OCM: the only cure, more makeup

OPI Fall 2011: Touring America

Release Date: August 3, 2011

Not too impressed with the warmer shades, but great darker shades (I’m a sucker for vampy nails).  Just picked up Honk If You Love OPI, Get In The Espresso Lane, and Uh-Oh Roll Down The Window.  I really liked Suzi Takes the Wheel and French Quarter For Your Thoughts too.

Any shades you wanna pick up?

XOXO, Alyson

P.S. If you’re in San Jose, you have to go to US Nail Supply! I paid $4.25 for each OPI nail polish and they even have Seche Vite, my favorite top coat for only $4!  Makes me sad how long I’ve been paying full retail for nail polish…

Images via: http://mylipsbutbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/fall2011-OPI-Touring-America-e1300990954401.jpg, http://mylipsbutbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/fall2011-OPI-Touring-America-1-e1300990980497.jpg

Update 8/17: For my SD readers, try Vyvy’s Hair and Nail Supply and Viet Nail Supply for cheap OPI nail polishes!

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opi touring america opi nail polish opi uh oh roll down the window opi honk if you love opi opi a taupe the space needle opi french quarter for your thoughts opi get in the espresso lane opi road house blues opi suzi takes the wheel opi i brake for manicures opi are we there yet? opi color to dine for opi i eat mainly lobster opi my address is hollywood fall 2011

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

YSL Beauty Fall 2011: Jardin De Minuit

Interview with Lloyd Simmonds via Elle with April Long.

Disco Inferno
Le freak, c’est chic, says Paris-based Lloyd Simmonds of fall’s bold and beautiful ’70s-inspired makeup.

Long before Lloyd Simmonds was appointed International Makeup Artist for Yves Saint Laurent in June 2010, the brand’s louche, luxe aesthetic had already made a major impact on his career. “YSL has always been kind of mythic to me,” he says. “It’s always been part of my vocabulary, even way back when.” The Canadian-born Simmonds forged his reputation as a creative dynamo working backstage for labels such as Valentino Couture and Dior in the ’90s—and spent several years working on the controversial Benetton campaigns of photographer Oliviero Toscani. Simmonds’ first collection for YSL, out this month, was inspired as much by the radical chic of Saint Laurent’s vintage designs as it was by the vision of “a flower blooming in a midnight garden,” which he says came to him while he was walking the streets of Paris: “I loved the idea of a kind of cold, blue, almost venomous light.” The resulting shades of eye shadow, mascara, and cheek and lip color—as seen on sultry It Girl model Arizona Muse in the campaign images—are at once decadent and elegant, brash and timeless.

There’s a disco vibe to the fall collection—was that era particularly inspiring to you? 

Definitely. I was thinking of the famous party that marked YSL’s launch of Opium in America in the ’70s [it was held on a boat in New York Harbor and attended by the likes of Truman Capote, Grace Jones, and Cher], and I wanted there to be a touch of that heady, decadent feeling. It’s about extreme gorgeousness.

You’ve introduced some unexpected shades, including a violet cheek color. How should that be used? 

It’s best as a sort of highlighter, used on the top of the cheekbone. What it actually does is make your skin look pale, not warm you up like a regular blush. It gives a sort of otherworldly halo effect to every skin tone. I was thinking of a famous photograph of Bianca Jagger at the opera in Paris: She has a very white foundation on, and she looks very theatrical and glamorous.

What’s your smoky eye technique? 

People tend to think a smoky eye is difficult, but it’s very easy—it just takes practice. First, you smudge a liner pencil all around your eye. Then you take a brush and apply a shadow, whatever color you want, and go over the whole shape. I then go back in with another color and accent the inner corner of the lid.

Sounds like a recipe for panda eye. 

It really isn’t. But to be safe, the easiest way to not look bad is to not do too much on the bottom. Do the top lid first, because that makes it easier to gauge the overall shape, and then you’ll know how heavy you’ll want to go under the eye.

Rich color has clearly made a comeback, but do you think that it will ever be as bold again as in the ’70s and ’80s? 

I’ve seen it happening. In England, in particular, I’ve seen some really lively makeup. The difference is that the textures have changed over the past few decades: They’re lighter and more flattering, so it can be done in a modern way—you can really go for it with color and yet not look dated.

What’s a good way to tiptoe into it? 

It’s all about using color as an accessory, which means you do your normal makeup and then you add it in. So for example, you do a little black eyeliner and then add a touch of pale violet in the inner corner of the lid—just to give a little flash of color. Or you could take a thick brush and do a superfine veil of the shade across the whole lid. I also like to trace inside the lower lash line with one of the lighter colors—it’s a tiny thing, but it gives your face a lot of light.

Ombres 5 Lumieres No. 11 $56

Ombres Solo No. 18 & 19 $30

Volume Effet Faux Cils No. 20 $30

Rouge Volupte Perle No. 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112 $34

Blush Radiance No 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 $45

La Laque No. 43, 44 $20

So in love with the Fall beauty campaign that Lloyd Simmonds created on Arizona Muse.  I think I’ll be trying out a teal smoky eye or a cranberry lip this fall. 

August 2011

XOXO, Alyson

via here and here

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Guerlain Fall 2011: Mirror Mirror

Can’t help but admire Oliver Echaudemaison’s work on Natalia Vodionova.

Ecrin 4 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09  $59

09 Les Noirs  $59                                                        Rouge G Lipstick in 25 Garconne                                                                                                + 70 Gigolo, 71 Girly  $47

Eyeliner Pencil in 40 Khol Me Jungle              Liquid Eyeliner in 05 Brun Cendre $35  + 20 Khol Me Navy, 30 Khol Me Ebony $30        

I’ve always been a fan of Guerlain’s eyeshadow palettes, gorgeous colors and gorgeous textures. But $47 for lipstick though?  I’ve heard it comes with a mirror, but daaaaaamn.

