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Bridesmaid Dilemma! What Makeup Should I Wear?

bellasugar — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 06:00:11 -0700

Dear Bella,
I am the maid of honor in my friend's wedding and our dresses are chocolate brown. I am very fair with blond hair and green eyes. Brown has never been a good color for me so I have no idea what sort of colors to use on my eyes, etc. Please help! — Sarah

Dear Sarah,

First off, I can understand your dilemma — as I've been in several weddings myself. From burnt sienna to periwinkle, I've worn it all. Look at it this way. The bride's picked a color that's definitely doable. Hello yellow or orange? Now, that could be more of an issue.

The best advice I can give is to keep your colors light, natural, and modern (but not too trendy). In general, while your bridesmaid's dress should complement your makeup — always match your makeup to you, and not the dress. Although your tones are cool, all of us have some elements of peach, pink, and gold to our skin. Using these hues for your makeup will give you a radiant glow, and accentuate your fair coloring nicely. Also, put the focus on your best feature — your pretty green eyes are going to knock'em out! (Without taking any attention away from the bride, of course.)

For some color suggestions and application techniques for the big day,

How-To: Leighton Meester's Cool-Toned Makeup

bellasugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:00:22 -0700

On Sunday, actress Leighton Meester attended the Henri Bendel and YSL Beaute celebration of Gossip Girl, season 2. Leighton keeps her look in the purple color family — and I can't help but love how her light lilac eyeshadow and soft magenta lips complement the color of her dress. The addition of a sun-kissed bronzer and a small burst of turquoise in her earrings complete this cool-toned look.

For a complete how-to, check out my suggestions below:

FACE: Keep the foundation light and illuminating with a tinted moisturizer such as Stila's Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer ($32). To play up the bright-eye area, try a highlighter like Smashbox's Photo Op Under Eye Brightener ($18).
CHEEKS: To achieve a rosy-bronzed look, try a bronzing duo. Use the brown shade to create depth on the cheeks, forehead, and above the brows; and the rosy pink shade on top to create a fresh flush. Try Laura Mercier's Bronzing Duo ($32) in Pink Bronze.
EYES: For your liner, try a rich chocolate brown like CoverGirl's Brow & Eye Makers Brow Shaper and Eyeliner ($3) in Midnight Brown. Lightly line the entire lower lash line. For the top lash line, only line the outer corners, keeping the inner corners free for the application of shadow. For the shadows, I like Vincent Longo's Eyeshadow Trio — One, Two, Three ($30) in Autumn Rhythm, which comes with three shades: pinkish lavender, warm lavender, and warm eggplant purple. Sweep the lightest shade of lavender on your lids. Next, blend the deeper shades together in the crease area, concentrating on the outer lids for depth.
LIPS: For glossy lips with a light magenta pink tone, try Shiseido's The Makeup Automatic Lip Crayon ($22) in LC10.

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Easy on the Eyes: A Simpler Way to Apply Shadow

bellasugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:00:25 -0700

Beauty comes in all different forms, and that goes for eye shapes as well. Depending on the shape of your eyes, you can use eye shadow to play up your features in different ways.

With your eyes open, gaze at those beautiful peepers. Do you see the eyelid or not? Take a look at the picture to the right. Notice that the eyes on the top row have little or no lid, while the ladies on the bottom section do have visible lids. If you fall into the first category, we'll call you a contour. If you fall into the latter, you are a hooded beauty. To check out my instructions for an easy way to play up your eyes based on this principle,

Faking Good Jeans: Beauty Launches from Denim Lines

bellasugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:00:51 -0700

Living in your jeans just got a little more literal. Diesel just celebrated the anniversary of Fuel For Life, and this month, Earnest Sewn launches Simple Serum (right, $45-65), an anti-aging skincare product that comes in only three iterations: face, body, and eye. The mini-line includes the active ingredients like Argiraline, a peptide made from natural proteins. For now, it's only available at Earnest Sewn stores, but that's likely to change.

