Makeup trend 2012 - tangerine lips

Tangerine is once again this year's juiciest color. This year's tangerine color is called Tangerine Tango and Pantone announced it as 2012 Colour of the Year. Tangerine is warmer alternative to the traditional red, and  it flatters almost every skin tone.  It’s basically beautiful fiery shade of reddish-orange. I think the color is so perfect for spring und summer.
I have already few lipstick shades in tangerine, and I am basically looking to get even more, that is how much I love this color. I like to combine the tangerine lipsticks with skin-tone eyeshadow, lots of mascara and soft, dewy skin. 

yves saint laurent rouge pur pure lipstick in 21 indian sari
dior addict extreme  in  riviera
lancome l'absolu rouge in 066 orange sacree

How to find the right frames for your face shape

Sunglasses don’t only protect your eyes from your sun, but are also the ultimate fashion statement. I also like to wear them, when I am too lazy to put on eye makeup. Only lipstick or lip gloss and blusher paired with hip sunglasses and I am ready to face the world.

Some people are born with the face shape that can just wear any type of the shades. And well, some are not! I have outlined few guidelines for you to find the perfect frame that suits your face shape best.

Square Face

Facial Features

Angular face with a strong jaw line, broad forehead and square chin. Proportional length and width.

Frames to Try

Oval and round frames

Glasses with temples that are center set or that connect at the top of the frame

Butterfly shaped glasses

Frames to Avoid

Geometric and square shaped frames that accentuate angles of the face

Low-set temples or color accents on the bottom of the frames that draw emphasis to the chin

Oval Face

Facial Features

Mostly balanced proportions. chin is slightly narrower than forehead and cheekbones are high

Frames to Try

Most frame shapes work with oval faces

Square, rectangular and geometric shapes which add angles to soft curves

Frames to Avoid

Frames that are too large for your features

 

Oblong Face

Facial Features

Narrow shape that's longer than it is wide

Angular features with high cheekbones, a longer nose and tall forehead

Frames to Try

Tall frames that help create a shorter face.

Broad glasses with an accented top rim or decorative temple that adds width

Frames to Avoid

Small frames that are out of proportion

Short frames that accentuate

 

Round Face

Facial Features

Full cheeks, rounded chin with few angles.

 Width and length are in same proportions

Frames to Try

Angular and geometric frames that sharpen facial features
Rectangular and horizontal styles make faces appear longer and thinner
Upswept frames that draw attention to top of face
Glasses with temples that connect at the top of the frame add length

Frames to Avoid

Small frames that are out of proportion.

Short frames that accentuate face length.

 

Diamond Face

Facial Features

Narrow at the eye line and the jaw line with a small forehead and chin.

Angular features with dramatic cheekbones.

Frames to Try

Upswept styles like cat eye that emphasize the cheek bones.

Oval frames that maintain balance.

Rimless styles that allow cheek bones to shine.

Frames to Avoid

Narrow frames that draw attention to narrow eye line.

Heart Face

Facial Features

Broad forehead and wide cheek bones that narrow to a small chin.

Frames to Try

Bottom-heavy frames that add width to lower face.

Styles with low-set temples to draw attention downward.

Narrow, round frames that soften the forehead.

Frames to Avoid

Top-heavy styles that draw attention upward.

Decorative temples that accentuate the broad upper face.

 

Triangle Face

Facial Features

Narrow forehead and eye line that widen at the cheeks and the chin.

Frames to Try

Semi-rimless frames that accentuate the upper face.

Top-heavy styles that balance the width of the jaw.

Frame bottoms that angle inward.

Frames to Avoid

Low-set temples that widen the jaw.

Narrow frames that are out of proportion.

Hope you find my post helpful!

xxx Marina

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Makeup trend 2012 - soft eyes and bold lips

The makeup trend for 2012 is all about nude, soft eyes, strong contoured cheeks and bold, bold, lips.

I always like seeing red lips coming back, in my opinion they really can make every women more confident and sexy! Think Marilyn Monroe!

Needless to say that this is one of my favourite looks of all the time.

And this is how you get the look:

Face
smashbox photo finish face primer to even out skin tone
Cinema Secrets Foundation Palette no 3 applied all ove the face
smashbox photo set finishing powder to set the foundation
mac mineralize skinfinish natural in deep to contour just under the cheek bones

Lips
Rouge Dior in Ara Red (two coats applied with a lip brush)

Eyes
Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Eyeshadow in Bone used all over lid as a base
Mac Eyeshadow in Patina( golden taupe eyeshadow) is applied on the lid and blended out towards the brows
and also applied to the lower lashline and blended out
Inglot Soft Presision Eyeliner in 22 ( warm golden taupe) is applied on the lower and upper lid
I curled the eyelashes and finished the look with two coats of Bad Gal Brown Mascara

What do you girls think of the soft eye and bold lip look?

xxx Marina

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Beautifully addicted to earth metal colors

I love earthy metallic  shades, especially gold and bronze. Every time I come across a new eye shadow range, the bronze or coppery shades are the first I would try on and usually buy.  If I had enough money, I think I would buy all existing eye shadows and  eyeliners in earth tones.  In my opinion they suit all  eye colors, but especially  look good on brown eyes. The earthy tones are so easy to layer over each other , and no matter what combination, they always look great.

