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How-To: Becki Newton's Dazzling Eye Makeup

BellaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:00:31 -0700

Ugly Betty's Becki Newton looked lovely at the Elle Women in Hollywood Tribute, no? While her skin looks rosy and flawless, the focus is all on the eyes. Using just a bit of shimmer is an easy way to draw attention to your eyes, and as Becki's makeup artist Jamie Greenberg explains, it's easy to do. Get her step-by-step instructions on creating this look when you read more.

Backstage Pass To LFW Spring 2010: Mattijis

BellaSugarUK — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:30:00 -0700

On Friday afternoon, the buzz backstage at the Mattijis van Bergen show all about a creating a fun loving, sexy and Summery feel. Hair was pulled back and teased in the front to create a kind of frizzy, wind-blown effect, whilst makeup was controlled yet luminous using toned down metallics. My pal, the friendly makeup artist Rachel Wood said,

"Because the designer is using copper and bronze jewellery, I wanted to complement the look and accent the eyes with that same colour scheme. The goal for this face was to create something ethereal, summery and light."

As Benefit Cosmetics was the official makeup sponsor of the show, all of the products used were theirs, and Jessica Nails used a light coloured nudey-pink shade on each of the models. To see more photos from backstage, and for a list of all of the colours that Rachel used to create this gorgeous makeup look, just read more.

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FACE: Begin by blending Boi-ing (concealer), Erase Paste (brightening concealer) and a a little bit of Moon Beam (liquid highlighter) on the cheekbones, lips and brow bone to create a smooth canvas with a touch of luminescence.
EYES: Then, to create that perfect metallic colour on the eyes, Rachel mixed some One Hot Minute and Big Daddy Lust Dusters and blended it all over the lids of the eyes on top of Birthday Suit (an oyster cream shadow she used as a base). Next, she lined the eyes with Gilded Tequilla (a gold highlighter pencil that she used as eye liner), she added some High Brow white liner on the inside of the eyes and finished the look with a couple coats of Bad Gal Mascara.
CHEEKS: As a contour, Rachel lightly dusted Coralista Blush on the model's cheeks and left them bronzer-free.
LIPS: First, lips were prepped with Benetint Lip Balm and them she added a little bit of Moon Beam over the balm for an iridescent effect.

Photos Courtesy of Benefit

How-To: Get Debra Messing's Sexy, Glam Emmys Makeup

BellaSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Debra Messing got high marks from the majority of you for her look at the Emmys last night, and it's no surprise, as Carol Shaw, Lorac's founder, did all her makeup personally. Lucky for us, I've got the complete how-to on re-creating Debra's soft, smoky eye and creamy-nude lip. To find out how you can get the look for yourself, just keep reading

Get Glowing With a Liquid Highlighter

BellaSugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:00:54 -0700

Not just for textbooks anymore, highlighters provide a very fun and flattering way to add a subtle glow to any makeup look. What's more, they can enhance or conceal flaws or features. Here are a few ways to wear them.

For an All-over Glow: A shimmer highlighter like Benefit's Moon Beam ($24) is a great multipurpose product. It has pink and gold undertones, so it works well with any skin type, and the formula is thin and light, so it can be blended easily. This kind of highlighting fluid can be used anywhere. Dab a bit of this on your brow bones, lips, and décolletage to create an overall luminescence.

Conceal: A great way to conceal a patch of redness, uneven skin tone, or dark circles is to reflect light off of the area with a highlighting concealer. Laura Mercier's Secret Brightener ($30) adds a faint tint and a light sheen where applied, replacing flaws with a fresh-faced glow.

To find out how to conceal and enhance certain features with a highlighter, read more.

Enhance: If you want to play up or reduce the appearance of a certain feature on your face, a highlighting fluid such as Physicians Formula Pearls of Perfection Multi-Colored Face Tint ($12) is just the ticket. Try dabbing a bit on the inner corners of your eyes to instantly brighten and widen the eye area, or use it on the bridge of your nose to make it look slimmer.

Link Time!

