Gadabout Media » Makeup

Lola Cosmetics On Sale for 75% Off

Michelle Hamor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:27:38 +0000

Beauty Ticket.com is having a huge and I mean HUGE sale – the Private Sale. It runs until midnight on March 15, 2010.

To shop the Private Sale you need to register with Beauty Ticket as a V.I.P. It only takes a few minutes, I did it myself. The sale covers products made by Lola Cosmetics, including foundation, eye makeup, blush, lip color, and even a Shimmering Dry Body Oil.

If you aren’t a Lola fan, take a look at the other daily bargains including the Steal of the Week Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss. It usually retails for $18, but you can get it at Beauty Ticket for only $4.99.

It was an Allure Editor’s Choice for Best Lip Gloss and it’s available in Beauty, a light pink, Luxe, a bronze, and Red Rock a coral-red, which reminds me of the red carpet makeup that I wrote about earlier this week.

Image credit: Beauty Ticket.com

Oscars 2010: Zoe & Maggie’s Makeup

Michelle Hamor — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:45:57 +0000

I got some backstage info about the makeup look that Zoe Saldana was wearing at the Oscars. Her dress was somewhat controversial (possibly too couture?), but everyone agreed that from the waist up she was exquisite.

Makeup artist Vera Steimberg used shu uemura products on Saldana. She focused on Zoe’s eyes, wanting to draw the attention upward in order mirror the updo she wore with her Givenchy Haute Couture gown. She started with the famed shu uemura Eyelash Curler that everyone swears by curling Zoe’s natural lashes, then Steimberg applied Slant Black False Eye Lashes. The trick to applying the lashes correctly is to use the shu uemura Eye Lash Applicator.

Did you notice how beautiful Maggie Gyllenhaal’s skin looked on the red carpet? She got a little help from makeup artist Molly Stern and shu uemura’s Red: Juvenus Vitalizing Concentrate. To recreate Gyllenhaal’s golden-brown eye look, use the shu uemura Pressed Eye Shadow in ME Brown 860 all over, with P Brown 810 in the crease.

You can find all these products at shu uemura’s online store.

Image credit: PicApp.com

Celebrity Fragrances: Kim Kardashian & Jennifer Aniston

Michelle Hamor — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:52:37 +0000

I’m on the fence when it comes to celebrity fragrances. Sometimes I love them, for example in the case of Reese Witherspoon’s In Bloom fragrance from AVON, but other times, I think they smell too sweet or too much like every other “new thing” out there. (Britney, I’m a fan, but your perfumes sometimes give me a headache).

I was very curious to try Kim Kardashian’s new fragrance, Kim Kardashian Eua de Parfum, that is available at Sephora. Kim, if you’ve ever seen on her show, is a bit of a contradiction. She looks smoldering and sexy, but in reality she’s a little on the conservative side. Would her fragrance play to the smoldering-sexiness or to the conservative woman? A company rep contacted me about a possible review and I said, “Yes, please, send it on over!” Finally I was going to have the chance to check it out for myself.

When it arrived, the bottle was all sleek and sexy, with an Asian flair. I was reminded of the bottom notes of Tonka Bean, Musk, Sandalwood and I thought, okay, it’s going to be sexy. Wrong, well sort of wrong – it is very womanly, so sexy in that way, but not spicy sexy. This perfume smells like a strong, feminine Floral. Lots of Gardenia. It’s very pretty and my opinion is that it reflects that conservative side of Kim Kardashian.

Currently it sits in my room, but my daughters use it all the time. I can safely say that it would appeal to a wide range of women, as we are 12, 17, and 43.

Fragrance notes: Mandarin, Honey Suckle, Orange Blossom, Pink Jasmine, Tuberose, Sensual Spice, Lush Gardenia, Jacaranda Wood, Tonka Bean, Vanilla Orchid, Sexy Musk, Creamy Sandalwood.