On the opposite end of the simplicity spectrum, next month Rock & Republic is releasing a cosmetics line that was three years in the making and includes a compact bearing the company's logo in 445 Swarovski crystals. If you don't have an extra $225 lying around for this bling-ed out bronzer, there are over 100 other products to choose from, including primers, gel eyeliners, and natural hair makeup brushes. You'll be able to find them at Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. Get a first look below.

Explore Cool Makeup Shade Choices With Chad Hayduk

bellasugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:00:34 -0700

You've hopefully taken my warm and cool undertones quiz and learned about the basics of color choice selection from Chad Hayduk, Three Custom Color Specialists' makeup artist and co-founder. We've learned all about the warms — and now cools — it's your turn to sparkle in all of your jewel-toned glory.

Cools should feel special, since you account for only 15 percent of the population. So, let's get down to the nitty-gritty and bring it all together with some makeup shades picked by Chad himself, along with some other options I found.

Oh, and I should mention — even though your skin coloring may be light, medium, or dark depending on genetics, sun exposure, and changes in season, you will not change in terms of warmth or coolness. With that said, go to town — and check out my chart when you

Explore Warm Makeup Shade Choices With Chad Hayduk

bellasugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:00:06 -0700

You've taken my warm and cool undertones quiz and learned about the basics of color choice selection from Chad Hayduk, Three Custom Color Specialists makeup artist and cofounder. So, let's move on to the nitty-gritty and bring it all together with some makeup shades picked by Chad himself, along with some other options I found.

Since a whopping 85 percent of you are fiery warms who look best in shades such as russets, oranges, bronzes, coppers, and golds, let's start with you first. Check back soon, cools — your own customized selections are on the way.

Bella Interview: Chad Hayduk, Co-Founder of Three Custom Color Specialists

bellasugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:00:01 -0700

Now that you've taken my quiz to determine if your undertones are warm or cool, I thought it would be, er, cool to delve into the topic a bit deeper. In my three-part series, I'll be featuring tips and tricks from Chad Hayduk, co-founder of Three Custom Color Specialists.

Perhaps one of the best services offered by this nifty cosmetics company (see a tour!) is its adeptness in customizing blends — whether to help you recreate a beloved discontinued shade, or whip up a batch of your own perfect hue.

Another one of its specialties? Taking the guesswork out of the oft-posed question, "Am I a warm or a cool?" Look for more color-specific lip, cheek, and eyeshadow choices from Chad later this week. In the meantime, check out some helpful tips from Hayduk below.

How-To: Carmen Electra's Luminous Summertime Tan

bellasugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:00:02 -0700

This week, at the Disaster Movie party in Cabo San Lucas, actress, model, and fitness buff Carmen Electra played on the beach looking gorgeous and glowing with her quintessential summertime tan.

Besides her electrifying eyes (I wonder how many times she's heard that one), her skin oozed an undeniable radiance. We know that she's been hanging out at the DKNY House soaking up the rays, but something tells me that she's being careful with SPF, because her wrinkles are minimal. Are you interested in learning how to create this luminous look at home? If so,

Makeup: The Best of the Brightest Brands

bellasugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:00:59 -0700

I had dinner with my successful, globe-trotting artist friend last night, and all she wanted to talk about was makeup. She has beautiful, medium-toned skin (she's Turkish) and blue-green hair (yeah!). There are certain brands that just plain don't show up on her, and others that just don't pack the pigment punch someone who is used to acrylic paint and grease pencil desires. I recommended Ben Nye, an insider-y line founded by the makeup artist behind Gone With the Wind and Planet of the Apes, and that she swing by Madina Milano on her next trip abroad.

Looking for more brands that get it bright? Just

Are Your Undertones Warm or Cool?

bellasugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:00:40 -0700

Many years ago, my aunts went through a major phase/obsession. What season were you? What color palettes would go with said season? Were you a Winter or a Summer? On and on they went — they even had swatch books with fabric samples carefully customized by a color expert so that the guesswork was taken out of each and every shopping trip. At the time I thought it was over the top, but they were definitely on to something!

