Makeup Look of the Day: Raquel Welch

She was the bombshell of the early Seventies.  The cat eyes, nude lips, and voluminous hair were all trademarks of Raquel Welch's in-your-face, va-va-voom sex appeal.  Here, I've done a modern version on myself...

Raquel Welch

SKIN
I used a slightly darker foundation than I normally wear to give myself a more medium complexion...then I layered two different bronzers-- the first was a Wet & Wild matte coverage bronzer, and the second is my favorite bronzer made by The Body Shop that has an illuminating effect for that 'on vacation glow'.  Lastly, I used a brown toned blush on the apples of the cheeks.

EYES
Any kind of earthy tone shadows work well for this look.  I used two together-- a bronzy gold and a shimmery gray.  Then to get the cat eye look I used a Fabuliner which is an eyeliner that reminds me of a felt pen and drew an upward/outward wing.  I used a black pencil liner on the bottom rims and gray liner on the waterline.  Mascara was the final touch.  A voluminous mascara works best for this look.

LIPS
A very important part of this look, I used a super inexpensive lipstick from a 5 and Dime store by a brand called L.A. Colors in a color called Nude ($1!).  Then I applied a clear gloss for depth and followed up with another coat of lipstick. The lip/eye contrast is really stunning and fun to wear. Heads will turn.

Makeup Look of the Day: TWIGGY

Inspired by the Face of the '60's, aka Twiggy, this look is all in the eyes...it uses white eyeshadow, white eyeliner, very thick black liquid liner applied in the middle of the lid in a arch for "saucer eyes" and heaps of mascara (lashes were curled, mascaraed, and then curled again).  To get the stuck together look on the bottom lashes, I first applied mascara as I normally would and then pinched a few sections of lashes with my fingertips to stick them together.  In this case, clumping is good!

Penelope Tree- another '60s model

Makeup Look of the Day: The Professional

As requested by a dear friend of mine, here are two professional looks that are office appropriate.  The first one (above) is a smoky eye/natural lip combo while the second (below) is a minimal eye/strong lip combo.  In the photo above, I used two shades of gray shadows-- a dark gray and a bluish gray.  I applied the bluish gray to the entire lid and the darker gray on the lash line. I also applied black liquid liner on the upper lash line and finished it off with brownish black mascara.  Black shadow shouldn't be selected for this look; it is too intense and therefore distracting.   You should also never go above the crease when wearing a smoky eye to the office--save that look for the club.  As for the lips, I used two different glosses to make a natural and shiny color that would offset the smoky eye for a clean and balanced-out look.

This look is considerably different from the first.  The eye makeup is minimal-- a thin black line on the lids and one coat of mascara applied to curled lashes.  Instead of focusing on the eyes, attention is given to the mouth.  Despite what you may have heard, red lips ARE office appropriate, given that it is the right shade of red (something muted as I'm wearing above, nothing too bright) and that the eyes are downplayed.  

I think both looks are equally fun to wear.  Each one can be tweaked to complement your skin tone, outfit, and personal style.  When wearing makeup to the office it's important to remember that less is more, but don't be afraid to push the limits a little bit--while keeping it in good taste! 

Makeup Look of the Day: The Minimalist

Winona Ryder

The Minimalist is a look that proves that a little bit of the right makeup can go a long way.  I don't always agree that less is more, but on someone with great bone structure and naturally big bright eyes (as in Winona Ryder's case), it really is.  This look is highly appropriate for casual everyday wear, especially in a professional setting.  It is also universally flattering on all skin tones and ages.  

The Minimalist uses really basic makeup: concealer, brown eye shadow in the crease and under eyes, white eyeshadow applied to the inner corners, pink cream blush on cheeks and temples, nude lip pencil and clear gloss.

