Recently in Eye Liner Category

I'm obsessed with Sharpie fine point pens, nothing writes as smoothly or easily!  That is how I felt about Le Metier de Beaute's felt point liquid liner when I tested it out (exclusively at Neiman Marcus!) today.  The tip makes a very smooth line (not jagged like some felt tip liners can get) and it will not budge unless you wash it off with make up remover.  I got the BLEU cuz it was just so fun and funky-- very Valley Girl circa 1985.  The NOIR is a deep deep black, blends really well with fake lashes and look striking on its own.  Have you tried this line?  Tell me what you think!

I am addicted to dark polish right now.  Have OPI's Black Cherry Chutney on today and I feel very vampire-ish-- really like how it makes my skin look pale and flawless.  Am very excited about the launch of CHANEL's "Noirs Obscurs" this month.  CHANEL does amazing dark polishes (remember Vamp!?!?) and shadow quads but I don't know about the black lipstick.  Ahead of her time as an arbiter of style and color authority, Mademoiselle Chanel recognized and revered the color black as a symbol of luxury, modernity, sophistication and seduction.

Today, Peter Philips creates a tribute to black with an avant-garde collection of trend-defining eye, lip and nail shades, uncovering the many nuances and undertones of this iconic shade. Not many of us can carry off an entire face of rouge noirs, so we suggest choosing one feature to focus on the face to go with the dark nails. All at CHANEL.com (Jump for colors and prices!)

MAC's latest and greatest showed up at my door this weekend and I was transported back to my high school days in the 80's. The Greasepaint sticks in black and blue? Reminded me of my Robert Smith of The Cure moments. Blue flame eye shadow? I did that, with the black eyeliner (I didn't say I looked pretty!). The only thing I stopped at was black lipstick back then, way too Goth for me. I was just trendy, never rebellious or strange (I remember the Goth kids with black lipstick and safety pins in their noses, yikes!). What's worthy of checking out is the Glimmer glass lip glosses. The 'Bling Black' is actually a pale gold with flecks of dark silver. Could be very sexy on date night! Even the skincare is black, I loved the Volcanic Ash exfoliator and mask, very gentle yet gets all that gunk out of your poors. I am definitely giving the black lipstick and black lip gloss to my niece though. Can't imagine what the hubby would do if I showed up at dinner with black lips. What about you? Will you try the black lipstick and black lip gloss? MAC Style Black Collection here.
 

This season M·A·C celebrates the idea of the Artist in every shade and stripe...makeup as art form. M·A·C has selected three individuals who exemplify this idea through both the subjects they choose, and the wildly individual styles and colours used to convey them. Bold, heroic, big; giggly, playful, clever; dramatic, original, abstract: Fall '09 as seen by Richard Phillips, Maira Kalman, and Marilyn Minter.  (jump for the complete collections!)

M·A·C Make-Up Art Cosmetics will be available for a limited time starting August 20, 2009.  

I actually did my make up like this when I was 17 (I have photos to prove it but am thinking I should burn them!). It was the 80s and I really liked blue eyeliner and Siouxie and the Banshees, not a pretty combo, trust me!  Apparently this look is back and to achieve it, all you need is a few eyeliners from Make Up Forever-- specifically Aqua Eyes #7.  $17 each at Sephora.com

I was introduced to "Motives" cosmetics by a bag designer friend, Adriana Castro. She has the world's most beautiful and velvety skin and she told me her secret was a line called Motives cosmetics. I asked to be put in touch with the Creative Director, Loren Ridinger, and have hounded her ever since. Seriously, this line is really outstanding. From the Liquid to Powder mineral foundation to the award winning Pressed eye shadow palettes, I am really addicted! But the most exciting discovery is its Angled Eyeliner brush (for cat eye fanatics like myself). I have tried every eye liner brush out there, and always end up using angled brow brushes because not many companies make an angled eyeliner brush let alone a good one. You must try this, the best part is-- it's only $8.50!  Less than a martini these days and how many things can you say that about!?!?   At Motives Cosmetics.com  Get one of the gel liners ($15.95) while you're at it, you just dip the brush in the pot and apply-- easy and mess free!

As you pare down your wardrobe in preparation for warmer weather, don't forget to give your makeup bag a similar overhaul. Follow these do's and don'ts from Prescriptives Director of Color Artistry Jillian Veran for smudge-proof, sweat-resistant looks to get you through the long, sweltering days.