Speaking of celebrity fragrances, did you hear the rumors that Jennifer Aniston is talking with the Falic Group about a possible fragrance deal for later this year? I read about it over at AOL’s Stylist blog. That Jennifer Aniston is always in the news. Did you catch her W cover shot with Gerard Butler? (Dang, he’s pretty.) It’s all over the internet today.

I’ll let you know when I hear more information about Jen’s fragrance. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that it will smell fresh and possibly beachy, say with a touch of Citrus and maybe some sort of Water Accord. I suspect that my guess may have been influenced by the amount of times I’ve seen shots of her in a bikini. She strikes me a beach girl. I can’t wait to give it a sniff.

Image credit: Michelle Hamor Smith

Makeup Looks At the Oscars

Michelle Hamor — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:00:53 +0000

I noticed a lot of beautiful makeup looks on the red carpet, at the Oscars. Most of the eye makeup looked simple and natural, with subtle shadow, black liner and false eyelashes. You’ve got to have false eyelashes on the red carpet, right? Did you notice the bold lip colors? In photo after photo I saw what looked like a red lip, but in a close up the color was actually closer to a coral-red or pink-red.

Cameron Diaz was a good example of the coral-red. If you’d like to recreate this look for yourself, then I’d go with NARS Lipstick in Heatwave (a semi matte orange red) or Niagara(satin pinkish coral). A coral lip will go great with the turquoise clothing you are going to see this Spring and Summer.

To soften the lip for day, apply a layer of lip balm first, then the lipstick over it. This gives a sheerer look. It also helps to smooth the surface of the lip.

Image credit: Picapp.com

Sephora Launches Tarina Tarantino’s New Cosmetic Line

Michelle Hamor — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:13:40 +0000

Sephora recently launched the new Tarina Tarantino collection. Knows as the “Queen of Irreverent Luxury,” Tarantino is an accessory designer who likes to make things sparkle.

This fuchsia-tressed former makeup artist now shares her passion for self-expression and playfulness with a complete cosmetics collection, available only at Sephora. Inspired by her nostalgic-yet-modern jewelry line, Tarina developed innovative products with high-quality, color-rich formulas and luxurious packaging. TARINA TARANTINO will take girls of all ages on a fantastical journey, where they can express their own personal style and reveal their inner sparkle.

At first glance, the colors look heavy on the pink side, but that’s just the packaging. The Eye Dream Hypershadow comes in 24 different shades running from subtle light tones all the way to bold purples, greens, and a black for a classic smokey eye.

The shadow comes in matte, shimmer/pearl, and glitter versions and they are finely milled for a velvet-like texture. The hyper-pigment formula results in a rich color. They are made without parabens.

The lip-plumping Gem Gloss is available in 13 shades of medium-intensity pigment. The gloss has a high shine and is applied with a sponge tip applicator.

I have to admit that I’ve grown comfortable with the lip plumping type gloss. I’ve worn the red Lip Fusion gloss that I reviewed last week almost every day. After you get used to the initial stinging sensation, they are quite comfortable, and lips do look prettiest with a little plumpness to them.

Here’s the product my oldest daughter would be most interested in – a light, non-greasy, pearly primer. The Pearl Glow Primer is worn alone or underneath foundation.

A primer is prep for any makeup look. The light-reflecting properties make this a good product for people with dark circles or early signs of aging. The light bounces around and sort of fools the eye, making imperfections less noticeable. It is also made without parabens.

If you’d like a chance to win a $500 Sephora Shopping Spree, then enter the Sparkling Sweepstakes by Tarnia Tarantino here.

Image credit: Sephora.com

L’Oreal Double Extend Mascara With Lash Boosting Serum: A Review

Michelle Hamor — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:00:06 +0000

I’m always on the look out for the perfect mascara. My hunt continues with the new mascara from L’Oreal Double Extend with Lash Boosting Serum.