                      

                                                                             

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

      For the Minimalist glow, I used Sonia Kashuk cream blush in Blossom (sold only at Target stores).  It comes in a round, shallow pot and is easily applied with your fingertips.  What I like about cream blush is that it blends into the skin really easily and gives you a dewy glow. This cream blush in particular is a nice color on someone with fair skin like myself, as its light rosy pink color gives off a really natural yet noticeable effect.  

Makeup Look of the Day: The Enigma

Gwyneth Paltrow


The Enigma is mysterious and emotionally haunting.  A damsel in distress.  The roles played by Sophia Loren in Two Women and Anna Magnani in the Rose Tattoo are two best examples of the Enigma in film.  The look is heavily dependent upon smeared eye makeup.  

Sophia Loren in Two Women

To get this look, I used liquid foundation with a bronzer that reflects light really nicely.  Then I mixed together an apricot cream blush with a hot pink powder blush to get an orangy-red color on the cheeks.  The lips were filled in with a natural toned lip pencil and followed with a clear red lip gloss.  The eyes, which are the pivotal feature of this look, should look beautifully messy, as though you've been crying and your once perfect makeup has been ruined by tears.  I used black pencil eyeliner on my upper eyelids and lower rims and then applied black mascara to curled top lashes and bottom lashes.  Then, to get the splattered look, I took the mascara wand and pressed it gently but firmly to my eyelids, crease, and under eye area.  The result was not quite as intense as Gwyneth wears it, but you can get a good idea of how mascara can be used in an unexpectedly beautiful and interesting way.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

The mascara used for this look should be black since black gives off the most drama, something the Enigma is highly known for.  I used one of my favorite drugstore brand mascaras-- Rimmel Lycra Lash Extender.  It has a skinny enough wand in order to control the amount and placement of mascara around the eyes to get the intensity just right.  

Rimmel Lycra Lash Extender mascara in black

Makeup Look of the Day: The Purist

Kiara Kabakuru

The Purist utilizes products that reflect light naturally for a youthful, healthy, and modern look.  The face should look clean, moisturized, and well-balanced....as well as fashion forward and fun.  The look is captured beautifully on model Kiara Kabakuru.

    I used liquid foundation, apricot colored liquid blush on cheeks, chin, and hairline, purple powder eyeshadow on the outer corners of the eyes, orangy-copper shadow on the browbones, black mascara, and a dark lip pencil followed by two different colored lipsticks (Lancome's Mauvette, and Revlon's Burgundy) to come up with a similar color to what Kiara is wearing. 

              PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

My favorite drugstore foundation is L'Oreal True Match makeup in Soft Ivory, which is the lightest shade from this line.  Of all the inexpensive foundations I've tried, this is simply the best.  It also lended itself nicely to this look to achieve a clean and pure base for which to build on.  If you're on a budget and can't afford expensive makeup counter foundation, you really ought to give True Match a try.  Bonus: they have a wide variety of shades within three different undertones: warm, neutral, and cool.  

                                         

You can also check out L'Oreal's website that has a helpful section devoted to foundation matching...www.lorealparisusa.com/_us/_en/default.aspx#/?page=top{userdata//d+d//|diagnostic|main:brandpage:truematch|media:_blank|nav|overlay:article//id+LOP_ART_047//}

Makeup Look of the Day: The Model

Studio 54- Andy Warhol with Jerry Hall

Very late '70s/early '80s, the Model is an homage to the first supermodels that burst onto the fashion scene in the mid-Seventies.  Feathered hair, heavy eyeliner, and Studio 54 with all its decadence should come to mind.  Kate Hudson's recent interpretation was inspired by the look Kevyn Aucoin did on '90s model Nadja Auermann (upper left).

the 1978 movie The Eyes of Laura Mars

For this look, I used a light foundation, black eye pencil on the upper and lower lids, black eyeshadow traced over the liner and winged out and up toward the temples.  Golden shadow was also applied to the inner corners of the eyes and browbones.  Black mascara on curled lashes followed by a hot pink blush (very '70s!) and a dark berry gloss on the lips were the final touches.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Instead of a dark burgundy lip color that you can see on Kate Hudson and Nadja Auermann, I decided to use a dark berry shade because this seemed more '70s to me.  I used Clinique GlossWear in Raspberry Jam. It's a very glossy lip color that comes in a pot with a small brush that allows for precise application.  

