Beauty411

Inexpensive At-Home New Year's Eve Party Tips

New Year's Eve entertaining can be a pricey occasion, from expensive dinners and cocktails to covers and transportation.  Although not exactly beauty-related, these tips come from Entertaining Expert David Tutera, who’s planned events, parties and weddings for celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaghay, and Star Jones.  Skip the pricey dinner, try these tips and you’re sure to have a fun and festive event that will impress your guests without spending a fortune.  

✽  Create a Sexy Centerpiece

 

Since the 12am toast is the center of the evening, make that the theme of your centerpiece this year by using tableware you already own to decorate! Create a chic and stylish centerpiece for your table by creating a "Drink Glass Runner" placed on a shimmery linen. Use fancy glasses like martini glasses, wine glasses and champagne stems - and place them down the center of your table filled with water. Next, add drops of pink food coloring in varying amounts so that there are different shades in each glass. Place a few floating votives in each “drink” to create a sparkling look.  

 

✽  It’s Not What You Serve, It’s How You Serve It

 

You don't have to spend a fortune on food for your guests. To make your party festive and impressive, try dressing up the containers you serve it in. For a sophisticated appetizer, serve cold or hot soup in shot glasses. To update the classic salad or side dish, serve it in martini glasses with either shrimp forks or fancy chopsticks.

 

✽  Signature Cocktails Make a Party Unique

 

Save money by offering sexy signature cocktails instead of a full bar. Plus, let your drinks coordinate with the glow of your happy guests by serving delicious recipes including NUVO Sparkling Liqueur. The bottle is gorgeous...it looks like a perfume bottle!  Here are a couple of New Year-inspired recipes to get you started:

 

The Midnight Kiss

1 oz. Proseco

3 oz. NUVO Sparkling Liqueur

Add a spoonful of muddled raspberries and blackberries

Serve in a champagne flute

 

The Ball Drop

3 oz. NUVO Sparkling Liqueur

1 oz. Ciroc

Add a frozen sorbet ball garnish

Served in a martini glass

 

✽  Ring in the New Year Right

 

Don't worry about spending a fortune on expensive noisemakers and party favors. Try making your own traditional New Years confetti! Add inexpensive sequins or even small pieces of coordinating fabric and package them in small bags or cones for guests to throw when the ball drops.  To get your guests ready for the big moment, tie a small bag of hand-made confetti to each champagne glass that you pass out!

 

By following these easy tips, you can entertain at home with flair, save money and enjoy your guests.  Have a Happy New Year!

 

Giorgio Armani Beauty Spring 2009: Pink Light Collection

Giorgio Armani Beauty introduces the Pink Light Collection, a collection inspired by Giorgio Armani's spring couture show.  It's all about an illumination of skin highlighted with soft touches of pink.  Beautifully sculpting the facial contours, the look plays with light to create a fresh, luminous glow for any complexion.

Highlights of the collection include:

Limited-edition Pink Light Eye Palette featuring four eyeshadows in shades of pale beige, silver grey, peach pink and pale lilac.

Light Master Primer - This is the product from the collection that is on my must-have list.  Spring makeup is going to be all about radiant complexions and I think this will be a key product to achieve that look.  This primer contains a Micro-fil™ pearl that changes colors according to how it reflects light. It optically models skin contours by illuminating and shaping, leaving the complexion fresh and vibrant.

Blending Blush Duo in shades of Coral/Mocha and Rosewood/Raspberry.  The product's creamy texture allows the blending blush duos to morph into fluid color on contact with the skin. The result is soft, flushed color and subtle highlighting that sculpts the face.

Lips:  A new limited-edition shade of Lip Wax in Raspberry Pink will be a must-have for spring.  Lip Wax is so versatile, that you can use it as a stain or add a gloss.  There are two new additional shades of Armanisilk lipstick in 89 and 91.

 

Micro-fil Loose Powder in new Pink Light offers the perfect finish to your look by reducing shine, providing a luminous finish and evening out skin tone.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Pink Light Collection for Spring 2009 is available now at giorgioarmanibeauty.com.

