Deep, Dark and Dramatic Lips for Fall/Winter 2012

There are a LOT of trends that I am looking forward to for Fall 2012. Therefore, I have put together a shopping list titled ‘Non Negotiable Must Haves for Fall 2012’. It is absolutely spectacular and is a modest three pages long.

 I am thinking that most of my posts to come over the next few weeks will be geared towards my pursuit of getting these items, and my excitement when I find exactly what I am looking for... because I WILL find them.

The list is divided into sub headings, including pants, skirts, blouses, boots, flats, blazers, scarves, accessories and, of course, beauty. I think that before I was working in cosmetics, I didn’t really consider how predominant trends in the beauty industry actually were. This post is about a beauty trend I am just dying to wear, all day, every day: deep, wine coloured lips.

Gucci Fall/Winter 2012

Yves Saint Laurent Fall/Winter 2012 

Although I am a devout believer in the classic red lip, this lip trend, which has been seen all over the fall fashion runways, is super sultry and very intriguing if it’s done right.

Below are a few tips and recommendations for creating this totally trendy look.

Tips & How to: 

MAC's Prep + Prime Lips, $19.

1. Always, ALWAYS, prep lips with MAC’s Prep and Prime Lips. I’m sure that there are other suitable options out there when it comes to lip primers, but I have personally found that the MAC primer gets the job done well. Not only is it affordable (retails $19), it is really effective. I wear bright red lipstick almost every single day, and before I started using this product I found that my lipstick would feather and bleed quite a bit. It didn’t matter if I was wearing a prestige cosmetics brand, or a drug store brand; if it was a sheer finish or matte finish – it was all over the place and required quite a bit of maintenance. However, once I started using this product, that problem stopped all together. It really is the secret to how I am able to make my lipstick last all day and stay in place. Try it. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. 

MAC's Lip Pencil in Night Moth, $18.

2. Line and fill in lips. I know some professionals choose not to fill in the lip or simply line after applying the lip colour, but this is my blog and I’ll blog how I want to. For a nice deep liner, I like MAC’s Lip Pencil in Night Moth, $18. 

3, Next, swipe a deep wine colour on the lip. If you are more comfortable with a deep cranberry red, this is also acceptable for trendy fall lip colours. The look I created had more of a purple undertone and was very striking. The lip colour I have been using was from Dior’s Rouge Dior lip collection in number 862, $36. 

Kat Von D's Tattoo Concealer, $30.

4.  Now, because these colours are so deep, it is important to clean up the edges of the lip with a concealer using the corner or a sponge or a concealer brush. Then go over the outside edges with the lip pencil to ensure they are smooth and uniform. I like Kat Von D's Tattoo Concealer, $30. 

Clinique's Full Potential Lips in Playful Plump 

5. Add a pop of gloss! This look is very dramatic and seductive, but if you want to glam it up a little bit and draw even more attention to that pout, I would recommend putting a dab of a lighter coloured gloss just on the center of the lips. My absolute favourite lip gloss in the whole world is called Playful Plump from the Full Potential Lips line at Clinique. It has an incredibly glossy finish, lasts all day and isn't sticky. Plus, since it is a soft pink, it goes with nearly everything. I put a pop of it on my dark lips the other day and really liked the end result. What do you think?

My end result featuring all of the products listed above. 

 To complete the look I would suggest the following:

·         A full coverage foundation. There are lots out there! Choose one that is suitable for your skin type and will last all day. If you would like for me to recommend one, leave me a comment!

·         Defined brows. This is a general rule of thumb. Defined brows help to frame the face, lift the eye and make you look younger.

·         A bronzed cheek. A contoured cheek looks absolutely fabulous with dark lips, but if you are looking for a soft look, I would suggest a soft cheek colour of the same undertone.

·         Simple eyes. If you are going out with your girlfriends and want to go all out, by all means, do up the eyes if the mood strikes you. But to make this look chic and wearable, I highly recommend a simple eye. A sweep of shimmery gold or bronze would complement any deep plums or reds very nicely. Apply lots of black mascara.

·         A matching nail colour. This is another major trend going on in the beauty industry right now! Not to sound redundant, but Dior has a line of perfectly matching nail and lip colours. Simply marvelous if you ask me. If you can't find a perfect match, simply put on another deep fall colour

·         Confidence. This certainly is the type of look that requires some fierceness, so be confident. After all, you are fabulous.