Have you ever wondered which makeup colors would complement your own skin, hair, and eye colors? Choosing the wrong ones will give you that blah, worn-out look. Choosing the right colors, however, will accentuate your natural features and make you glow. Take my quiz to find out if your undertones are considered a warm or a cool, and I'll give you some helpful tips on how to make your color selections a breeze. Note: It's best to do this test in natural light with a freshly washed face. Also, pull your hair back and keep your shoulders bare so you get a true sense of your natural coloring.

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BellaSugar's Top Five Peach Blush Picks

bellasugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:00:50 -0700

A peach blush is a wonderful way to warm up any skin tone. You can wear a pale shade if you have fair skin or a deeper, more coral shade if you have olive or ebony skin. It's a great alternative to pink blush because it's neutral and won't clash with a last-minute change to, say, red lipstick or purple eye shadow. I happen to think that peach blush also looks amazing paired with a teal, blue, or green shadow and/or liner.

My prized peach blush is Lorac Blush for Cheeks in Peach ($18). It's the deepest of the bunch that I've listed below, and the tawny color gives me a healthy-looking and almost bronzed flush.

Becca Soft Touch Blush in Malika ($32) is neutral, so it's my go-to color when I want that no-makeup makeup look. It is a sparkly, semi-matte formula with light pigment that gives your cheeks an ethereal glow. It blends well and looks best when applied to apples of the cheeks.
Benefit Georgia ($28) is a heaven in a box. This gentle peach powder blush contains a soft shimmer that gives you the type of glowing-from-the-inside radiance. It warms up the skin and even comes with a cute square brush that fits neatly inside.
Dior Pro Cheeks Ultra-Radiant Blush in Hip Peach ($30) has a creamy, whipped-mousse consistency. It contains shimmer for a subtle highlighting effect and it blends effortlessly. The color is just right for medium-toned skin, since it's not too dark and not too light.
Shu Uemura Glow on Blush in Peach (#42) ($21) is a pale peach silky powder blush that contains a touch of sparkle. It acts as both a natural color and a highlighter and looks great when applied to your cheeks, nose, chin, and temples — a must have for any complexion!

Product Review: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Duo

bellasugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:14:06 -0700

I think MAC comes out with a new makeup collection more often than I sanitize my shower, but hey, that's not a terrible thing, is it? The latest launch to catch my eye is the Mineralize Skinfinish Duo ($26.50). The compact contains finely milled, baked face powder; about 75% is matte, and the rest is softly shimmery.

The idea is that you can use the matte powder on most of your face, then highlight cheekbones with the light-reflecting, shimmery powder. Swirling a brush around the whole compact leads to a too-shiny look for me, but with a stippling brush, it's easy to apply only the matte or shimmery finish. I like how the matte powder seems to sink into my skin, leaving no telltale trace; it just looks like skin, which is ideal. The shimmer is definitely more dramatic, so use it sparingly. I like to use it under the eyes after applying concealer, because it reflects light and hides puffiness. To find out what doesn't work so well,

Benefit's Full-Finish Lipstick: Fully Pleasing

bellasugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:00:10 -0700

At the Fall 2008 fashion shows, lipstick was more popular than lip gloss by far. It's a little early to slip into cool-weather fashion, but a creamy lipstick works any time of year.