I mentioned in my previous mascara post that my favorite mascara is the L’Oreal Double Extend. I wanted to try this updated version with special lash-building serum to see if it would be an improvement over the previous (near perfect) version.

Only time will tell if it’s going to make my lashes any longer or thicker, but in terms of the mascara alone, this one cannot hold a candle to the previous version. In fact, it’s just so-so.

I did like the thick brush, it carries a good amount of product, so in theory it should make my lashes look both longer and thicker. In theory. In practice, not so much. It’s missing the whole “tubes” aspect that is present in the original. The tubes, that was the genius part of Double Extend – why skip it in this new formula?

Unless they can find a way to combine both the tube-technology and the lash serum, then I am sticking with the original Double Extend. I can put serum on my lashes as part of my regular skin care routine.

Image credit: Michelle Hamor Smith

Win A Trip To New York City

Michelle Hamor — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:46:31 +0000

I got a notice about a contest going on with Broadway Nails. To celebrate the new nail styles that they are launching this month, they are holding The Broadway Nails Sweepstakes. There is no purchase necessary and the contest runs from March 1, 2010 until June 30, 2010. You can find the complete lists of rules at Broadway Nails.com.

The Broadway Sweepstakes Grand Prize includes the following:

*Airfare (roundtrip) for two to New York City
*Limo service to and from the airport
*2 nights in one of New York’s “premier” hotels
*Fabulous makeovers for both of you
*An American Express gift card worth $1000

To enter the contest, click here.

Image credit: Broadway Nails

Pleasingly Plump: Do Lip Plumpers Really Work

Michelle Hamor — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 02:03:42 +0000

I was blessed with fairly full lips. I’m no Angelina Jolie, although a little boy at the school where I used to work part time once said to me, “Mrs. Smith, you look like Mrs. Smith from ‘Mr. Smith and Mrs. Smith’.” Did you get that? An actual Angelina reference. I was thrilled.

Well, now I’m 43 and I’ve noticed that my lips do not look as full as they used to. Seriously? Aging messes with the lips, too? Is nothing safe? Apparently not….

I decided to try a couple of lip plumping glosses to see if they’d make a difference. Lip plumpers work by both hydrating and irritating the lips. I did not find the plumping effect to be a huge difference, but my lips did look softer, fuller, and the little lines around the edges of my lips smoothed out. (Asking for more than that just feels greedy).

Here’s what I don’t like – they sting. What happens when someone wants to kiss you? Does it sting them, too? I wish I was not currently single so that I could give you an accurate accounting of what happens when you kiss someone with lip plumper on, but I can’t. When that changes, I’ll update.

I tried AVON Perfect Wear Plump & Stay Lip Color in Pink For Life, LipFusion in Sexy, and LipFusion InFATuation in Angelic.

*AVON Perfect Wear: This is a two-step lip color. The color is a long-wear, transfer-resistant product – paired with the clear “plumping” gloss, your lips stay full and fancy for up to 8 hours. I was sent the Pink for Life as a sample for review, but I think I’d prefer the Berry Enduring or the Rosy Resistance, because they are closer to my usual lip look. I go for a nude or sheer berry lip for every day. You can wear the clear gloss on it’s own and still get the plumping effect.

You apply the color and gloss from seperate ends of the product, with a sponge-tip aplicator. The color side has a makeup-y scent, but the clear gloss is minty. I liked that. The color, shine, and plump last for a long time. Right now if you buy one Perfect Wear Plump & Stay, you can get a second one for 1/2 price. It retails for $9.

*Micro-Injected Collagen LipFusion Lip Plump: This gloss uses “..dehydrated, marine collagen micro spheres are instantly absorbed by the lips, and seek out the body’s natural moisture.” Upon rehydration, the lips plump and hold onto the moisture. The plumped effect can last for up to 48 hours.

This one was my favorite. You apply it with a sponge-tip applicator and the color is a sheer, very wearable red gloss. When I first looked at it, I thought, “I dunno, it’s very…RED…” but when applied it’s really only a glossy tint with little sparkles. Very pretty. I’d recommend this one first. It retails for $36.

