Back to School - Part 2 - Color You Gorgeous!

Fall is my favorite season!
As I mentioned in my previous post, I really, really dig fall. As a kid, I grew up in Wisconsin, where fall actually meant crisp air and falling leaves and back to school in September.  In Fort Worth, where I currently live?  Not so much.  Kids start school in August and fall doesn't hit until much later in the year...late October, early November or so.  I relish in it once it arrives!  Whether you're in school, you're a teacher, going to work every day or a mom running kids to class, Back to School is a state of mind...the end of summer, time for transitions.  If you read Part 1 of my Back to School beauty tips (if you missed it, click here to read), then your skin is in shape...now it's time to add a little color to your life!  What are some easy ways to switch up your makeup routine this fall?  Read on....

 

Change up your lip game -  Fall is  great time to switch out your clear gloss or summer lipbalm for a creamy lipstick in a peachy/pink or even a deep berry...these colors look great most everyone and will work well with your new wardrobe too.  If you're not a lipstick fan, try a lipbalm/stain combo like Revlon's fall Colorburst Balm Stain in Crush or Smitten....it applies like a lip balm, but adds a sheer wash of color.

Stick to pinks, berries, reds and peachy shades....brown shades are everywhere in fall, but they're not always flattering, especially on paler skin tones.

Personally, I love a really deep berry for fall!  It looks great with heavier clothing and darker colors, plus it really gives a pop of color to my (year 'round!) pale skin....
One of my favorite shades is "Shame" by Urban Decay....even though it's not technically fall yet in Texas (still around 100 degrees daily), I had to break out a little wishful fall makeup last week!

Try a new way to blush - Have you been skipping blush on top of your tan this summer, or just using bronzer? When cooler temps hit, you'll need to transition to a little more cheek color to compensate for paler skin. Try a sheer, blendable gel formula (Try Butter London's Cheeky blush in Abbey Rose) for staying power to last through long days of class and after school activities.  Blend well onto the apples of your cheeks with a dampened Beauty Blender sponge...don't bring color too low!  For even longer lasting blush, try a gel formula, set with powder and then add a light dusting of powder blush on top.  Pinks, peachy shades, sheer poppy or berry all work on a variety of skin tones.  Go easy on bronzer in fall and winter, use sparingly for a light glow!


(photo credit: lipstickwithsunshine.com)

 

School /Work Appropriate Eye Makeup - Not sure how much eye makeup is appropriate for school , work or PTA meetings this fall?  Easy test.... if your eye makeup would fit in at the club or on a red carpet, it's definitely too much for daytime!  When it doubt, keep it simple.  A wash of buttery gold shadow (try L'Oreal infalliable shadow in Iced Latte) or shimmery taupe shadow provides a bit of definition and looks

(photo credit: seeyourinterest.com)

great on most everyone.....avoid bright colors and too much sparkle, save that for nights out. Dark brown or black liner traced lightly into lash lines,  plus mascara will give your eyes a bit of polish that looks great whether you're a sorority pledge or the one teaching a roomful of students....pretty much any situation! 

 

Fall-worthy Lashes and Brows - If your lashes are very light or got bleached out from summer, be sure to coat your lashes all the way down to the tip!  Choose a mascara with a tiny wand, such as one made for lower lashes, like Maybelline Lash Discovery.  Other ideas?  You can buy small disposable wands at a cosmetic supplier inexpensively to use with your favorite mascara, and Sephora has a great brush to try...it's a tiny fan brush that lets you paint on your favorite mascara root to tip. (Sephora Pro collection brush #220).

If your brows are like mine...much lighter than my hair and bleach out easily in the sun....be sure to fill them in a bit.  Use a bit of brow powder (Senna and Anastasia have great options) and a tiny angled brush.  Don't go overboard!  Just lightly fill in sparse areas and darken them up a bit if they're bleached out.

Follow these tips for a fresh look that is just right for fall!  What's YOUR favorite way to transition your makeup look from summer to fall?  Share in the comments below!

 

They're Real....and they're SPECTACULAR!

A SUPER common question clients ask is "what's the best mascara?  I've tried everything and still can't find one I like..."

