NYFW Spring/Summer 2014 Hairstyle Trends: Loose Waves, Side Parts, Big Ponytails, Tangled Braids: Best Looks

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The Spring/Summer 2014 season can’t come soon enough! Healthy, shiny and wavy hair with a side part made us think of Italian actresses from the ’40s at Narciso Rodriguez. Tousled and unkept beachy waves gave a new meaning to the term “bedhead” at Prabal Gurung and FALLON. Read on to learn how to get these […]

NEW Makeup Geek Eyeshadows and a Fun Summer Look

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Hello Makeup Geeks, I am so excited to bring you these newest additions to our line of eyeshadows. :-)  I have been working hard to get the formulation just perfect so you can have amazing quality. We have 5 new colors along with one that has been in the store for a while. I am most excited about the shade “Cosmopolitan“, it is an exact dupe for MAC’s “Expensive Pink” with richer quality and higher pigmentation.

As always, we wanted to add to our line of neutrals while bringing you more interesting shades. We also have one inspired by Marlena’s favorite color, raspberry pink to add to our collections of pinks. With a great combinations of shimmers and mattes, you are sure to find more than one to love.

new-compacts

Hipster

02-hipsterThe Bottom Line: Mix between a dark sand and light taupe tan with slight shimmer.

How It Relates: Hipster is a cool toned dark sand that is a shade lighter than Pretentious and slightly darker than Latte with cooler tones. Hipster has a slight shimmer to it whereas Latte is a warm matte. The closest to this would be Pretentious in color and finish.

All About the Color: If you want to be part of the hip crowd then this dark sand shade is perfect for you! This elegant shade has a slight shimmer to it that’s perfect for adding a pop of dimension and shine to your look. This color is ideal for a day at the office, or pairing up with your favorite cool tones to warm them up. No matter where you wear it or what you wear it with this color is sure to make you look Hipster Chic!

Buy in the Makeup Geek Store: Pan Version | Compact Version

Frappe

04-frappe_2The Bottom Line: Frappe is a medium maple brown matte.

How It Relates: A shade darker than Creme Brulee, this stunning shade has the same creamy texture and matte finish. Lighter in color than Latte this has slight red/orangey undertone to it with the same finish and creamy texture.

All About the Color: Named after one of our favorite guilty pleasures this medium maple brown color will have you coming back for more. The matte color has a creamy texture and glides on smoothly and evenly for a stunning finish. Ideal for the summer months for a soft wash of color or paired up with a darker shade for a perfect brown eye. This also makes a great transition color for darker skintones.

Buy in the Makeup Geek Store: Pan Version | Compact Version

Simply Marlena

05-simplymarlenaThe Bottom Line: Bright rosey pink with purple undertone and gold flecks.

How It Relates: The newest addition to our line-ups of pinks, this amazing color is the brightest of our girly shades. This cool-toned pink has a purple base and slight gold shimmer. The striking shade has a matte finish as Mango Tango and Cupcake with a brighter, more vivid appearance.

All About the Color: The perfect addition to our collection, and sure to be your new go to pink! This stunning matte pink color has a slight purple undertone with hints of gold flecks to give it that personal Marlena touch. The rich color and smooth texture allows the color to apply effortlessly and look amazing. This is the perfect pink for channeling you inner girly-girl.

Buy in the Makeup Geek Store: Pan Version | Compact Version

Cosmopolitan

03-cosmopolitianThe Bottom Line: Rose Gold with gold flecks and a shimmery finish.

How It Relates: This elegant shimmery color is warmer than others similar to it making it a perfect fit with other shades from Mango Tango to Glamorous. This has rose pink undertone that makes it deeper than Mango Tango with a gold hue to it and the same amazing finish as Cinderella.   If you’re familiar with MAC’s Expensive Pink, this one is pretty much spot-on, but with more payoff and smoother texture.  Swatch the two side-by-side and you’ll be amazed at how much nicer Cosmopolitan is :)

All About the Color: Just like the drink, this chic rose gold shade is sure to become a quick classic. The stunning color is always in style and the shimmery finish makes it the perfect addition to your eyeshadow collection. Adorned with small gold flecks for added style, this impressive color is perfect for a refined soft look in the day, or a paired up with darker shades for a sultry, hot look at night. No matter where or how your wear this impressive color it’s sure to be one that everyone will love.