*LipFusion LipFATuation: This gloss uses your own body fat to plump the lips. Using an igredient called Amplifat, which is derived from sea fern, lips are plumped when key proteins – ADFP and FABP5 – are triggered.

The gloss is applied with a brush and the color is opaque – pink color gives you pink lips. This product does what it claims, it does plump the lips, but I didn’t like actual color as much as I liked the other LipFusion product. On the plus side, it is irritant-free, Paraben-free, and Silicone-free. It retails for $29.

Image credit: Michelle Hamor Smith

NYC Fashion Week: Dashing Diva Nails

Michelle Hamor — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 01:11:23 +0000

New York City is abuzz with Fashion Week events. Dashing Diva was on hand at the Magalis Garcia, Fashion for Relief, Georges Chakra, Andy & Debb, LORICK, and Caroline Seikaly shows. Each show had their signature manicure look chosen to best set off the clothing. I’ve got some behind the scenes photos to show you of a few of the manicure looks.

My personal favorite color, Astor Place, a a light gray color was chosen to accent the clothing featured in designer Magalis Garcia’s collection.

This gray has been a hot color all Winter. Look for the gray or matte nail trend to continue on through Spring accompanying the selection of soft neutrals (khaki, champagne pinks, etc) you are going to see everywhere.

My teens love a white nail. Stylist Rachel Zoe chose Diamond District, a bright white with shimmer for Naomi Campbell’s Fashion For Relief show. This show was a benefit for Haiti.

A white nail will also look great with the turquoise you are going to see this Summer. Cool and tropical in feel, like white sandy beaches and the clear blue ocean.

Also great with turquoise would be Williamsburg. Orange is the perfect accent to blue, plus it’s a fun, bold choice. The designer Abigail Lorick chose this shade for the models wearing her collection.

Look for these colors at the Dashing Diva salon near you.

Image credits:
Grey (Magalis Garcia) – Alexei Nemchenko
White (Fashion for Relief) – Ann Lawlor
Orange (LORICK) – Dashing Diva

Juiced Up Color For Spring

Michelle Hamor — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:01:25 +0000

Have you seen the new limited edition Clinique makeup collection for Spring? They call it Juiced Up Color, “New and Sheerly Sublime.” The colors are lovely – soft, light neutrals – perfect for young and old alike.

The collection includes color products for eyes, cheeks, and lips:

*NEW High Lengths Mascara in Black and Black/Brown. This lengthening mascara is applied with a curved comb. It’s safe for sensitive eyes.

*Vitamin C Lip Smoothie Antioxidant Lip Color in Goodness Grapelicious, Pink Me Up, Mango-thon, and Nude-tritious. These are sheer lipcolors with a hint of color and an anti-aging, antioxidant formula.

*Limited Edition Fresh Picked Eye Shadow in Fresh Pear and Fresh Picked Berry. Two eye shadow colors duos fashioned in an artistic design. Pretty. The shadows have a shimmer to them.

I’ve got a trio of Clinique shadows that are similar in color to these. They were part of a Sephora Black Cherry Set that was only available for a limited time. I love the colors, they can be used in a variety of ways.

Try brushing the light color over the lid, deepen the crease with the darker shade, then dip a moist eyeliner brush into the deep shade to line the eyes. Great look for day.

*Limited Edition Fresh Picked Allover Face Color in Fresh Berries. This is my favorite product in the line.

Swirl your brush over all three shades at once to highlight your face and impart a glow. The colors can be used on separately, as well. The compact if formed into a pretty picture of berries.

This week only, get free shipping and handling, a Dramatically Moisturizing Different Lotion, and a Long Last Shine Lipstick in Twilight Nude free with a $30 Clinique purchase. Use the code COLOUR at check out.

Image credit: Clinique.com