I'm a big believer that mascara doesn't have to be expensive to be effective.  Most mascara formulations are chemically similar...the biggest differences are in packaging, and of course, marketing.  Here's what I look for in a great mascara:  glossy, very black, non-clumping, and no awful smell (I'm very sensitive to products that smell really strong!).  I like formulas that are moisturizing and don't smudge, but also don't take an act of God to remove at night.  Tall order?  Maybe, but I've been lucky and found several I like!  Here are two in different price points to handle any budget.  First, the drugstore fave:

L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara in Carbon Black

 

This stuff is pretty great, especially at around $9 a tube at any drugstore!  It's glossy, VERY black, non-clumping, easy to apply and lasts all day without flaking.  It has a small, comb like brush that coats lashes individually with zero clumping. If you need volume for sparse lashes, this is just meh...this is better for just giving lashes you've already got a nice, black glossy finish....all at a reasonable price.  Considering you should switch out your mascara every 3-6 months for safety and cleanliness reasons, this is pretty appealing!  Overall grade: A-

 

Here's my second current fave:

 

                                              Benefit's "They're REAL!" Mascara in Black

 

This is more of a prestige brand, and at $23 a tube, more of a prestige price.  I am LOVING this mascara!  Again, glossy, very black, lasts all day, etc.  But this one has more VOLUME and really adds fullness to your lashes.  The brush coats each lash and the little ball on the end helps with tiny bottom lashes.  Definitely my choice for a night out when I want more of a dramatic look.  Does it really look like false lashes...no, but it creates pretty nice real lashes!  At Ulta, Sephora and other beauty retailers that sell Benefit cosmetics.  I am a bit of a sucker for clever marketing too!  Overall Grade: A

Bottom line?  If you have a prestige mascara that you love and works for you, by all means...buy it!  The various brushes work better on different eye types, so when you find one that works, it's the Holy Grail.  Having said that, don't think that mascara is a category where you absolutely have to pony up bucks.....drugstore brands are very, very similar and can produce great results at an affordable price.  Which one will you choose?  What's your favorite?  Let's all LASH OUT!
PS....anyone get my Seinfeld reference in the title?!?!  I'll give you a hint, it has nothing to do with lashes......
Have a great day....see you soon!  J

EAST MEETS WEST....on Wedding Chicks!

So excited that a photo shoot I was involved in last summer was featured on the super popular blog Wedding Chicks!  They cover all things Wedding, so it's a fantastic resource for any bride to be, or anyone who just LOVES weddings.

This shoot was created by my girls at Gold Dust Vintage, Megan and Rachel....love them!  They wanted to show how vintage doesn't always have to mean "shabby chic"...but can actually be translated into many types of décor.  They used colorful sofas, lanterns, vases, tableware....all sorts of goodies and created a fantasy setting for an East meets West style photo shoot that was just chock full of ideas for brides to consider!  They gathered up a team of local wedding professionals to help, and I was thrilled to be asked to do hair and makeup for the shoot.  I normally don't do wedding hair, but I was happy to create two simple looks for this shoot...a twisted side pony and then a classic side-parted updo for the second look.  The makeup was FUN....the first look was a very dramatic dress and we wanted dramatic makeup to go with it!  Several colors of blue and turquoise, MAJOR lashes and a bold hot pink lip.....

 

This look was more of a traditional, colorful Indian-inspired look, but yet with modern and edgy twists...I just loved it!  Our model Shaina, was a dream to work with....she's so gorgeous.

 

Oh, did I mention it was WELL over a hundred degrees that day?!?!  It was in August and it was HOT.  So glad my stuff was set up in air conditioning!  The photographer was shooting away and capturing dreamy images like the one above, but then we realized it was starting to get dark....we had to REALLY hurry to do the second look!  I quickly scrubbed Shaina's face and created look #2, a buffed out smoky eye, flushed pink cheeks with a bit of shimmer and a subtle, warm pink lip.  And....more traditional lashes!  This look is more of a glamorous bridal look and one I actually create pretty often on real brides...it photographs well and looks fabulous in person too, it's a most requested look.  With makeup in 15 minutes flat, I pinned up her hair, she changed dresses and put on some truly fabulous jewelry and look #2 was complete!

 

 

 

 

Check out this link from Wedding Chicks for more pictures and details about the shoot, including fabulous paper goods by The Bee's Knee's Custom Design, Dresses and jewelry by De Ma Fille Bridal an amazing cake by Sugar Bee Sweets, Florals by We + You, Photography by Nine Photography, and the lovely venue, Weston Gardens.   Don't forget to check out this fun behind the scenes video from Turquoise Video!