Buy in the Makeup Geek Store: Pan Version | Compact Version

Graphite

01-graphiteThe Bottom Line: Dark Graphite Grey with silver flecks and a shimmery finish.

How It Relates: Dramatic greys are definitely getting attention and this one fits in perfectly. A shade lighter than Galaxy, and darker than Mercury, Graphite has distinct look all it’s own. This has the same texture and high quality as its brothers, this shade fits perfectly in the middle.

All About the Color: An exquisite color to add to any collection, this dark grey has small silver flecks and a shimmery finish. The remarkable pigmentation and creamy texture makes this easy to apply and looks great regardless of whether you are teaming it up with lighter shades for a wearable day look, or smoking it out for an intense, dramatic sexy look.

Buy in the Makeup Geek Store: Pan Version | Compact Version

Lemon Drop

lemon-drop1The Bottom Line: Shimmery Bright Lemon Yellow

How It Relates: A warm ray of sunshine, this bright punch of color is perfect for summer. The warm shade is brighter and more vivid than its sister Yellow Brick Road but with the same shimmery finish.

All About the Color: Sugary sweet with a punch of sour, this bright yellow shadow will brighten up any drab day. It’s the same sweet, sugar-coated, flavor packed lemon we all knew and loved as kids. Now the same bright yellow can adorn your lids. With a sugary sweet shimmer finish, this bright yellow has a creamy, velvet-like texture and smooth consistency. With an intense pigmentation, this sweet sensation is sure to be one you will love.

Buy in the Makeup Geek Store: Pan Version | Compact Version

Swatches

We did a fresh batch of swatches so you can see how these new shades compare to our existing shadows.  We hope you find them useful!

neutral-swatches

Cinderella-swatch-5

Dark-Swatches

yellow-swatches

The Look

Face:

  • Maybelline Concealer – 25 Medium (Amazon) (eBay)
  • Emani Pressed Mineral Foundation – 292 Golden (Amazon)
  • Revlon Colorstay Foundation – 310 Warm Golden (Amazon) (eBay)
  • Stila Convertible Color – Peoney (Amazon) (eBay)

Eyes:

  • Makeup Forever Eye Prime – (Amazon) (eBay)
  • Makeup Geek Eyeshadow – Graphite (Pan Version / Compact Version)
  • Makeup Geek Eyeshadow – Frappe (Pan Version / Compact Version)
  • Makeup Geek Eyeshadow – Beaches and Cream (Pan Version / Compact Version)
  • Makeup Geek Eyeshadow – Simply Marlena (Pan Version / Compact Version)
  • Makeup Geek Eyeshadow – Cosmopolitan (Pan Version / Compact Version)
  • Palladio Eye Ink – (Makeup Geek Store)
  • Rimmel Scandal Eyes – Nude (Amazon) (eBay)
  • Ardell #124 False Lashes – (Amazon) (eBay)

Lips:

  • Nars Satin Lip Pencil – Luxembourg (Amazon) (eBay)

Brushes:

  • Makeup Geek Small Crease Brush – (Makeup Geek Store)
  • Makeup Geek Eyeshader Brush – (Makeup Geek Store)

And there you have it, new eyeshadows and a new look. Let me know what you think of the new shades in the comments below or leave a review on each individual eyeshadow color page. We would love to hear from you!

XOXO,

Marlena

Thanks to Makeup G
Regards – BloCosmetics.com

Laura Mercier Lip Parfait: Rive Gauche

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Laura Mercier Lip Parfait Creamy Colourbalm in Rive Gauche

A slick of luxurious tinted balm on the lips seems to be my makeup “thing” at the moment. Perhaps because I look a bit tired and washed out au naturel, but also – and this is probably more to the point – because it makes me feel as though I’ve made a bit of an effort when I have made absolutely no effort whatsoever.

I like the juicy, plumping effect of a tinted balm; not quite the optical illusion of lip fullness that a good gloss can give, but definitely more pillowy than a velvet finish lipstick. Or – God forbid, if you’re after a cheeky bit of faked volume – a pigment-fuelled matte.