Benefit has just launched Full-Finish Lipstick, and the texture is great. You know how some lipsticks pull on your lips a bit, or they just don't go on evenly? Not the case with these; they glide on easily and evenly, leaving my lips feeling smooth and moisturized. If you're looking for a new lipstick, it's worth taking a look at these. To see two colors — including one that is pretty much a dead ringer for Angelina Jolie's signature shade —

Whose Male Rocker Makeup Do You Like Most?

bellasugar — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 06:00:21 -0700

Punk, glam, and goth hit their peak decades ago, but a few rocker dudes still sport makeup today. There's Gerard Way from the band My Chemical Romance, who has worn everything from black to purple to red eye makeup. Then there's Pete Wentz who loves guyliner so much that he created his own line of makeup (kidding — sheesh)! Last but not least is former teen heartthrob Jared Leto, who wears creamy metallic eyeshadow, liner, mascara, and even stripes of bright-pink lipstick on his cheeks.These guys have a style that's all their own, but I gotta say, it reminds me of angsty dudes I knew in high school — so it isn't exactly the sexiest look to me personally. Out of these three rebel rockers, who do you think pulls the look off best?
Source and Source

Whose Male Rocker Makeup Do You Like Most?

Gerard Way and his red eyeliner.

Pete Wentz and his dark, heavily lined eyes.

Jared Leto and his lipstick stripes.

Oh, I just can't decide! I'll tell you in a comment.

A Quick Tip For Brighter Eyes

bellasugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:00:21 -0700

I'm sure you've had friends and makeup artists tell you over and over again that an easy way to make your eyes look brighter, wider and whiter is to add a champagne or pearly white shadow just under your brow bone. Not only does this significantly open up your eyes, but it also makes your brows look cleaner and more defined.

A terrific and natural looking product to make your eyes pop in a jiffy is called High Brow from Benefit Cosmetics ( $20). This creamy, pale pink shade doesn't have any shimmer in it (for those of you who aren't a fan of anything overly frosty and showy) and it blends easily. Just sweep a thin line under the arch of your brows and blend for an instant lift and eye-opening effect. Brilliant!

Source

Coming Soon: Summer 2008 Nouveau Boho From Becca

bellasugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:00:42 -0700

At first I thought it was a little strange that Becca was so late in the game to be launching its Summer products now, but I was willing to overlook it because when they do finally decide to crank out new goodies, it's always worth the wait. However, it hit me just a few moments ago that the brand is Australian, and so it all makes sense why the model is wearing a knit hat — their Winter is our Summer!

In two weeks, get ready to check out two brand-new products: a shimmery golden-bronze powder eye shadow called Damask ($24) and a creamy champagne-pink blush called Freesia ($30). Similarly to Flirt! Cosmetics and American Beauty, Becca has created a really pretty, easy-to-achieve look.

The 2008 Nouveau Boho collection has an earthy feel with a modern edge. I haven't tried anything just yet, but from what I've heard (and from checking out the photos) the colors are muted shades of bronze, green, and gold metallics (so pretty!). To find out the rest of the already-existing colors that were used to create this look and for a close-up, peek at the products,

How-To: Mila Kunis's Rockin' VH1 Makeup

bellasugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:00:07 -0700

Saturday night at the 2008 VH1 Rock Honors, Mila Kunis donned a soft, wavy two-toned updo, dark and sexy seductive smoky eyes and icy cool lips. I love this modern dressy makeup look and Miss Mila has just the right amount of mojo to pull it off.

This intricate look is easy to achieve. All you need are a few quality brushes and the right colors. If you're interested in both the product and technique suggestions to create Mila's makeup at home,

Smashbox Gets Wicked Lovely For Fall

bellasugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:00:42 -0700

Smashbox wants us to think of the naughty/nice paradigm with its new collection, Wicked Lovely, but instead, I keep thinking of Boston slang.

Annnnyway: Smashbox's Fall collection is out on the early side, and as you'd expect, the mood is more intense than that of Summer makeup. But don't be fooled by the Siouxsie Sioux bent of the ad campaign; although there are dark cherry lip glosses and sooty eye shadows for smoldering looks, there are plenty of lighter color options for a softer style. I'm looking forward to checking out this cream liner set ($32), which includes three cream liners and a sparkling pewter powder. Sounds promising — if potentially messy. Do you like the looks of this? Or is it too vampy?

