A BREAK FROM OSCAR BEAUTY

I know, I know. It's the day after the Oscars, one of Hollywood's most glamorous nights, and I decided to write about something different! I don't know about you, but I've been a bit overwhelmed with all of the beauty info. Which celebrity was wearing what makeup colors, whose coture gown, and which designer bling. I must say that everyone I saw on the red carpet looked pretty fabulous, save for a couple of disasterous standouts (you know who they are!). What I enjoyed most was the diversity in all of the beautiful looks. And not just the people you always hear about. There was a broad spectrum of style. Whether subtle or dramatic, in bright colors or neutral tones, from Sophia Loren to Viola Davis to the kids from Slumdog Millionaire...at every turn there was someone whose look you could relate to and confidently try at home.

And speaking of trying things at home... I want to tell you about a few great products I discovered by makeup artist Laura Geller. Her baked cosmetic collection was the talk of D.C when First Lady Michelle Obama colored her cheeks with Blush-n-Brighten in Berry on Inauguration day.



I absolutely fell in love with her Spackle Under Makeup Primer ($23). It creates flawless skin and makes your makeup look perfect!



You can treat yourself to the Spackle Trio ($31.50) a great deal which includes the same face primer, plus one for eyes and one for lips.




If you've got oilier skin, try Welcome Matte Skin Enhancer. ($23.50) It minimizes pores and gets rid of shine while creating that same flawless skin texture.

Her Baked Cake Eyeliner Duos ($23) complete with brush, multi-task as both eyeshadow and eyeliner. They feel creamy and wear all day long. Always one for the drama, I actually wore the deeper shade as an eyeshadow and it went on quite smoothly and looked very glam.



One of my favorite products is the Powder Pencil Eyeliner ($15.50). It gives a soft, natural outline and comes in delish shades like Velvet, Chocolate and Amaretto. There's a smudger on one end to help you prefect those bedroom eyes. Sharpener included.


You can catch Laura Geller on QVC for additional makeup tips. Until next time!

Karol

COOL WINTER BEAUTY TREND

Hello makeup divas! Beore we jump into the pinks and peaches that spring makeup will undoubtedly bring, I wanted to pay homage to one of my favorite makeup looks this winter season. Whether at Sunday brunch or on the red carpet, women are rocking the ethereal icy blue and sliver grey eyeshadows.. This color combo seems to work well on virtually every skintone, as you can see. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this trend will stick around for spring. DIY Anyone can pull this look off. Apply color on the lid, then use a deeper shade to contour in the crease. Clear blues, shimmery crème/white or even gold on the lid will give the same effect. If you have a rich skintone be sure to choose color with high pigment. Splurge on Dior 5 Color Eyeshadow in Blue Croisett ($54). Not in your budget? Check out Milani Runway Eyes Fashion Shadows in Backstage Basics (5 bars $7). Rim the entire eye with charcoal or black eyeliner and add mascara. Try Benefit Creasless Cream Eyeshadow/Liner in Skinny Jeans and Town Car Black ($19). Pair these eyes with subtle cheeks and a natural lip color.

Karol

FRESH FACED FIRST LADY'S GOT STYLE!

Barack Obama was certainly the man of the hour at yesterday’s Presidential Inauguration. But all fashionistas were watching Michelle Obama, and she didn’t disappoint.

Decked out in a golden-yellow Isabel Toledo outfit for the swearing in ceremony, with green
J Crew gloves and matching Jimmy Choos, she looked glam yet practical. Her choice of color reflected the mood of optimism without being too gaudy. Her face was fresh and natural in neutral toned makeup shades. D.I.Y. Start with glowing skin by exfoliating and hydrating your face. Use a foundation with a natural, rather than mat finish for radiant skin. On the eyes, choose natural eyeshadow colors that look nude on your skin tone. Michelle’s signature black liquid eyeliner is applied on the top lid, getting thicker toward the outer corner. One to try: Lancome Artliner in Noir. It’s got a felt tip brush which makes it easier to apply. Finish with a lash building mascara. For lips, a neutral gloss with a slightly deeper liner blended well is a must. Try Carol’s Daughter Candy Paint gloss in “This is Me” .

For the numerous Inaugural Balls, Mrs. O took a page from Cinderella’s book by donning a white one-shouldered full skirted gown by New York designer Jason Wu. The jewelry by Loree Rodkin was understated and elegant. Her makeup look was subtle glamour. D.I.Y. Smoke out the eye at the lash line with a deep wine like L’Oreal High Intensity Pigment in Unashamed. Apply it just at the lash line and blend up slightly onto the lid stopping well before the crease. Use black liquid eyeliner on top lid only to define. Contour the hollows of the cheeks with bronzer then add a subtle shimmer on the apples. I like Bobbi Brown Shimmer Blush in Coral.