Chanel Fall 2012 Beauty Campaign. This is a very dramatic approach to the look. Absolutely stunning!! 

From the same Chanel Fall 2012 Beauty Campaign: This is a great example of a toned down approach appropriate for both work and play. 

So happy that I am now able to cross one item off from the beauty category on my shopping list!! 

What do you guys think? I absolutely love the look and have received a ton of compliments over the last week or so. Will you be trying out this trend this fall and winter? Which deep shades are your personal faves? 

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At Last: The Christian Dior Powder Foundation Brush

As many of you may or may not know, I work in the wonderful world of cosmetics. That's right. I get to play with makeup and skin care products all day, every day. I like to think that I have seen it all when it comes to the industry. I've seen, purchased and used a range of good products, bad products and cult favourites. Therefore, what I am about to say should not be taken lightly.

Ahem.

I have found my favourite makeup brush.

The brand responsible for the newest and most meaningful relationship in my life at this second? None other than the fabulous and legendary Christian Dior. The brush? The Power Foundation Brush, which retails at approximately $35 (which is extremely reasonable and competitive for a prestige cosmetics brand).

My old number one favourite was the MAC 217 blending brush. Seriously, that brush is still amazing, and I will always hold a special spot for it in my heart (as one does with a first love), but this powder foundation brush is phenomenal. Let me tell you why:

1. The airbrushed effect. 

I didn't go looking for this particular product. I was happy with my foundation routine and wasn't looking to start anything serious with a new product. After all, I had been duped in the past by the flashy new product on the block, the hot new product that made promises it just couldn't keep or commit to (I'm looking at you beauty blender sponge thingy). But, as we all know, great loves are not sought after, they are stumbled upon and they take us by surprise. Such was the case with the powder foundation brush. 

I had come into work one day and had realized my foundation was streaky. UGH! How did this happen? To be honest, I think my foundation brush at home was just dirty and had too much product on it or something. Regardless, I went fishing in the sea of cosmetic counters, looking for a quick fix. As fate would have it, the Dior counter is located right across from my beauty counter. The beauty advisor was quick to recommend the brush as a way of buffing out the lines, using a pressed powder. The result was fantastic. No more lines and a nice smooth finish. 

I didn't think anything of this encounter with my future love until the compliments started flooding in. The general consensus was that I had glowing, flawless, airbrushed skin. Could it be? Could this be the product I have been searching for my entire life? As it turns out, it was. I was hooked. 

I feel like if there was ever a rom-com about my relationship with this brush, this would be the moment in the story line where the montage of all the fun times we had together would be inserted. I.e., me buffing in a mattifying powder, me buffing in a bronzer, me buffing in a highlighter on the cheek bone, etc. etc. Oooh and Etta James' 'At Last' would be playing the background. Very appropriate.

The point is, it creates an amazing natural airbrushed effect on the skin. 

2. Everyone wants nice skin. 

To me, the majority of my clients are concerned with having healthy, radiant looking skin. And regardless of how perfectly lined their eyes are, how arched and shaded their brows are, or how plump and full their lips look, if a client doesn't like the appearance of their skin, their look is not the best it can be. So this is why I bumped the eye shadow blending brush out of its reigning position. When it comes down to it, everyone wants that beautiful healthy looking skin, and the powder foundation brush can easily help you achieve this look. 

3. IT'S DIOR AND ITS ONLY $35. 

4. It can be used apply a variety of products. 

As mentioned in my movie montage moment, this brush can apply just about any powdered product to the skin, including setting powder, mineral powder, blush, bronzer, highlighting powder, contouring powder - the list really just goes on an on. 

5. It's fool proof. 

I often hear my clients saying that it must be nice to work in the cosmetics industry because we get all the necessary training and experience to have a great makeup look, day in and day out. I suppose that is true to a certain extent. However, application tools are half the battle. I will never understand people that apply foundation with their hands. I mean, would you paint your walls with your hands? But maybe that's just me. And really, all that you need to do with this brush is buff it into the skin in a circular motion. Trust me, if I can do it, so can you!! 

And there you have it. 

I encourage everyone reading this post to catwalk their way to the nearest Dior point of sale and purchase this product as soon as humanly possible! Because I love this brush and I know you will too!! 

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