Lancôme Goes Subcontinental With the Maharani Jewels Collection

bellasugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:00:51 -0700

If you thought the cherub-imprinted bronzer from Lancôme's Cabana Bronze line was sweet, wait until you see the new Maharani Jewels collection. Inspired by India, it has lots of rich, summer-into-fall shades — but the standout item is this bronzer, whose pretty pachyderm imprint is very cool.

This collection's Juicy Tubes get a minimakeover, too, adding traditional Indian designs to the packaging. These jewel-toned glosses are on my must-try list, especially because some of the richer shades (like Mango Mystere, a chutney-red color) seem like they'll be easy to pull off in slightly sheer formulas. Between this and OPI's India nail polish collection, it seems as though we're all in for an Indian summer.

How-To: Amanda Peet's Hot Hot Hot Hancock Makeup

bellasugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:00:41 -0700

Amanda Peet hit this week's Los Angeles premiere of Hancock with sexy, sultry makeup. Her eyes looked like a feisty feline lined in a coppery brown and highlighted with this season's hottest color, gold. I've broken down her look so that you can recreate this sexy look in a few simple steps.

FACE: Begin with hydrated, clean skin and apply an eye cream as well as a primer to your face. Next, smooth on a tinted moisturizer and apply concealer to any red areas, under your eyes and to any uneven patches of skin. Then, dust a setting powder all over your face and neck.
CHEEKS: Sweep a soft pink powder blush such as Benefit Boxed Powder in Dandelion on the apples of your cheeks and pull the brush outwards towards your ears. Stay right on the cheekbone so that the color remains contained to your "smile zone."

To find out how to create her sexy, coppery eyes and fleshy lips,

How-To: Try to Trump Naomi Watts' Makeup Look

bellasugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:01:09 -0700

Donald Trump has a new hotel in Dubai, and Naomi Watts toasted its launch while wearing beautiful and polished makeup. As usual, she managed to stand out among all of the lovely ladies in attendance. Her skin was creamy, smooth and enhanced with a touch of pink blush.

If you're thinking about re-creating Naomi's makeup look at home, I've got a few great product and application suggestions for you. To find out what they are,

Does Your Relationship Affect Your Beauty Choices?

bellasugar — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 06:00:27 -0700

For my friend's birthday I gave her a beautiful and classic pinky Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick. She doesn't wear a ton of makeup, so I knew she'd appreciate its versatility. As it turns out, she loved the idea but asked me for a gift receipt after explaining that she won't wear makeup that contains shimmer. Apparently, her boyfriend feels that sparkly makeup is tacky and it makes people look old. I was so taken aback that I nearly sprayed her with my champagne cosmo. If a guy ever asked me to alter my makeup to suit his tastes, it would be sayonara city — but that's just me. Do you tailor your beauty choices to please your significant other? Source

Does Your Relationship Affect Your Beauty Choices?

I wear what I think looks beautiful, and I don't care what anyone else thinks.

I avoid wearing any type of makeup or hairstyle that my partner doesn't like on me.

Other — I'll tell you in a comment below.

Love It or Hate It? Thalia's Matchy Pink Eye Shadow

bellasugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:00:11 -0700

Tuesday night in New York City, Mexican singer, actress (and clothing designer) Thalia arrived to her Lunada album release party wearing a pink dress, matching pink lipstick and pink eye shadow. She has beautiful skin and a stellar smile but this bright matchy shadow is a little cheesy for my taste. How do you feel about it? Source

Love It or Hate It? Thalia's Matchy Pink Eye Shadow

Love It

Hate It

Undecided

How-To: Nicole Richie's Women in Film Flawless Makeup

bellasugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:00:11 -0700

Any way you slice it, Nicole Richie knows how to do hippie well. She's got everything from the daytime-braided-hair look to this nighttime Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards gala floral dress and accessory ensemble down pat.

