and high-tech color pigments coated in budge-proof amino acids. Also cool: It comes with a specially designed brush to help work the silky foundation over the cheekbones, chin, and forehead.

$190, www.bloomingdales.com.

What: Dolce & Gabbana The Foundation Perfect Finish Creamy Foundation

Best For: The No-Makeup Flawless Effect

Seen At: This whipped formula has a sheer, semi-transparent texture, which might lead you to assume it doesn’t cover up anything. You’d stand corrected after seeing its concealing powers first hand, though, which is why the brand’s color consultant, Pat McGrath, calls this buildable skin perfector a “dream” to work with and broke it out backstage at Dolce & Gabbana last weekend.

$66, www.saksfifthavenue.com.

What: Chanel Perfection Lumière Long-Wear Flawless Fluid Makeup SPF10

Best For: Flattering tricky-to-match complexions

Seen At: Lately every makeup artist we run into is raving about this fancy new foundation. It’s got a patented “Perfect Light Control” complex that corrects imperfections using hemispherical powders that “bounce” light to illuminate the skin, and a blend of mineral-coated, transparent pigments to unify the complexion. It’s the latest creation from the French house’s creative makeup director, Peter Philips, who has personally used it backstage at Fendi and Jil Sander, and will presumably give it some traction at Chanel next week. We love that it comes in a range of 20 shades, from light beige to deep amber, making sure every skin tone is well represented.

$55, www.chanel.com.

Photos: Courtesy Photos

Always on the hunt for long-lasting and HD foundations…

XOXO, Alyson

Check out the original post here.

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Smoky Brown

Products Used

Face
La Mer The Powder $65 
MAC Studio Finish Concealer NC25 $17
Make Up Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation 123 $40 
Sleek Face Contour Kit Light £6.50 (can ship internationally)

Eyes
Anastasia Brow Powder Duo Brunette $22
Two Faced Shadow Insurance $18
MAC e/s Black Tied, Soft Brown, Brown Down, Espresso $15
Urban Decay Ink for Eyes Zero $22

Lips
Smashbox The Nude Lip Liner Fair $16
NYX Round Lipstick Honey $3.99

I LOVE this for fall!

XOXO, Alyson

Via here

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Basics: The Art of the Red Lip

“Bright red M·A·C lips kind of make me feel like I have my clothes on,” says M·A·C  Artist Caroline D. Creating a look that’s as much red carpet glamorous as rock and roll rebel, she demonstrates the secrets to achieving an iconic red mouth.

STEP 1
Prep lips with Prep + Prime Lip, going just outside of the lip to prevent bleeding and create a smooth canvas.

Prep + Prime Lip, $15

STEP 2
Line lips starting at the cupid bow to create a good shape. For the bottom lip, also start from the center of the lip and work your way out towards the corners of the mouth.

MAC Cherry Lip Pencil, $14

STEP 3
Line lips  starting at the cupid bow to create a good shape. For the bottom lip, also to ensure symmetry and a good shape, pull back from the mirror a bit and tilt your head up and down. Make corrections as necessary so that you have a full perfect. 

STEP 4
Apply lipstick all over lip straight from the lipstick bullet at first, then with a lip brush for speed, being sure to fill in the corners of the mouth. The lip brush also helps to push the product into the lips, helping color longevity.

MAC Russian Red Lipstick, $14.50
MAC 318 Retractable Lip Brush, $22.50

Official instructions and video here.

If you want to checkout my other Makeup Basics, which includes classic eyeliner and eyeshadow for different eye shapes, click here.

Hope you had a good weekend!

XOXO, Alyson

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