Makeup Look of the Day: The Biba

The Biba was Britain's answer to the Sixties It Girl.  She was undeniably fashionable, bold, yet still somehow mysterious.  With the use of very rich makeup, all features are highlighted in a daring but ethereal way. As a modern British It Girl herself, Kate Moss was wisely chosen as the Biba muse.

To achieve this look, I used black eye pencil for upper and lower rims, black eyeshadow around the entire eye, in a slightly downturned angle, and a thin coat of black mascara on (uncurled) top and bottom lashes.  Light pink blush was swept over the cheeks and a dark-toned lip pencil was used to outline and fill in the lips. It's essential to this look for the lips to be outlined in a "Cupid's bow" shape (see Kate Moss).  You want to slightly overdraw both lips and round the corners of the upper lip.  The last step is to apply a dark plum lip color. 

The Biba was named for this women's boutique in London

  PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

It's not easy to pull off black eyeshadow.  And it might be even more difficult to apply.  A helpful tip is to first use translucent face powder on your lids and below the eyes if you are going to apply it to the under eye area.  Not only does powder help to eliminate shine, but it also works great to set powder eyeshadows so they won't get greasy or streaky.  Today I used Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent.  I especially like this powder because it contains natural minerals which are good (and gentle) for your skin.

Makeup Look of the Day: The Swinger

The Swinger was the "It Girl" of the Sixties.  An independent spirit paired with an effortlessly cool attitude, she prided herself on being the essence of what was considered modern for the time.  Dark yet natural toned eye makeup with heavy eyeliner, pale lips, and a bouncy hairdo defined the Swingin' Sixties Woman.

I used a light brown eyeshadow on my lids with a darker brown in the crease for more depth.  Then I applied a very thick line of black liquid liner to the the upper lids, drawing the line thickest in the middle of the lid.  Black mascara was then swiped onto curled lashes.  A light pink blush on the cheeks and a cool toned pink lip gloss complete the look.  I also squared off my eyebrows a little bit to give a more defined '60s style arch.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

One of my favorite- and most effective- makeup tools is my Tweezerman metal eyelash curler.  It might not be the most obvious choice, but in my opinion, this is the best eyelash curler on the market.  It's also very easy to find since they are sold at pretty much any drugstore around.  I'm also a big fan of their tweezers and won't use anything other than the Tweezerman slant tweezer on my eyebrows to take care of those annoying strays.  Do yourself a favor and pick up both items!

Makeup Look of the Day: The Ingenue

As a real life Ingenue herself, Nicole Kidman personifies this look with exquisite ease.  The Ingenue is very sixties, playful, and ultra feminine.  Sixties ingenue Ann-Margret (above right) is the inspiration behind this look.

The Ingenue requires a basic foundation, face powder, pink powder blush, brown eye shadow for the crease and under the eye, pale beige shimmer eyeshadow on the lids, brown eye liner (liquid is best) for upper lash line, and black mascara for top and bottom lashes.  For the lips I used a natural toned lip liner and then applied a pinky-beige lip color on top.

                                        PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

There are a LOT of lip glosses on the market and choosing the right one can be more than overwhelming.  I have tried a ton of different brands, textures, colors, and applicators.  I have narrowed it down to a few that qualify as favorites, and one of them is my NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Natural, which I used today.  It was perfect for what this look called for-- a pinky-beige lip color.  This gloss actually has more of a creamy consistency than glossy (which also makes it last longer).  Highly recommended!