I especially loved her makeup. Her eyes were soft, yet still dressy and smoky and her lips were polished, yet neutral so that the focus remained on her eyes. For those of you who are as captivated by her look as I am and are looking for product and application suggestions so that you can re-create her makeup at home,

How-To: Gina Gershon's Sexy Stage Makeup Look

bellasugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:00:14 -0700

Meow. Sex kitten Gina Gershon knows how to turn heads with her killer smile and effortless sex appeal. She looked stunning at the 2008 Tony Awards channeling old Hollywood with a beautiful diamond-brooch hair accessory and hint of edgy New York spark with her two-toned hair.

Her flawlessly smooth skin was contrasted by dramatic eyes and lips. For those of you who are interested in re-creating her beautiful Broadway makeup look at home,

Who's Your Favorite Celebrity Makeup Artist?

bellasugar — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 06:00:10 -0700

Celebrity makeup artists can command upwards of $10,000 a day for their services. Multiply that by all the days in the year, plus double-duty when it comes time for awards seasons, and you've got yourself one outrageous salary. All of these artists have loyal celebrity clients that request their company across the globe, wherever it is they may be working. Can you guess who some of their famous-faced clients are? I think that Paul Starr is a genius, and I love the natural effect that Nick Barose achieves. Who is your favorite celebrity makeup artist? Source

How-To: Molly Sims' Cocktail Party Makeup

bellasugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Despite the heat in New York yesterday, model-turned-actress Molly Sims struck a few flirtatious poses with a cool cocktail at the National Survey of American Cocktail Culture event.

I absolutely love her laid-back Summer braids and her raisin-hued eye shadow. Molly has light hazel eyes, and as we know, purples really make green eyes pop. Since this is a festive daytime look, you don't want to wear too much makeup on your skin. I've gathered a bunch of great product suggestions below for those of you that want to re-create this look on your own.

FACE: Start by applying a creamy concealer to any red or dark areas and follow with a lightweight creamy foundation with a touch of shimmer. One of my favorites is Stila Liquid Illuminating Foundation in 20 Watts. Only use a little bit and blend to a flawless finish (don't forget about your jawline) with a makeup sponge.

For more product and application suggestions for your eyes, lips, and cheeks,

Coming Soon: Nars Bridal Palette

bellasugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:00:11 -0700

Yesterday, I showed you what was coming for Fall, but in just a few short weeks, Nars Cosmetics is going to launch a stunning four-colored eye, three-colored lip, and two-colored cheek Bridal Palette ($65), which will be available exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue stores. The sleek, rubbery black case, looks just like their other famous, artist palettes, only this one is filled with nine of Nars' best-selling shades.

This palette is all you'll need for your honeymoon or even for the big day (well, while you're at it, throw in some foundation and mascara, too). In fact, it reminds me a lot of one of their discontinued palettes, which I used to haul around with me on holiday and to the gym — it's that amazing. There are a few changes in this version that are definitely for the better such as Albatross, a new powder highlighter and a perfect-pink lipstick in Roman Holiday — and trust me when I tell you this is something you won't want to miss. Can't take the suspense? To find out exactly what's inside,

Nars 2008 Fall Collection

bellasugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:00:22 -0700

This August, be prepared for the no-name Fall 2008 Nars Collection to knock your socks off. This eight-product, 10-color line was inspired by the clothing on the runways at the Fall 2008 fashion shows. The shades are bold neutrals that contain warm, earth-tone metallics for the eyes, and dusty roses for the lips and cheeks. My favorite of the bunch is the Dolce Vita powder blush — it has just the right amount of pinky-red punch to add a natural looking flush to the apples of your cheeks.

For pricing information and to read a description of each of the products,

Which Style of Eye Makeup Do You Like Best on Nicole Richie?

bellasugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:00:02 -0700

I must be sensitive to eye shadow today, but as soon as I saw this makeup look on Nicole Richie from the Richie-Madden Children's Foundation Fundraiser on Friday, I couldn't help but be surprised. There's certainly no lack of eye shadow here — in fact, this green-gray smoky eye is heavier than ever. Do you like Nicole best when she's wearing dark shadows, rusty-colored shadows, no eye shadow at all, or rather just her signature winged, black eyeliner? Source and Source

Which Style of Eye Makeup Do You Like Best on Nicole Richie?