BellaSugar — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 07:01:31 -0700

Chanel's Jade nail polish is bound to sell out - Stylelist
Ted Gibson knocks $5 off his shampoo for you - Daily Makeover
Carol Shaw of LORAC gives brow-perfecting tips - Beauty and the Blog
How to wear liquid highlighter - Makeup and Beauty Blog
The Mandarin Oriental spa is luxe to the max - Beauty Snob
Daphne Guinness teams up with Comme des Garçons for a scent - The Moment
Shu Uemura goes manga-style for its new oils - The Cut

Shiseido Crafts Up Mosaics For Fall

BellaSugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:00:44 -0700

It's that time of the year again, as kids - and adults alike - head back to school. That means it's also time for the launches of Fall 2009 makeup collections. Using the artistic medium of mosaics for inspiration, Shiseido's artistic director, Dick Page, created the Mosaic collection for the upcoming change of season. It's a palette designed around the thought process that every woman should have a full wardrobe of colors from which to choose.

The highlight of the set is the new Luminizing Satin Eye Color Line ($25), which includes 15 shades of bright tones, neutrals, and pastels. Also available are the following: two new shades of Perfect Mascara ($23) and Smoothing Eyeliner Pencil ($20); four new shades of Natural Eyebrow Pencil ($20); and 11 new shades of Advanced Hydro-Liquid Company Foundation ($30). What do you think of this? Are you ready to create some art of your own?

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Coming Soon: Illamasqua Powdered Metals

BellaSugarUK — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:30:00 -0700

Due out 13th July is a new face powder from Illamasqua called Powdered Metals (£22). At first glance it looks similar to a bronzer or a large vat of loose shimmer shadow, and actually it's both of these products and a whole lot more! I love it because it's multi-purpose, and in the face of a credit crunch, let's face it, individual beauty products just aren't as practical.

Powdered Metals will be available in three shades (Erzule, Bebhionn and Thalia) to best suit varying skin tones. Unlike the intense star product from the Sirens Collection called Liquid Metals, it was designed to create a golden sheen (not shimmer) that makes you look like you're glowing from the inside out.

It can be worn all over the face, as a body shimmer, an eye shadow or simply dusted along your collarbone and in your hair for a hint of the Midas touch. Personally, I like wearing it on the highest parts of my cheekbones, the bridge of my nose, temples and chin as a highlighter.

How do you like to wear your metallics? For a description of each of the shades, read more.

Erzule , the Voodoo Goddess of Beauty, is a goldeny bronze with a brown base that looks best on those with olive or ebony skin tones.
Thalia, the Greek Goddess of Poetry, is a warm bronze with a gold undertone that is best suited for medium skin tones.
Bebhion, is the Irish Goddess of Pleasure, is the lightest bronze shade with pink undertones. This looks great against pale or fair skin.

How-To: Ashley Greene's MTV Movie Awards Makeup

BellaSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:17:23 -0700

If you're a fan of vintage styles, you're going to love this how-to. On Sunday, makeup artist Jamie Greenberg helped to transform Twilight's Ashley Greene into a 1940s siren at the MTV Movie Awards. The majority of you were loving it, and now I've got tips straight from Greenberg on copying the glamorous look on your own, all using products from Mark. For the scoop, read more.

Eyes: Apply Custom Pick Eye Color in Whisper ($4.50) as a highlighter under the brow, and Custom Pick Eye Color in Latte ($4.50) on the lid, up towards the crease. Next, use On the Edge Hook Up Liquid Liner in Cleo ($5.50) for a cat-eye effect. "Just dash along the lash line, then go over it again. You can always go even thicker for more drama," Greenberg said. Next, curl lashes and apply two coats of Scanda-Lash Hook Up Mascara in Blacklash ($5.50). "You can even take some Eyemarker Color On Line in Java ($5.50) and blend into the lower lash line for definition," she added.
Face: Start by applying moisturizer. ("Fresh skin makes any makeup application look better," Greenberg says.) Face Xpert Flawless Touch Foundation in Ivory ($8) gave Ashley a porcelain-skinned look. To complement the red lips, Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint in Berry ($6) was then applied. "You also want to highlight right above the cheekbone with some Get Bright Hook-Up Highlighter ($6)," recommended Greenberg.
Lips: A sweep of KissInk Lip Tintmarker in Red Siren ($7) was used to give Ashley an old Hollywood matte-lip. But, if you prefer a glossier finish, Greenberg suggests Lip Exotics Lip Lacquer Hook Up in Fever ($6).

Source

Illamasqua's New Spring/Summer Sirens Collection is Here!

BellaSugarUK — Thu, 07 May 2009 07:30:00 -0700

A few months ago I told you about a new brand in the UK called Illamasqua that I've totally fallen in love with. The pigments are the richest I've ever encountered, the assortment of jaw-dropping colours rival MAC (no, I'm not kidding) and the textures are so creamy, velvety and luxurious that time stands still when you're at the counter. Can't you just feel my excitement!