I  swatched the earth metal eye shadows and eye pencils  I own, for an easy comparison.  They are clickable and can be made larger for a better view.

Cream Eye shadow comparison

Lancôme - Rouge in Love Spring Collection 2012

 I was intrigued by the new Lancôme advertisement, showing Emma Watson wearing red lipstick in their new spring collection.  The collections consists of Rouge in Love, which is the lipstick line and Vernis in Love, which is the polish line.

 I guess with Emma as the spokesperson and the new hip packaging, the collection is supposed to appeal to a younger girls and women. Here in Ireland the lipstick is priced at 25 Euro a piece, so I am not really sure if that would appeal to younger girls and women. I guess Lancôme should have taken also the price  into consideration.  

The new lipstick collection feature a new polymer technology that yield long-wear color, nourishing oils that adhere to lips and moisturize them as well as a balm, and silicon that yields a vinyl-like sheen that can rival that of any gloss.

The Lipstick collection is divided into three categories:
Jolis Matins - soft, pretty, semi-sheer shades which are designed for daytime wear and named with the letter M
Boudoir Time - vibrant and more trendy shades for after office hours and named with the letter B
Tonight is My Night -rich and  seductive shades identified with the letter N.

For all the Swatches check out Karla Sugar's review here.

Although I love my YSL lippies I couldn’t contain myself and bought three lipsticks from the line.  I guess you can’t have enough lipsticks and it was 10% off on everything in Debenhams. Well if that is not reason e enough…

Here are my new lippies: two from the Jolis Matins family, and one from the Boudoir Time family.  I didn’t really liked any of the shades of the Tonight is My Night family, as most of them are reds, and I do own quite few red lippies.

128M Ever So Sweet - bright pink coral with  subtle gold sparkles, which are not really visible, and I you  can’t feel them either on your lips

322M Corail in Love - light, warm, coral pink, it’s a perfect color for spring combined with pastel tones

146B Miss Coquelicot -  more red  than pink coral, at first glance almost orange but the color wears off to more vibrant coral pink.( my favourite so far)

from left to right: 146B Miss Coquelicot, 128M Ever So Sweet, 322M Corail in Love

As you can see all three belong  to a coral family! Note to myself: I must, must, must stop buying coral lipsticks!

200B The Rose - beautiful pinkish brown rose, looks very soft on my lips

340B Rose Boudoir - soft muted pink

I am not usually Lancôme person, although I did like their Juicy tubes for a long time back in my teeny years, but I have to say, really love their new lipsticks. They feel very nice on my lips,  so moisturizing almost like a balm. They apply with a shine but then  dry to a matte finish, which I kind of like.  The color wears of evenly and you are left with pretty stain on your lips. The lipstick lasted on me for about four hours, and then it needed reapplying again.  Might go  and check few other shades out!

How about you ladies? Have your tried the new Lancôme lipstick yet?  

xxx Marina

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How to get Angelina Jolie's cat eye look

Angelina Jolie is just so gorgeous… even when she’s not wearing any makeup. Her trademark look is the dramatic “cat eyes” look paired with nude lips… on her, it almost looks like a natural look. The cat eye look comes and goes into fashion now and then, and it’s indeed one of my favorite makeup looks.

Here are step by step instructions how you can create Angelina Jolie's fabulous cat eye look all on your own!

 Products used

Face

Apply your foundation as you usually would do.

For this look I used a medium coverage foundation, don’t use anything too sparkly or illuminating.

