Red Lips

'Ombre' by Inslee

It just does it.

J xx

Tom Ford via Fashion is My Drug

Monica Bellucci via Become Gorgeous

There Comes a Yes

Style Caster

Adriana Lima via Pinterest

Wishful Thinking

Pastel Invasion

They're here!  Have you fallen victim to their unabashedly girly charm?  Pastels are back in town and making me itch for warmer weather.  Tonight I painted my nails with Estée Lauder's 'Lilac Leather' lacquer (say that 3 times fast) from their 'Heavy Petals', spring '13 collection.  My nails look fab and I have a feeling the other goodies I gathered here will have the same effect.  Embrace the pastel invasion - it means spring is almost here!  

J xx

Estée Lauder

Missoni

Society6

Diane von Furstenberg

Burgundy

It's blood rich - and I'm thirsty for it!

J xx

CÉLINE Trapeze via With Love From Kat

The Olivia Palermo Lookbook

Yves Saint Laurent ROUGE VOLUPTÉ, Deep Plum Burgundy

Lookbook.nu

Deborah Lippmann in Just Walk Away Renee

Selena Peach

Selena Gomez is such a cutie, especially in peach!  I know what you're thinking - she's like 13!  Yes, she's young, but I still think her peach glow is achievable for even the best of us.

J xx

Get the Look:

• Josie Maran Argan Oil: a lightweight oil that makes a great moisturizer - plus it gives you a healthy dewy glow.  I use it and love it!
• Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, SPF 20:  I do not like full coverage foundation - there's nothing natural about it! Always opt for a tinted moisturizer and spot cover blemishes with concealer.  Less is so much more!
• Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat:  make no mistake - it's not a concealer, it's a skin highlighter perfect for under eye to catch the sunlight.
• Lancôme Star Bronzer:  I've been using Lancôme's bronzer for over 5 years and I see no reason to switch.  It's just the right amount of colour - even if you're heavy handed.
• Lancôme Color Design Eyeshadow (shade: Filigree): There's nothing like a shimmery peach shadow on your lids to brighten the eyes.
• MAC Pearlglide Eyeliner (shade: Lord it Up):  This eyeliner goes on effortlessly and has a dewy finish instead of your typical chalky eyeliner finish.  This shade also has subtle gold shimmer which is sweet for summer.
• Clinique Lash Power Mascara:  I am a superfan of this mascara - it's actually waterproof/smudge proof, yet it somehow manages to remove easily with warm water. It's just awesome.
• Rouge D'Armani Lipstick (shade: 100): This stuff is great. Lightweight and silky finish. It's kind of like a natural lip tone perfecter. Worth every penny.

Basic Face

In 1996 I was 16 years old when Cindy Crawford's Basic Face makeup 'how-to' hit bookshelves.  I loved this book!  Though I can't tell you I actually read it, I was mostly mesmerized by the pictures...  All I needed was a few photo examples of what a fresh face with makeup could look like.  I since vowed to enhance what my mamma gave me with colours near to my natural tones and with as little of it as possible.

I'm often asked what cosmetics I use and for tips on how to apply it; I suppose this means Cindy taught me well.  So, for those near and dear, and for my lovely blog followers - if your interest permits, allow me to share my 'basic face' with you.  This isn't riveting stuff - but next time you're in the cosmetics department and you choose to go basic for beauty then this post will have been worth it.

1. Clinique, Rinse-off Foaming Cleanser

2. Boots, No7 Moisture Quench Hydration Day Fluid

3. Laura Mercier, Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 (Nude)

4. Josie Maran, Argan Color Stick (Petal Pink)

5. Estée Lauder, Smoothing Creme Concealer (Smooth Ivory 01)

6. Bobbi Brown, Creamy Concealer (Ivory)

7. Clinique, Lash Power Mascara (01 Black Onyx)

8. M.A.C, Technakohl Liner (Plank)

9. M.A.C, Metal-X Cream Shadow (Fusion Gold)

10. M.A.C, Matte Eye Shadow (Bisque)

11. Covergirl, Natureluxe Gloss Balm (235 Grenache)

If I leave you with one tip...

The appearance of unblemished skin is key to getting that fresh-faced glow.  Use two types of concealer - one that is lightweight and glides easily between your fingers for spotting over blemishes. This way you can layer the concealer to fully cover the blemish without  caking up your skin.  And the other with a creamy, tackier texture for under eye concealing.  Under eye shadows call for a slightly thicker concealer which will also help catch the light (especially in photographs).

And of course...

Photos via DCBenA5

J xx

Magic by Sephora

Instant nail polish remover by Sephora.  This product is AMAZING! It's magic I tell you, magic!  Stick your fingers in the jar and in seconds - every single layer of your nail polish disappears.  No scrubbing - and best of all - no cotton pad, Q-tip or tissue waste!  At just $11 a jar, this product is the perfect gift for any gal who loves to paint her nails. The drag of having to scrub off last week's polish is now a thing of the past. Painting your nails just got exciting!