I can't speak highly enough about this new discovery and it just keeps getting better. Last week they launched their Spring/Summer Sirens Collection and I was lucky enough to get a tour (and an incredible makeover) at their London counter at Selfridges. There before me stood a hunky young male mode getting bronzed and brightened from head to toe with the new goodies - and let me tell you, it was hot! The range was inspired by the enchanting beauty and divine appeal of the Sirens and includes corals, blues a scope of serious metallics (the star product being the liquid metals) for your eyes, face, lips, body and nails.

For morel photos of the collection, the ad campaign and a description of each of the exciting new products, read more.

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Nails

Muse (£12.50) is an opaque, bright teal nail varnish that you can see on the model in the photo.
Lament (£12.50) is a flirty, opaque neon coral nail polish that looks especially gorgeous on bronzed skin.

Face

Bronzing Duo (£18) is available in two shades: Glint/Burnish is a darker combo, whilst, Glint/Writhe is a little bit lighter for those with fairer skin. The Glint side is a powder highlighter and the other sides is shimmery powder bronzer.
Liquid Metal in Enrapture and Solstice (£16) are metallic cream pots that can be used on the face or body. The colours are seriously intense, so they should be used sparingly and then layered until you get your desired result. Solstice is a rich gold and Enrapture is a hearty bronze.
Fat Pencils in Fickle, Wilful and Peverse (£12.72) are fabulous multi-use products as they can be used on the eyes, lips and body.

Eyes

4-Colour Powder Eye Shadow Palette (£33.28) contains four differing blendable yet bold powder shadows in bronze, teal, blue and gold.
Shimmer Cream in Eternal (£14) is a grey and creamy eye gloss that creates a wet-look finish. Tip: It can be used all over the body not just on the eyes.

Lips

Fable Lipstick and Resist Lipstick (£14 each). Fable is a pale pink that looks great paired with a smoky eye and Resist is a deep, matte raspberry shade.
Soul Sheer Lipgloss (£12.50) is a shimmery pinky gold colour that looks gorgeous alone or blended over Fable and Resist.

Learn How to Make Your Own Bar Ingredients

partysugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:15:08 -0700

Last week it was Cocktail Week here in San Francisco and I was lucky enough to attend a bunch of the events. The highlight was Thursday's bar school - a day of education. Since I'm an avid home mixologist, I checked out the House-Made Ingredients How-To taught by Jeff Hollinger, general manager at Absinthe, and Neyah White, bartender extraordinaire at Nopa.

In the drinks industry, both Jeff and Neyah are pioneers when it comes to creating bitters, cordials, tinctures, syrups, etc. The duo has made it its mission to bring back the craft of cocktail making one bottle of bitters at a time. To check out their tips for making bar ingredients at home and see a gallery of images from the class, read more.

The class started with a quick rundown of basic bartender terminology. A simple syrup is a mixture of water and sugar that is the foundation of an endless variety of syrups. A cordial and liqueur are spirits that have been infused with a flavoring agent (a fruit, herb, or spice) and are then sweetened. A tincture is a super-concentrated flavoring agent that is made from one specific ingredient. Bitters are like tinctures, but are made from a variety of ingredients.

Don't rely on recipes. Instead White recommends lots of creative experimentation.
Never throw anything away. Hollinger uses everything that comes out of the kitchen - including pickle juice leftover from one of Jamie Lauren's dishes - to make drink flavorings. White reserved the tops and bottoms of a season's worth of oranges in a large jar. After months of macerating in a high-proof alcohol, he had a complex and flavorful orange bitters.
Use in-season fruit to make syrups and shrubs (a mixture of fruit, sugar, and vinegar).
When making bitters and other highly concentrated flavoring agents, don't use the most expensive alcohol. Select an affordable pot-stilled alcohol.
It doesn't matter which type of alcohol you use. Rum, vodka, and everclear are all good options.
When working with citrus peel, be sure not to use the white pith. It will make the liquor or cordial bitter.
Be patient. The longer a mixture sits, the more flavorful it will become. Hollinger and White leave bottled flavorings in dark, cool cabinets for up to a year.
Strain and strain again. Once the liquid has reached the desired concentration, strain several times in cheesecloth. The final mixer should be clear and clean.
Make small batches. You can experiment with more ingredients that way.

Now I'm excited to get started on making my own bitters and cordials! Have you ever made your own bar mixers? What kind? How did they turn out?

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