Rusty shadow

No eye shadow, just eyeliner

Heavy, greenish, grey eye shadow

Undecided

Trend Alert: Absentee Eye Shadow at the MTV Movie Awards

bellasugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:02:24 -0700

The beauty looks at the MTV Movie Awards last night were all similar. We saw lots of black-lined eyes, nude lips, and subdued cheeks. It's a very pretty look, but nothing that got my heart pounding. Something I did notice was the lack of eye shadow on the red carpet on Megan Fox, Ellen Page, and Liv Tyler.

Lauren Conrad was almost added to this list, but I took out my magnifying glass and spied a hint of taupe crease shadow and a little shimmer below the brow bone. What are your thoughts on eye shadow for dressy events? Do you wear a little, a lot or, skip it altogether?

Source and Source

Coming Soon: Chanel Fall 2008 Collection

bellasugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 11:00:10 -0700

Good lord, when did it get to be time for Fall cosmetics yet? Summer hasn't even officially begun! Leave it to Chanel to be the first in line to set the gold standard with their launch — and I mean that in the most literal sense. The new collection was designed by Peter Philips (the new Chanel makeup designer) and in true Chanel form, he drew his inspiration from Coco's decadent apartment to create a gold-based range. I'm seriously wondering if metallics have made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for longest-running makeup trend.

The collection is filled with 20 new products, including two limited-edition gold items. The first is a powder highlighter called Gold Fever ($50), which can be worn on the face or the body and the second is a pale, shimmery gold nail polish called Gold Fiction ($30). Everything will be available in July.

For a complete list and a brief description of each of the new products in the Fall 2008 collection,

Whose SATC Premiere Makeup Look Did You Like the Best?

bellasugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:00:47 -0700

Last night, the cast of Sex and the City arrived at Radio City Music Hall for their much-anticipated premiere. The girls lit up the city wearing metallic dresses (well, all but Cynthia Nixon) and fabulous hair and makeup. I especially love the bronzer on Kristin Davis because it's something we never saw much of on the show. SJP's eyes are a sexy, smoky slate grey (word on the street is that Dior did her makeup). Cynthia Nixon and Kim Cattrall chose a more minimalist look, but looked lovely as ever. All of the ladies beamed from the inside out, but whose makeup look did you think was the prettiest on the sparkling pink carpet? Source

Whose SATC Premiere Makeup Look Did You Like the Best?

Sarah Jessica Parker

Kristin Davis

Kim Cattrall

Cynthia Nixon

Undecided

Beauty Products Inspired by Sex and the City

bellasugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:00:47 -0700

Can't wait for the movie premiere? These lipsticks and nail polishes have the same names as the main characters on Sex and the City.

Stila Lip Color in Miranda is a creamy, shiny coral lipstick; it was so popular in 2007, it won In Style's Best of Beauty Buys. Cargo PlantLove Lipstick in Sam ($20) is a deep red lipstick that exudes sexiness and confidence, just like powerhouse Samantha Jones — and Stila SPF 20 Shine Lip Color in Charlotte ($22) is a sheer orange shade with the shine of a gloss and the creaminess of a lipstick.

Sarah Jessica Parker and famed manicurist Deborah Lippmann collaborated to create a soft, cotton-candy pink nail lacquer called Sarah Smile ($15) during the heyday success of the sitcom, and Duri Cosmetics recently released a bluish-red, nail polish in Sex in the City ($5). It's clear that this fab four has influenced beauty looks over the past decade with their glamorous hair and fashion-forward makeup. Would you consider buying these SATC-inspired beauty products?