(I used max factor miracle touch liquid illusion foundation in Golden)

Brows

For this look, I didn’t fill out my eyebrows, but only emphasized the brow arch lightly with a taupe color eye shadow

Eyes

Apply a matte flesh toned cream eye shadow as a base (I used Bobbi Brown in Bone)

With a countering brush apply  taupe eye shadow through your eye socket with a light hand (I used Bobbi Brown in Taupe)

With an eyebrow definer brush press in brown black eye shadow  into the upper lash line,  thinner towards the inner corner of the eye lid and thicker towards the end of the eyelid and flick it out slightly (I used Bobbi Brown in Caviar)

Now go over the same line with a liquid eyeliner (I used L´ORÉAL Super Liner Perfect Slim in black) ( Trick: Make the line thickest around your iris, almostk like a little triangle)

On the  half of the lower lashline appy a black eyepencil  and  then go over with a  eyepencil in bronze on the whlole lower lashline  ( I used Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Zero and Unederground)

Apply corner fake eyelashes ( I used Pennies volume eye lashes and just cut them into halves)

Apply two to three coats of black mascara ( I used 17 Peep Show Mascara in Black)

Cheeks

I only countoured my cheks with a very dark concealer ; Apply the darker shade right under your cheeckbone and blended it out thouroghly

( I used Bobbi Brown councealer in chestnut)

Lips

Apply lip pencil in nude slightly over the  natural lipline (I used MAC lip pencil in Naked)

With a lip brush apply a nude lipstick (I used Yves Saint Laurent Rouge pur Couture N° 5 Beige Etrusque)
Finish the look with one  coat of  clear gloss.


What do you think of Angi's cat eye look? Let me know in the comments!

 

xxx Marina

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What your body language says about you

According to the experts and psychologists, the non verbal communication can account for more than 75 percent of the impact of a message.  The other 20 percent impacts the sound of your voice nd how you say something... and basically only 5 percent  matter what you really say!

Here are some meanings of your body language  most experts agree on.

Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion Foundation - best foundation ever

This foundation has been one of my favorites for three years now. I have tried tons of foundations, drugstore and high-end ones, but I always come back to the  Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion Foundation.

 I love it  because it doesn’ t dry my skin out, blends perfectly and it gives me an even, glowing complexion, without being too heavy in coverage. I would say, it is a light to medium coverage and glides on very easily and smoothes the skin out.
It  actually doesn't feel I am are wearing any foundation, it really looks so natural.

I love the shape of the packaging, it has a  separate compartment to keep the sponge in away from the foundation and it's perfect for touch ups on the go.

I use a foundation or buffing brush to apply this foundation, because I do believe that the sponge that comes with it soaks up to much product.

The shade selection is very limited. I think there are only seven shades to choose from. I buy the foundation  in Golden and  it matches my skin color perfectly.

It is bit a pricey for a drugstore foundation:  the cost  is 20 Euros for 11,5g of product here in Ireland, but in my opinion so worth it.

Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion Foundation in 75 Golden

What Max Factor says on about the Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion Foundation:

Max Factor’s most innovative foundation will revolutionize the way you apply your base. With a unique lightweight solid to liquid formula it removes the need for the traditional concealer, foundation and powder combination and instead creates the perfect base in just one easy application. The result is a flawless, fresh and incredibly smooth complexion that glows with radiance.




I highly can recommend this foundation to anyone, who likes high-end foundations but doesn’t want to pay the price tag.  Give it a go you want be disappointed! Have you ever tried the Miracle Touch Foundation?

xxx Marina

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How to slow down aging process and minimize wrinkles

Wrinkles are mostly associated with aging and it is something that starts happening in our twenties and thirties. But why do we get wrinkles? You know this, you cut your finger and in 2-3 days it is back to normal. So, if our body can heal itself, and even fight disease, why can it then not repair also the skin damage that causes the skin to wrinkle?
The fact is, as we get older, the cells replace and regenerate more slowly than they do when we are younger thus delaying repair and renewal of the skin.
 Also, as we age, the fat cells just under the outer layer of our skin, which makes the skin look supple, get smaller and lose their ability to fill out whatever gaps created by the damage that occurs in the inner layers of our skin. And so our skin starts to  sag, becomes dry and develops wrinkles.

There are also external factors that can aggravate skin damage. The top three skin enemies, which I also call the  3’s, are sun, smoking and sugar.

Sun exposure

Although  we need some sun light to build Vitamin D, which is needed for Serotonin production (a feel good hormone)  and  also for good  bone health, spending too much time under the sun with minimal or no protection at all causes the skin to be vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation. Sunlight causes the outer layer of the skin, which is the epidermis, to become thinner, and encourages the overproduction of melanin, which will then result in hyper pimgmentation.  Sunlight exposure also causes the collagen in our skin to break down faster than natural aging does. Loss of collagen results in loss of elasticity for the skin, therefore to skin sagging and wrinkling.  

What to do:  Wear broad-spectrum  Sun protection every day,  all year  around with at least  SPF 30 and avoid  the sun between 12am – 3 pm, if you live in a hot climate that is.