Max Factor Beauty Tips in Time for New Years Celebrations!

Max Factor Celebrity Makeup Artist Jake Bailey is sharing some holiday beauty tips, perfect in time for a special New Year's Eve look. 

Jake Bailey is a premier makeup artist in Hollywood, creating red carpet glamour for celebrities including Angelina Jolie, Kyra Sedgwick, Mandy Moore, Brittany Snow, Paris Hilton and Katherine McPhee.  What's nice is that these makeup tips are easy and fast.   

For a daytime high impact eye:

·     Start by lining the upper and lower lash lines with MAXeye Liner in Fresh Coffee. Dot the eye liner in the inner lash lines to create high impact and high drama. Use your finger to smudge the liner on the upper and lower lash lines to create a smoldering effect. Don’t worry about smudging the liner too much; a little bit of “messiness” creates a sexier eye.

·     Liven up lashes by applying one coat of Lash Perfection Volume Couture Mascara in Black Brown on the upper and lower lashes.

For a smoky eye:

·     For a twist on the smoky-eye, create a look that’s all your own by blending your favorite shades of shadow to create a customized hybrid. Shades I have found universally flattering are grays and lavenders.

·     Start by mixing together the charcoal colored end of Vivid Impact Eyeshadow Duo in Domino Effect, (a silver/charcoal combination) with the purple shade in Vivid Impact Eye Shadows Sultry Sage for a smoky plum shade. Using an eye shadow brush, work the shadow all the way from the lash line to the brow bone, blending the pigment with your finger towards when nearing the brow to create a dramatic eye look.

·     Liven up lashes by generously applying Lash Perfection Volume Couture Mascara on the upper and lower lashes.

·     Keep the face flawless and lip simple so as not to overpower the vivid eye: Apply ColorGenius Pressed Powder in a shade that compliments your skin tone, to minimize any shininess. If you desire a little extra color, work a light blush into the cheeks such as ColorGenius Pressed Powder in Peaches.  Circle the product with a large round brush onto the apples of the cheeks and brush up towards the temples.

·     Finish with a light pink gloss, such as MAXalicious Lip Glaze in First Kiss for barely-there glossy lips.

 For a bright pink lip:

·     For a beautiful and eye catching look for day and night, try using Lipfinity 3D in 80s Pink with just two coats of mascara, such as Lash Perfection Volume Couture Mascara in Black Brown, on curled lashes. This creates sophisticated beauty looks with not a lot of makeup.

·     In the Winter, a bold lip hue can brighten your complexion instantly!

Max Factor products are available in mass retailers nationwide, including drug and discount stores.  You can also purchase online at www.maxfactor.com.

Ken Paves Healthy Hair Collection

Ken Paves Healthy Hair is a new line of hair care products designed to promote strong, nourished hair.  The Ken Paves Healthy Hair Collection collection is paraben-free, safe for colored or chemically-treated hair and gentle enough to use every day.  Essential oils and extracts infuse shine, strength and lasting hydration while emollients and vitamins nourish and protect.

I was able to try out the Ken Paves Healthy Hair Shampoo and must say that it works very well.  I find the shampoo gentle enough to use every day on my color-treated hair.  It has a nice fragrance.  It does a good job of removing buildup from other hair products without stripping the color.  And my hair really feels clean. 

Ken Paves Healthy Hair products retail between $22 - $39 and are available at HSN, Ulta and Trade Secret.

Total Beauty Weekly Web Tour

 

Need a break from the holidays?  Check out some of the best beauty news of the week from the Total Beauty bloggers.  The perfect remedy!

After what seems like ages, Beauty Junkies Unite reviews a few pieces from JK Jemma Kidd Cosmetics. Target's beauty department is coming on strong!

Are you ready for Spring? Roselyn from Makeup Makes Me Happy has the full scoop on all of the upcoming beauty collections from designers like Chanel, Givenchy, Shu Uemura and more for 2009! A must-see!

Did the holidays completely stress you out? Beauty Beast explains how one little product from Origins can help you forget all of your worries in no time.

Beauty411 shares the details on the frosty new MAC Chill Collection!