· DO stay protected and hydrated. Apply All Weather Friend Daily UVA/UVB Skin Protection SPF 40 every day over a lightweight moisturizer like All You Need+ SPF 15 Continuous Action 24-Hour Moisture for healthy and luminous skin that lasts.

· DON'T use makeup to create a tan. Instead, apply Good In Bed Skin Restoring Night Moisturizer nightly to face, neck and décolleté. The luscious formula contains a hint of self tanner so skin "wakes-up" with enhanced, natural looking color.

My friend Jessica has a love affair with all things Swedish (she even moved to Sweden to attend design school for 4 years and brought a Swedish cutie back to LA with her!) but this is my first love with a Swedish product.  FACE Stockholm Spring 2009 Look was created by top Swedish artist, Sara Bourke and captures the purity and romance of the season with a little spunk. "The fresh, flirtatious lip, just-been-kissed flushed cheeks, soft healthy skin and sultry, glowing eye, combine a sweet sophistication with spirited femininity that passionately announces: 'Spring is in the air!'"
We tested the complete look read on for our review! (All at Face Stockholm):

All photos from people.com
I love trying out new shadows and eyeliners and I totally owe my current infatuation with teal eye liner to Beauty Snob Tina! Ever since she gave me Estee Lauder's Aqua Teal eye liner I've been nothing short of obsessed with the color -- so perfect for sunny spring days! Seems I'm not the only one -- Rachel Bilson looks cute with a touch of teal and though I could never pull-off the all over-color look that Demi Lovato has got going on, she wears it well. Besides Estee Lauder 's teal liner, Elizabeth Arden's Color Intrigue Gel Eyeliner in Ocean Teal is a great find. I usually stick with pencils, but this gel liner glides on super easily and makes for a very vivid color that complements my blue eyes nicely. It also includes an eyeliner brush and it's surprisingly long lasting (as is the Estee Lauder one) -- for the most part I didn't need to re-apply all day/night. I know a lot of people are scared of trying bold eye liner colors, but I've been pairing the teal with a mix of Prescriptives' Pongee, Bellini, and a touch of Sage and the result is a light airy eye that's truly nothing to be nervous about! How do you wear you color eye liner?

Clé de Peau has been on my radar since I first tried the iconic "La Creme" years ago. I had never tried its color collection, however, until the Beauty Event last week at Neiman Marcus North Park.  I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Clé de Peau National Make Up consultant Kyriaki Savrani that day and she helped me pick out make up colors (is there anything more fun than playing with make up all day?). A native of Greece, make up artist Kyriaki Savrani's resume extends across all corridors of the beauty industry. The sophisticated beauty got her start in 1992 while attending art school in Paris and assisting Stephen Marais. Since then Kyriaki has built an extensive list celebrity clientele (Nicole Kidman, Naomi Campbell, Anne Hathaway, Audrey Tautou and many others) and work with designers such as Chanel, Valentino, Dior and Karl Lagerfeld.  Yet no matter how "haute" the couture, Kyriaki brings her own unique perspective to her craft. 

During our interview, I learned a lot about the brand and its devoted followers.  Kate Moss apparently swipes a tube of the uber popular Extra Silky lipstick-$50 everytime they do her make up.  I wonder if I can get away with same at the counter?  I'm all about new shade 118 (Lily of the Nile)-- it's a soft pinkish beige that looks really natural!  Plus the formula has a shine to it so you don't need lip gloss.  Kyriaki declared that the era of heavy gooey gloss that bubble when you talk is over!  A hint of shine is much more sexy though she is all about the matte lipstick (in red no less!)


Another exciting newly formulated product is the Cream Foundation. ($118).  It now comes with a twist applicator that gives you the exact dosage you need (in the shape of the Cle de peau logo) so you won't waste a drop of this amazingly velvety foundation.  Kyriaki put O10 on me (at lunch she predicted I'd be O10 by looking at my chest.  Apparently the chest is the perfect spot to match foundation!) and it was the perfect shade for me.  (Just a warning, you'll read the word "perfect" a lot in this post.)  I was with a friend before going to Neiman Marcus and told her I was interviewing Kyriaki and she squealed, "I love the Cream Foundation, it's all I wear!  Tell them it's my favorite brand!"