Smoking

Cigarette smoke is second only to sun exposure as the leading cause of skin damage, it  tends to thin your skin.  Smoking interferes with the absorption of Vitamin C and A, both of which provide skin protection. Nicotine is a diuretic, it dehydrates the skin and burns away the nutrients of the body. Smoking also promotes collagen deterioration and often cuts off the blood flow from the surface of the skin, which gives it a dry, pale appearance. In addition, the constant pursing  of your lips and squinting to keep out smoke  create lines around the mouth and eyes over time.
What to do:  The only thing you can do in this case is to stop smoking soon as possible.   Experts agree that  going cold turkey is most effective method.

Sugar

Renowned researcher  Nicholas Perricone M.D., says that the effects of sugar on skin is up there with smoking and sun as a leading cause of wrinkles. Simple sugars — the kind you find in cookies, cakes and many other foods, are molecules that attach to protein fibers in our cells in a damaging process called glycation. The end products of glycation is known as Advanced Glycation End products (short AGE's- how appropriate).Simply put, sugar causes inflammation and reduces the power of collagen to rebuild the skin’s structure and increase the rate at which collagen breaks down naturally. Glycation also robs the skin of its natural moisturizer, the hyaluronic acid. The results are skin dryness and sagging.

What to do: Cut back on sugar in your diet. Though not easy to eliminate sugar completely, avoid ingredients like high fructose corn syrup. Even whole grains,especially wheat products,  fruits, and vegetables  turn to glucose — the type of sugar that fuels glycation —when digested.

Getting wrinkles is a natural process and it is something we cannot avoid, but we can certainly slow down the aging process by  focusing on diet and exercise. Exercise can help bring blood to the surface of your skin and begins to replenish the capillaries with oxygen.
 Eat lots of fruits, vegetables and fish that are rich in vitamins and minerals that fight the development of free radicals in the body. Also, drink plenty of water and herbal tea to keep the body hydrated, but avoid too much black tea and coffee.

Also try to get as much sleep as possible as well, as much as eight hours a day. Sufficient rest keeps the body from being stressed, since chronic stress accelerates the aging process.
 Lastly, opt for home cosmetic products with alpha-hydroxy or beta-hydroxy acids, which will help exfoliate dead skin cells, but be sure to follow with a good moisturizer to counteract its drying effects.  Check also out my posts about  AHA's, BHA's and Image Skincare.

What are your tips and tricks to beautiful skin? 

xxx Marina

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Bobbi Brown’s Rose Gold Spring Collection - the Makeup look and swatches

The waiting has come to an end. Finally I got my fingers on the Bobbi Brown’s Rose Gold Spring 2012 Collection.

Just for reference, I have reviewed the collection here.

And this is what I bought from this collection:

Shimmer Brick Compact -  Wild Rose

I love this shimmer brick, it can be used as a highlighter, blush or an eye shadow. It goes on very light, but can be easily layered without looking to cakey. I would describe the color as soft pink rose. 

From L to R: Desert Rose blush, Wild rose light layer, Wild Rose heavy layer, Rose Gold Schimmer Eye Shadow

Rich Color Gloss

This lip Gloss has the full color coverage of a lipstick and  the soft shine of a gloss.  It moisturizes, conditions, and lasts on me for about three hours without retouching.

Angel Pink – I would desribe it as bright warm pastel pink (barbie pink)

Pink Gold – I would desribe it as  a very light peachy pink with gold particles

From L to R: Angel pink heavy, Angel Pink onc coat, Pink Gold one coat, Pink gold heavy

Angel Pink

Pink Gold

This is my complete makeup look inspired by the model wearing the new Rose Gold Collection:

Rose Gold Shimmer Eye Shadow

Face

Max Factor miracle touch liquid illusion foundation in 75 Golden

Bobbi Brown concealer in Beige

Cheeks

I applied Desert Rose ( soft pink) blush on the apples of the cheeks

I  dusted Gold Rose Shimmer Brick lightly on the checkbones

Eyes

I applied Navayo (pinkish off white matte eye shadow) all

over the eye lid as a base and then layed on Rose Gold Shimmer

Wash Eyeshadow on the half of my upper lid

I lined the upper lashline with Inglot gel eyeliner in 90 ( dark black brown)

I applied MAC eyeshadow in Mahagony ( dark red brown)on the lower lid

I also filled out my eyebrows with the same eyeshadow

I applied then two coats of loreal lash architect 4d  mascara in black

Lips

YSL Rouge Pure Couture Lipstick in Beige Etrusque (beigy pink brown)

Followed with Pink Gold Rich color gloss (soft pink with gold pearl)

I am so happy with my new purchase. I

 In my opinion Rose Gold Collection is an absolute must for all the Brides. So if you are planning to get married, you have to get this collection!

Have you bought anything from this collection? Or are you planning to get anything?

xxx Marina

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