NYX lip gloss in Natural

Makeup Look of the Day: The Diva

This is the kind of woman who makes a statement without saying anything at all.  Barbra Streisand, Maria Callas, and Cher are the inspirations behind this look.  Not surprisingly, Kevyn Aucoin chose Isabella Rossellini (above) as his muse, and more recently Jennifer Aniston posed for a very similar shoot for Bazaar magazine.  The head tilt coupled with a strong profile shot show off the Diva signature-- a very dark and dramatic eye.    

On myself I didn't go quite as dramatic as I could have, in an attempt to present this as an everyday look. I used dark brown powder shadow in the crease and under eye areas. Then I applied black liquid liner to the upper lash line and extended it out longer than usual to meet the shadow, false lashes, and black mascara on my bottom lashes.  A soft pink powder blush was swept over the cheeks and a natural toned lip liner was applied under a semi-transparent lip gloss to keep the mouth somewhat muted in order to maintain the eye as the focal point.

                                       PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Although it's not the stand out item in this look, I have to credit the pink blush.  A good blush brings your entire look full-circle, especially in the case of a profile shot.  I used mark Good Glowing Custom Pick Powder Blush in After Glo, $8 (meetmark.com).  mark is a multi-level company targeted to younger women and owned by Avon.  This blush is one of my personal favorites because it's very flattering on my pale skin and has just the right amount of sparkle to reflect light around the cheekbones.

  

Makeup Look of the Day: The Chanteuse

"Chanteuse" means singer.  This look is inspired by such exceptional voices- with personalities to match- as Billie Holiday (upper right), Edith Piaf, Lena Horne, and Eartha Kitt, as well as old-fashioned bluesy nightclubs; Vanessa Williams' natural beauty (upper left) translates to a striking and seductive version of the Chanteuse.

This is very feminine but strong makeup.  The eye should be striking, yet still somehow soft.  To get this look, you will need a champagne shimmery eyeshadow (applied heaviest to the inner corner of the eye), warm brown eyeshadow (applied only to the outer upper and lower eye area), black liquid eyeliner, black mascara on curled lashes, beige eye pencil for bottom rims, flesh toned lip pencil, and an opalescent pink lip gloss (the sparklier the better!)

         PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

The black liquid liner and black mascara set against a sparkly champagne shadow gives off a nice dramatic effect.  The liquid liner is especially important and should be extended slightly beyond the outer eye corner.  Similar to a liquid liner, I used Jordana Fabuliner in black (right), which I highly recommend if you're like me and find liquid liner to be too difficult or stressful to apply.  This product makes it really easy with its pointed tip; it's not unlike a felt marker. It has the same effect as a liquid and nobody has to know it's not liquid. And not only is it easier to apply, but it also washes off much easier than a liquid liner.  I only found out about the Fabuliner recently and it's truly one of my favorite finds. Also, at $2.99 a piece it won't break the bank.

Makeup Look of the Day: The Gamine

Deriving from French, The Gamine literally means a very slender girl who is pert, impudent, or playfully mischievous.  Although Gwyneth Paltrow (above left) was made up to resemble Kim Novak (upper right), I think it's safe to say that the ultimate Gamine is- and always will be- Audrey Hepburn.  Because she is a natural beauty with a tomboyish charm, the Gamine doesn't wear a lot of makeup; she simply doesn't need it.

Italian actress Pier Angeli

This is a really simple look.  All it requires is a brow pencil, a little concealer, loose face powder, soft rose blush, eyelash curler, dark brown mascara, natural lip liner, and a semi-transparent pink lip gloss.  Extra styling (pulled back hair, turtleneck, etc.) adds to the essence of the look.

       PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT


This look requires a very strong eyebrow, as you can see on each Gamine featured in this post.  I never draw on my own brows since I have naturally dark brows so this was the first time I ever tried it.  You should use a pencil that is one shade darker than your natural brow color, and you should try to keep it within the lines of your natural arch.  Once I was done with the pencil, I used clear mascara to groom and set the brows so they would look as natural as possible.

Helena Rubinstein brown brow pencil