Viva Woman shows you how to make an easy homemade bath scrub with Epsom salt!

Beauty Anonymous reviews Shiseido's Integrate Holiday 2008 Makeup Palette!

Indian Girl shows you 9 Colorful Ways to do the Smokey Eye Look !

eye4style is resolving to save more dough in the New Year, so let's start by spending less on these chic drugstore beauty finds!

The Makeup Divas reviews the new ChapStick True Shimmer lip balms.

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings reviews the new CoverGirl Outlast Lipstains!

Marta Walsh Interviews Nadia Comaneci-by Talking Makeup!

marina from makeup loves me tells you what hair tool she's using for new year's eve night!

Spoiled Pretty is teaming up with Benefit Cosmetics for a Twilight-inspired giveaway! Five winners will win Benefit's Silky Finish Lipstick in Ms. Behavin, a mulberry glaze used on Edward and the rest of the Cullen family!

Beauty Blog Network Weekend Beauty Reads

Are you ready for Spring? Roselyn from Makeup Makes Me Happy has the full scoop on all of the upcoming beauty collections from designers like Chanel, Givenchy, Shu Uemura and more for 2009! A must-see!

Beauty411 shares the details on the frosty new MAC Chill Collection!

The Makeup Divas reviews the new ChapStick True Shimmer lip balms.

A Touch of Blusher counts down the best holiday 2008 collections.

Beauty Anonymous reviews Shiseido's Integrate Holiday 2008 Makeup Palette.

Britney Spears got a hair makeover! Beauty Banter has the details... and other celebs that are following the trend!

Beauty and Personal Grooming reviews Dove Beauty Bar Pink/Rosa.

Felicia for ThisThatBeauty gets cozy with "Mixed Chicks" product line. Check out her review and product GIVEAWAY Take a peak!

Bobbi Brown Bobbi Brights Eye Palette - New!

The Bobbi Brights Eye Palette was inspired by Bobbi at Fashion Week. I can tell you from attending Fashion Week, that the makeup artists use a palette very similar to this, to mix and blend eyeshadow and lip colors.  This collector's edition eyeshadow palette is designed for the woman who wants to play and experiment with bright color.

It features 35 soft matte shadows in a colorful shade range that includes everything from pinks and greens to blues and purples. All the shades are new and exclusive to this palette, which features a unique, fold-out design and full size mirror.

Shades include: Electric Pink,Gum Drop, Bubblegum, Pink, Flamingo,Watermelon, Sherbet,Samba,Coral, Peach, Honey Bell,Nugget, Buttercup, Maize, Day Glow, Macha Green, Shamrock, Jade, Eucalyptus, Sea Foam, Pacific, Breeze, Blue Denim, Cloud Blue, Ocean, Royal Blue, Electric Blue, Cornflower, Wisteria, Bluebell, Periwinkle, Blue Iris, Ultra Violet, Orchid, Mulberry. 

The Bobbi Brights Eye Palette is available for a limited time.  It retails at $70 (actually a great value--only $2 per shadow!).  You can purchase it online at BobbiBrown.com and at NeimanMarcus.com.

Chanel Spring 2009 Makeup Collection

 

The CHANEL Spring 2009 Makeup Collection was inspired by Coco Chanel's fascination with bohemian style and Gabrielle Chanel's gypsy dresses.  Peter Philips, the brilliant Global Makeup Director for CHANEL, explains "The Gypsy is a heroine with very distinctive beauty codes". 

In the Spring Makeup Collection, eyes take on deep tones for day and night, while lips are saturated with fiery reds and lush nudes, evoking an earthy sensuality elevated to a new level of sophistication. This interpretation is consistent to what I saw when I was at Spring Fashion Week this past September--definite trends towards darker eyeshadow and a smoky eye for day.  In this collection, the mysterious gypsy is the perfect muse.

Since Peter Philips took over as creative director at Chanel in January, he has introduced one spectacular collection after another and Spring 2009 is no exception.  In the past, I've usually always found a blush or lipcolor from a collection, but lately, I am buying it all. I can't resist!