Laura Mercier’s Lip Parfait in Rive Gauche is a beautiful nude, just slightly warmer than my natural lip colour. I have done a before and after comparison because it is so natural – sort of a “my lips but a bit nicer” shade  – and you might just think what the hell, she’s not wearing any lipstick! if I don’t show you my bloodless, three-hours-a-night-sleep “before” lips. Here you go:

Just a hint of sheen, an evenness to the tone and a juicy, moisturising texture. This kind of product is never going to be the kingpin in a makeup look – it’s more of a background player – but it is sophisticated and foolproof. If you’re looking for a bit more colour but the same kind of hydrating, plumptious texture then take a look at the By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Balm I wrote about recently. I’ve been alternating between the two. If you have dry lips and want to wear colour or need to create the illusion of slightly fuller lips without resorting to a gloss (most glosses drive me mad) then tinted balms are a great option.

Laura Mercier’s Lip Parfait in Rive Gauche is £19.50 at John Lewis.

 

Nice Elemis Smells.

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elemis best beauty buys

I’m usually reluctant to recommend things based primarily on the strength of their wonderful scent – unless it’s perfume, obviously – but I absolutely can’t get enough of these Elemis delights. The Jasmine and Rose Milk Bath, the Monoi Body Cream and the Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser have been firmly placed in prime bath-ledge position for the past month or so. All of them transport me to warmer, more relaxed places (I’m thinking some kind of villa-on-stilts in the Maldives, the ones that are too expensive for most of the world’s population to afford and so only really get used when a B-lister wants to do an OK “weight loss” bikini shoot) and they add a real touch of spa luxury to bathtime proceedings.

I have been meaning to write about the bath milk for ages – it’s properly lovely, adding loads of scent to the bathwater even if you only use a capful or so. It’s great. Very exotic. Following the bath with a slathering of Frangipani Monoi Body Cream just tops everything off – if you’ve ever tried the weird solid-oil version in the Aladdin’s Cave-style bottle and hated the formula but loved the scent… well. This will be like a gift from the Gods! It’s sumptuous, plumptious and very softening, but really, it’s the smell that keeps me coming back. Tropical paradise.

Last on my little list, the Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser. In terms of its actual purpose, which is to cleanse, I don’t like it as much as the Elemis cleansing balm. It’s flimsier and less enjoyable to massage in and I’m not sure that it removes makeup and dirt as effectively. But the smell!  I’m not hugely enamoured with skincare that has loads of fragrance added, but I’m hoping that some of the delicious scent here comes from the natural oils in the formula. Either way, it’s an addictive little number and the shea butter base makes for a comfortable, non-skin-stripping experience.

The cleanser isn’t out until January, but the Body Cream (£24) and Bath Milk (£42 for a whopping great big bottle, not the size shown above) are available at TimetoSpa.co.uk. At the moment they have a gift with purchase running that is worth £90, you get that free if you spend over £50. I also noticed that new customers (I’ve never shopped there before, so I had an on-screen thing pop up!) get 15% off if they subscribe to the newsletter. (You have to weigh up the pros and cons on that one – 15% discount and running the risk of receiving hourly pointless email bulletins, or just pay the extra? I often regret signing up for these things!)

*UPDATE: on LookFantastic they have a Monoi gift set with products worth £54.50, and at the moment it’s priced at £28.80. Worth a look if you love the Monoi! It’s online here with free delivery.

The post Nice Elemis Smells. appeared first on A Model Recommends.

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NEW Tanya Burr Cosmetics First Impressions Review & GIVEAWAY

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PRODUCTS MENTIONED:
Tanya Burr Cosmetics Face Illuminator
Tanya Burr Cosmetics Body Illuminator
Tanya Burr Cosmetics Eyeshadow Palette in ‘Birthday Suit’
Tanya Burr Cosmetics Eyeshadow Palette in ‘Midnight Smoulder’
Tanya Burr Cosmetics Cheek Illuminator in ‘Golden Girl’
Tanya Burr Cosmetics Cheek Illuminator in ‘Holiday Happiness’
Tanya Burr Cosmetics Cheek Illuminator in ‘Forever Summer’
Tanya Burr Cosmetics Lipstick in ‘Birthday Cake’
Tanya Burr Cosmetics Lipstick in ‘Happily Ever After’
Tanya Burr Cosmetics Lipstick in ‘Central Park’
Tanya Burr Cosmetics Lipstick in ‘Wild Safari’
Tanya Burr Cosmetics Lipstick in ‘Big Kiss’
Tanya Burr Cosmetics Lipstick in ‘Pink Cocoa’