Hot or Not Beauty

Sydney declared its intention to be the 5th Fashion city of the world at the opening of last weeks Australian Fashion Week. So to keep abreast of the latest trends from this young and vibrant city, I’d like to look at what was hot at Fashion Week and how to create your own ‘Sydnefied’ look for the Spring/Summer 2008 season.

Starting with what was hot – a resounding theme was the smoky eyes and nude lips. I’m quite a fan of the nude lip look for a dramatic statement, but it requires patience and a bit of extra effort. The nude lip look walks a fine line between nude and painting your lips out of existence.
To create this look I would recommend that you start by exfoliating your lips, something that we often overlook. Be gentle with the more delicate skin of your lips when you do this. Then when you apply your foundation, include your lips as well as your face. This helps to tone down the colour in the lips prior to applying a nude lip color.

Once you have done this then depending on how dramatic a look you would like to achieve then you have several options. If you are keen to try really nude lips, then apply a lipstick that closely matches your complexion. Add a little peachy or rose toned lip gloss to the centre of the lip and you are ready to go!
If you want to try nude lips that are not quite so dramatic, particularly if you are keen to try this look for everyday wear, then there are other options. One option is to apply the foundation on you lips as described before, and then put a little soft peach or rosy shade of lip gloss over that. Another is to leave your lips nude and try a clear lip gloss.
Yet another option is to place a little of your usual lipstick in the centre of your bottom lip, squeeze your lips together and then apply a little lip gloss in clear, soft peach or rosy shades over the lipstick. Basically be guided by the amount of colour or lack of colour you want to have, then select an option that achieves the look you are after.

Finally you need to be sure that you select the right products. For the nude lip look I’ve found that some of the best nude shades around are available from Mac. I really like the Mac Slimshine Lipsticks, which are kind of like a halfway point between a lipstick and a lip gloss – and this also comes in several nude lip options. Best of all Mac offers great shades of lipsticks and lip glosses to complement all skin tones – which makes Mac a great place to shop if you’re looking for the perfect nude lipstick for your individual complexion.

I love the Spring 2007 makeup trends. They are wearable and reasonable. Trend #1 that I wrote about was the heavy metal influence. Wearable metallic eye shadows. Spring makeup Trend #2 was a bold lip. Now, mind you, each trend isn’t meant to be worn all at once. You would definitely be a victim for the makeup police. And remember, trends are just that — fleeting. So take your pick and wear it well.

There is no better way to look fresh for spring than to add a touch of blush to the apples of your cheeks. And fortunatley, pink blush is a easy-to-apply spring trend. Makeup brands are behind this trend, as well as designers. The flushed pink cheek was seen on runways and is being featured in spring editorial makeup. Michael Kors models sported a clean fresh face that featured pink cheeks.

Carol Shaw, founder of Lorac features a soft pink cheek using her Cheek Stamp blush in Hibiscus (glimmering rose) or Pink Paradise (vibrant pink).

The pink cheeck interpreted by Lorac. Notice the soft pink lips and soft pastel shadows that compliment the soft flush of pink on the cheeks.

Bobbi Brown, the Grand Dame of natural beauty also does the pink cheek justice. Again, notice the soft eyes and mouth that accompanies this makeup trend of soft pink blush.

Long time frangrance house Guerlain does the updated pink cheek in it’s spring makeup collection.

My favorite pink blushes:
NARS Desire blush A yummy cotton candy pink. Perfect for porcelain to medium skin tones. Nars blush in Sin is ideal for deeper skin tones, olive to chocolate.
Laura Geller Pink Grapefruit Baked Blush — a sheer pink with golden luminescent light diffusers. Good for all skin tones, light to deep.
Cargo blush in Catalina for all skins tones. Lyon for deeper tones.
Smashbox blush Radiance (radiant fuschia) — perks up all skin tones, in particular deeper tones.
MAC Powder Blush in Desirious or Frankly Scarlett. Both are awesome on all skins.

Flushed pink cheeks are a HOT Spring makeup trend!

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Spring is almost here and it’s time to update the face! As much as I hate to admit it, fashion decidedly influences the makeup styles for each season. Spring 2007 fashion is all about sporty or romantic looks. Metallics and throw back inspiration from the ‘8o’s. Colors are limited to Black and White or your basic nude. The fashion trend, dictates the makeup. In makeup we will be seeing pink flushed cheeks, metallic eyes, bold lips and strong brows.

Let’s start with a fun trend for Spring 2007 — metallics.
Granted the way a trend is presented on the runway is not the way we everyday girls wear it. Trends are exaggerated on the runway. Sort of hyperbole in fashion — so we get the point. Models at CHANEL Spring 2007 sported bold gold and silver shadows rimming their eyes. While most of us wouldn’t wear that much shadow or in such a fashion for everyday, it does give us some insight into how to interpret the trend for everyday wear.

How to wear the trend:

Metallic shadows run the gammut from light sheens with a slight glimmer of metallic, to full on heavy metal. Your choice depends strictly on preference. I wouldn’t recommend a corporate lawyer wearing Urban Decay shadows with super shine and glitter, someone conservative certainly could wear a color wash (soft sweep of color over entire lid) of a soft sheen like Stila in Kitten or Nude. Pump up the metallic with Urban Decay in Baked, El Dorado or Vapor — the best of their metallic bronzes, golds and silvers. These metallics double as liners when wet and used with an angle brush.

Other sure fire metallics:
Dior 1-Couleur Powder Mono Eyeshadow in 065 Silver Dust
Bourjois Metallic Eyeliner — Try any color
Make Up For Ever Flash Color — Gold 20 and Copper 752
Becca Jewel Dust

Metallic eyes — HOT!

Check back for tomorrow for Trend #2.

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I admit, I’m a loser in the hair category. Can’t style hair to save my life. But I do know good hair when I see it. Elle has some great styles that will take you from office to party this season. Not only to they show great styles, but they have a nifty little slide show that gives you all the how-to info. My personal picks are the Barrel Curls and teased updo. I’m not much on perfect hair. I sort of prefer that tossed about look. Like you have been riding in a convertible on the Amalfi Coast. Or you just got out of bed.

Check them out.

Hot Hair.

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