The Limited Edition Satin Lipcolor compact (pictured above) will be the must-have item in this Collection.  It’s CHANEL lip colour as you’ve never seen it. Five lush satin lip creme shades, from pale pink to deep plum, form the legendary double C signature in a black lacquered case. Complete with a rich velvet pouch and brush applicator, the compact is the epitome of glamour. $60.00

LIPS: 

• ROUGE HYDRABASE Creme Lipstick arrives in six new luxurious shades including Rose Rebelle (pink), Euphoria (intense pink), Fiesta (apricot), Fuego (coral red), Beige Desire (beige) and Gipsy Scarlett (red). 
  
• AQUALUMIÈRE Sheer Colour Lipshine SPF 15 in Malta (copper) and Positano (beige).
• LÈVRES SCINTILLANTES Glossimer for a subtle shimmer in Wild Rose (rosewood) and Beige Guitare (taupe). 
• ROUGE DOUBLE INTENSITÉ Ultra Wear Lip Colour in Alexandrite (red) and Opal Rose (pink) for rich all-day colour.

EYES:

• CHANEL LES 4 OMBRES Quadra Eye Shadow in new Mystic Eyes, an inspired palette of plum, pink, beige and bronze.
• OMBRE ESSENTIELLE Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Magic Night (plum shimmer) and Liberty (beige shimmer), or OMBRE D’EAU Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow in Delta (gold).
• LE CRAYON YEUX Precision Eye Definer in Brun Cuivré (brown)
• INIMITABLE WATERPROOF Mascara Multi-Dimensionnel Waterproof in Brun (brown).

FACE: 

• Give skin a flawless, matte finish with POUDRE UNIVERSELLE COMPACTE in Beige. 
  
• Sculpt cheekbones and décolletage with JOUES CONTRASTE Powder Blush in BRUN, a subtle brown that helps contour bone structure.

NAILS: 

• LE VERNIS Nail Colour collection in two new shades: Vendetta (dark violet) and Django (beige pink).
  

The CHANEL Spring 2009 Collection will be available in January 2009 at CHANEL boutiques, department and specialty stores, and on Chanel.com.

 

Happy Holiday Wishes!

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Joyeaux Noel....whatever you celebrate, I hope that you have a beautiful day with family and friends.  Believe in the magic of the season!

New MAC Dame Edna Collection

It's official!  MAC will be releasing the long-rumoured Dame Edna Collection on December 26th as a post-holiday collection.  With packaging as mirthful and minx-like as The Legend herself, the Dame Collection of heavy-on-the-lilac Lipstick and Lipglass, eye shadow, Highlight powder and nail lacquers is in a class by itself! 

“Follow my beauty regime possums, and you’ll never be cosmetically challenged”– Dame Edna.

The Dame Edna Collection includes:

Lipstick
Suggested Retail price: $14.00

• Gladiola Matte mid-tone blue pink
• Coral Polyp Creamy mid-tone coral
• Kanga Rouge Creamy dark blue red

LipGlass
Suggested Retail price: $14.00

• Hot Frost Sheer mid-tone blue pink with multi-dimensional pearl
• Splendid Frosty pale pinky coral
• Possum Nose Pink Sheer bright coral with multi-dimensional pearl

Royal Tour Eye Trio
Suggested Retail price: $32.50

• Royal Tour Mid-tone cool lilac
• Dame’s Desire Frosty mid-tone reddish purple
• Climate Blue Dark blue violet with pink pearl

Wisteria Eye Trio
Suggested Retail Price: $32.50

• Fineshine Frosty true silver
• Wisteria Frosty robin’s egg blue
• Divine Night Frosty charcoal with silver pearl

Hi-Light Powder
Suggested Retail price: $26.00

• What a Dame! Pale clean orangey peach
• Spectacle! Pale soft pink

Nail Lacquer
Suggested Retail price: $11.00

• Asiatique Creamy classic red
• Varicose Violet Frosty Mid-tone pinkish purple

The Dame Edna Collection will be available at all MAC locations on December 26 and online at www.maccosmetics.com.