XOXO, Alyson

via here and here

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guerlain fall 2011 natalia vodionova oliver echaudemaison

Nars Fall 2011 Collection

Q&A WITH FRANCOIS NARS

What’s the mood for Fall 2011?

Confident, fashion-forward and graphic. Fall is the perfect time to play with dramatic shades, bold color and rich textures, like a bright blue eye or a stormy gray nail.

Why was Mariacarla Boscono chosen for the Fall 2011 campaign?

Mariacarla is extremely sophisticated, with a dramatic face. I love the way she looks: her dark hair, pale skin and flamboyant personality. She is incredibly photogenic, and you can transform her while still allowing her personality to come across on film. It was great to dress her up in black and play off her pale skin with blue eyeshadow and pale-pink lips for a graphic look.

What are your favorite color combinations for Fall 2011?

I like the look of a bright blue eye and a pale pink lip, achieved with Outremer Eyeshadow and Pago Pago Lipstick. It’s striking and modern. Train Bleu Velvet Matte Lip Pencil is perfect for a deep aubergine lip to complement the softer colors of the Trio Eyeshadow. Galion Nail Polish is dark and moody and lends edginess to any look.

Oasis Lip Gloss $24                                                Pago Pago Lipstick $24

Delphis Trio Eyeshadow $45                               Grand Palais Duo Eyeshadow $33

Outremer Single Eyeshadow $23

Muscate Pure Matte Lipstick $25                            Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick $25

Train Bleu Velvet Matte Lip Pencil $24                        Galion Nail Polish $17

July 15, 2011

I’ve been dreaming of the Outremer eyeshadow since I saw it on Karen. Swatches here.

XOXO, Alyson

Via here, here, and here

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nars Fall 2011 makeup and beauty blog francois nars

Zoya Smoke and Mirrors Collection

Kinda wanting Anja…I can never have enough vamp colors!

Release date: July 15, 2011

XOXO, Alyson

via here and here

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Make Up Forever Fall 2011

Smoky Palette $45

New Smoky Lash Couleur in deep brown, dark blue, plum, green $22

Khol Pencil in Deep Pearly Blue 8K, Matte Mocha Brown 9K, Pearly Black Purple 10K, Intense Green 4K $17

Checkout behind the scenes:

XOXO, Alyson

images via here, here, and here

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fall 2011 makeup forever smoky lash smoky palette make up forever smoky lash mascara smoky eyes

Laura Mercier Classic Smoky Eye Palette

Laura Mercier Classic Smoky Eye Palette $85

Loving how Fall collections are full of smoky eye palettes!

XOXO, Alyson

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laura mercier fall 2011 smoky eye

Fall Trend Makeup: Monochromatic Metallic

Totally on trend and easy for Fall!

Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20
In The Light Palette
Smudge Stick in Damsel
Kajal in Topaz
Convertible Color in Peony
All Over Shimmer
Stay All Day Brow
GlamourEyes Mascara

XOXO, Alyson

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Fall 2011 Fall Trend Stila metallic makeup tutorial

Laura Mercier Smoky Eye Collection: Create The Look

Got this great pamphlet from the Laura Mercier counter with instructions how to do their Fall Smoky Eye Collection campaign.  Thought I’d scan it and type up the instructions to share :)

Look 1: Smoldering Eyes (Left Model)

EYES:
1.) Line and define eyes by applying Tightline Cake Eye Liner in Black Ebony underneath the root of the upper lash line with the Flat Eye Liner Brush.
2.) Continue by adding a pop of colour applying Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Sapphire from lash line to crease and to lower lash line, blending with the Creme Eye Detail Brush.
3.) For added drama, apply Kohl Eye Pencil in Black Violet to inner rim of eye, bottom and top.
4.) Use the Pony Tail Brush to lightly pat on Eye Colour in Sparkling Noir from lash line to crease, over the Caviar Stick Eye Colour application.
5.) Continue by applying Eye Colour in Sable to the eye crease using the Eye Crease Brush.
6.) To brighten the eyes, finish by applying Eye Colour in Vanilla to brow bone and at inner corner of eye with the Eye Colour Brush.

CHEEKS:
Sweep Second Skin Cheek Colour in Barely Pink to cheeks using the Cheek Colour Brush.

LIPS: 
Apply Lip Glace in Bare Naked to lips.

Look 2: Smoky Eyes (Right Model)

EYES:
1.) Line and define eyes by applying Tightline Cake Eye Liner in Black Ebony underneath the root of the upper lash line with the Flat Eye Liner Brush.
2.) Continue by applying Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Smoke from lash line to crease and to lower lash line, blending with the Creme Eye Detail Brush.
3.) For added drama, apply Kohl Eye Pencil in Black Violet to inner rim of eye, bottom and top.
4.) Use the Pony Tail Brush to lightly pat on Eye Colour in Sparkling Noir from lash line to crease, over the Caviar Stick Eye Colour application.
5.) Continue by applying Eye Colour in Granite to the eye crease using the Eye Crease Brush.
6.) To brighten the eyes, finish by applying Eye Colour in Vanilla to brow bone and at inner corner of eye with the Eye Colour Brush.

CHEEKS:
Sweep Second Skin Cheek Colour in Rose Petal to cheeks using the Cheek Colour Brush.

LIPS:
Apply Lip Glace in Bare Baby to lips.

Enjoy! Visit your local Laura Mercier counter to get this pamphlet. To see the eyeshadow palette up close, check out my post here.

XOXO, Alyson

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laura mercier fall 2011 tutorial laura mercier smoky palette smoky eyes