Source

Coming Soon: American Beauty 2008 Summer Bouquet Collection

bellasugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 11:00:27 -0700

This June, American Beauty Cosmetics will launch its Summer Bouquet color story. Much like Flirt! Cosmetics (both are owned by the same company), the brand typically launches a new product or two every few months and then creates a seasonal look by blending the new products in with the old.

The inspiration for Summer Bouquet is all about florals, specifically perky pink roses. The new product for Summer is a peachy pink powder blush called Nectar Blossom. The face of the campaign is Ashley Judd, as usual, and this particular photo also doubles as an ad for its new Beloved fragrance.

For a description of each of the items in the Summer Bouquet color story,

New Product Alert: Mally Couture Color Custom Blush

bellasugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:00:46 -0700

I first introduced you to presto-chango makeup back in March '07 and now, Mally has just come out with another kind of "magical" makeup called Couture Color Custom Blush ($25). This lightweight, cream blush comes out of the tube a sheer, white shade and transforms into either a deep berry or a medium rosy color as it gets rubbed into your cheeks. Blend gently for a natural glow, or keep blending for a deeper, darker effect.

The blush was inspired by the gorgeous natural flesh of Mally's baby girl. She wanted to make something rich in pigment, yet featherweight in texture, to create the most natural as possible look. I find that the rose shade suits my fair skin the best, but for anyone who is olive or dark skinned, I'd go with berry.

For first-time users, I recommend applying it to the back of your hand to test out the amount and to see how much blending you'll need. Are you excited to try this customizable, cream blush?

How-To: Karolina Kurková's Country Music Awards Makeup

bellasugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 11:00:35 -0700

Last night at the Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, model Karolina Kurkova glowed from the inside out on the red carpet.

The Czech beauty's hair was loose, long, layered, and shiny (despite being straight-ironed) and her makeup looked fresh, clean, and polished. Doesn't she just exude cheerfulness with that gorgeous high-wattage smile? To find out exactly what products makeup artist Terri Apanasewicz used to create this simple yet stunning look and how she applied them on Karolina,

What's Your Favorite Type of Lip Product?

bellasugar — Sat, 17 May 2008 06:00:43 -0700

I've learned that an astounding number of you prefer to use powder blush over cream blush, mineral blushes or cheek stains, and now I want to know about your love of lip products. When I'm heading out the door, my go-to lip product is usually a neutral, shimmery lip gloss. Do you also reach for a gloss or are you more of a tinted or a plain lip balm, lipstick or lip stain kind of gal?

Beauty Byte: Stila To Release Marchesa Palette

bellasugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 06:00:41 -0700

If you liked Marchesa's fall 2008 makeup, you'll love this news: WWD reports that Stila and the designers are teaming up to create a cosmetics collection this fall. The colors will reflect the runway look, with three eye shadow and eyeliner palettes ($40 each). Faux leather rosettes close the palettes, which will come in handy if the rosette trend is still going strong. In addition to the limited-edition palettes, three lipstick shades will be added to the permanent collection.

I'm excited about the colors, since everything on the runway was so beautiful and fresh. And considering the fact that Stila's eye shadows are $18 each, it's a decent value — just as long as the shadows themselves aren't as tiny as its latest palette pans. We already know that Stila just raised its prices, but I hope they're not making the shadow pans small again.

How-To: Audrina Patridge's Hills Finale Party Makeup

bellasugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:00:17 -0700

One thing's for certain: If Audrina Patridge is feeling left out or sad these days, it certainly isn't showing. On Monday night at The Hills finale party, she showed off long and shiny hair, bronzed makeup, and clear skin.

I've gathered a few product and application suggestions so you can re-create her sultry metallic eyes and shiny nude lips at home.

FACE: Audrina is young, so her skin doesn't need much coverage. Start by smoothing concealer over any dark circles and red spots and then dust a loose mineral foundation all over your face extending just below your jaw.

To find out all about her eyes, lips, and cheeks,