J xx

Sprinkles are Sweet

 

Deborah Lippmann, 'Candy Shop' Nail Lacquer' 

How Sweet It Is, Cake Batter Martini

The Glitter Guide, White Chocolate Confetti Popcorn

J xx

Lips, Flicks & Chicks

Maybelline Baby Lips lip balm is a must have for any gal who aspires to perfect the just-rolled-out-of-bed, impossibly fresh-faced bombshell look.  At just $5 a pop, these moisturizing balms come in poppy tints that'll brighten up your face.  I couldn't help but snag all 4 colors: Cherry Me, Grape Vine, Pink Punch and Peach Kiss.  They smell delicious too!

I love this movie for so many reasons: 1) it's set in beautiful Paris, 2) it takes us to 1890s Belle Époque and transports us to 1920s Paris nightlife, 3) you meet some legendary novelists and artists from the past, 4) Corey Stoll who plays Ernest Hemingway is hilarious, 5) it stars my girl crush Rachel McAdams, and 6) Woody Allen's script and Owen Wilson's charm are a match made in heaven!

In Midnight in Paris, Rachel's character Inez is nothing like her beloved character Allie.  Her casual chic style is perhaps Inez's most admirable asset, and yet her agitating character only reaffirms Rachel's talent, and of course, my crush!

J xx

Josie Maran

She was the girl I cut out of magazines as an impressionable young girl. I hoped that one day I could emulate her beauty. Her 1999 GUESS ads posted below made quite the impression on me. I remember these pictures like it's the first time I see them.

Today Josie is a mother and entrepreneur with her own earth-friendly beauty line. I just picked up Josie's Argan-oil infused color stick in Petal Pink. It received Allure's 'Editors Choice Awards' stamp of approval, let alone my teeny tiny endorsement. Watch Josie talk about her inspirations and beauty line...  Some things never change; she's still beautiful and I'm still a fan!

J xx

GUESS, 1999

GUESS, 1999

Twinkle Top

Love my nails!  They're so sparkly and festive!  Wanna copy?  You'll need Essie 'Topless & Barefoot' nail polish, and Sephora by O.P.I. 'Only Gold For Me' top coat.  Happy twinkles!

J xx

A little bit of whimsy

I don't like nail art. I'm not even a fan of French manicures.  But this trend is really growing on me.  It appears playful without overdoing the 'pizzaz'.  It only works if the shade of sparkle blends nicely in tone with the solid polish color.  The second best accessory for your ring finger perhaps?  I dig it.  

J xx

Cashmere Cotillard

This is the second time I blog about Marion Cotillard's makeup.  I'm being repetitive, but I'm inspired by her timeless beauty and her perfect canvas.  I sorta just want to stare at her face because it's so darn pretty. While I do, I figured I'd make myself useful and introduce you to some great products that will help you get the look. 

Getting the look:

1. Lips: Cover Girl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm (Grenache 235) - Natural color and texture and a surprisingly well formulated product on the cheap.  I adore this color - it's the perfect shade of natural. 
2. Cheeks: Stila Convertible Color (Lillium) - Applied sparingly with a kabuki stifling brush, this cream color has a dewy finish and looks like natural flush.
3. Eyes: Bobbi Brown Rich Color Eye Shadow (Sand Dune), Elizabeth Arden Color Intrigue Eye Shadow (Vintage) - When I think cashmere, I think subtle shimmer in muted tones of taupy grey and mauve; colors that evoke feelings of warmth and coziness.  These shadows will become your instant classics.

...the whole package:

• Mascara: Clinique Lash Power (Black Onyx)
• Concealer: Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer
• Foundation: Chanel Teint Innocence
• Eye Liner: top lash line - Urban Decay Glide-on Eye Pencil (Zero), lower lash line - Mac Technakohl Liner (Plank)

J xx

Hair Happy

I'm not blessed with wash and go hair, so over the years I've learned simple ways to keep my hair healthy and under control using little product.  And you might say I'm hard to please when it comes to hair treatment and styling products, so it's always a surprise when I try products that are as good as these two:  Moroccanoil® Oil Treatment and Chi Infra Texture Hair Spray.  Moroccanoil® firstly, smells like absolute heaven, secondly and more importantly its ultra-light formula restores shine and conditions hair leaving a healthy 'non-greasy' glow.  Infra Texture hair spray is lightweight and 'non-crunchy' yet maintains your style and promotes movement by its unique texturizing formula. Not sold yet? Trust me and try them. I'm happy to say I told you so.

J xx

Classic Beauty

Marion Cotillard on the July 2010 cover of Vogue epitomizes classic beauty. Her stained matte lips warm her skin and the ashy plum brown eyeshadow make her baby blues jump off the page. To get the look try Clinique 'Black Honey' Almost Lipstick and Bobbi Brown 'Cocoa' Eyeshadow.  Marion's soft waves and exposed clavicle coupled with these neutral plum brown tones is breathtaking, and I'm going try my darnedest to copy it!

J xx

Barlean's Coconut Oil

You must buy a jar of Barlean's 100% Organic Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil. This product may be used in cooking, baking or frying - as a spread on toast or muffins and as a moisturizing oil or hair tonic. I love how far this product goes for your money; it nourishes your body inside and out. I have a jar and I can tell you it smells delicious, and it makes your skin and hair feel super soft. Yum...there's nothing like the smell of sun-warmed coconut. It's a quintessential reminder of those summer days relaxing by the lake, catchin' some rays.

J xx