The weekend before the Inauguration, the First Lady shows off her flare for style in this chicblack coat and purple gloves on board the train on her birthday. At the Lincoln Memorial Concert she wore this classy camel and black Narisco Rodriguez design. Her makeup was slightly more intense at the star studded event. D.I.Y. After applying foundation and powder, try Nars Multiple Duo in Portofino/Maui. This dynamic duo can be used everywhere..on the eyes, cheeks, and lips. If you’re a lipstick queen like me and can’t do without, use MAC Pro Longwear Lipcolor in Perennial Rose. It’s a long wearing color base on one end and a clear gloss on the other. No fuss, no mess.

I couldn’t resist including the First Daughters of fashion, Malia and Sasha Obama. In their colorful J Crew “Crewcuts” outfits, they are already following in Mom’s stylish footsteps!

Karol

RED CARPET BEAUTY RUNDOWN: The Golden Globes

Hello all! Well the Golden Globes may be history for this year, but the celeb looks live on…that is at least until the next awards show! The recurring theme of this evening was definitely "understated beauty". It was all glamour with very little glitz. Neutral tones, skin baring gowns paired with minimal bling, hair pulled sleek and chic into a bun, glamazons as far as the eye could see. Boy, those Hollywood types sure clean up nicely don’t they? Here are a few of my favorite makeup looks that made their way down the red carpet, along with some tips on how to D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself)
Natural Beauties
Stars like Angelina Jolie, Anna Paquin, Blake Lively, and newcomer Freida Pinto of Slumdog Millionaire, downplayed the eyeshadow and accented their peepers with liner and lots of lash action instead. The lips ranged from smooth shades of peach to pinks and plums, as seen on Sandra Bullock and Taraji P. Henson. A softly blushed cheek completes the look. D.I.Y. Stick with light to medium neutrals on the lid...soft taupes and bronzey-browns work well. Contour in the crease no more than one shade deeper. Liquid or gel liner is your best choice to really define the eyes, in black, brown, grey or navy. Not accustom to liquid liner? Use short strokes that connect, starting at the outside and working your way inward towards your nose. Line corner to corner on top at the lash line, but leave the under eye clean. Line the inner rim on the bottom if you like with a khol pencil. Finish with lots of mascara or false lashes for added glamour.

Nearly Nude
Show ‘em what you’re working with by highlighting beautiful skin like Megan Fox, Elizabeth Banks, Eva Langoria Parker and Vanessa Hudgens. This look works equally well on tanned skin and fair skin as proven by Eva Mendes and Renee Zelwegger.
D.I.Y. Start by exfoliating and hydrating the skin. A great foundation and concealer are crucial for pulling this look off. Your eyeshadow should mimic your natural skin tone, whether mat or shimmery. Outline with black or brown pencil, and again lots of mascara. When choosing a nude lip color, the trick is picking a color that works with your complexion. Fair to medium skin tones look best in peachy or pinky beiges, while olive or brown skinned divas should opt for soft golden or bronze shades with matching lip liner.
Bold Is Beautiful
Not everyone was playing it safe on Sunday. Kate Winslet, Christina Applegate, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway all sported luscious red hot pouts. January Jones of Mad Men made a statement with tangerine, and CameronDiaz wore fushia lips and cheeks to go with her bubble gum pink dress.
D.I.Y. Confidence is the best accessory to go with bold lipstick. Mat or shine...anything goes. Pair it with a neutral eye or go for the color (see Cameron Diaz). Just make sure your eyes and lips are in the same color family, you don’t want to channel the 80’s! A stronger cheek is in order to balance this look. Place the color on the apples and blend up towards the hairline. Blend concealer around the mouth to help prevent bleeding, and a little lip balm or never hurts.
Smoking Hotties
Old Hollywood glamour meets contemporary elegance. Beyonce, Amanda Seyfreid, America Ferrara, and trophy girl Rumer Willis all knocked it out of the park with their sultry looks. And although I thought the dress was a bit much, J-Lo had a very sassy smokey eye/nude lip thing going on. Special kudos to Drew Barrymore and Evan Rachel Wood for raising the bar. And Tina Fey proved that you can be funny and sexy at the same time. You go girl!

D.I.Y. The smokey eye is here to stay! Black, grey and navy eyeshadows still look fabulous. But why not try deep purples, greens and bronze? Begin at the lashline and blend up to the crease. Sweep the same color under the bottom lashes. Black eyeliner is still a must, on the inner rim, smudged under the bottom and on the top. Highlight with a sheer shimmery eyeshadow on the brow bone and on the inner corners of the eye to keep it sizzling. Lips can be nude or add color for more drama.

Karol

New Year, Beautiful You

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to my blog! This first full week of the new year is a great time for new beginings. And a fresh perspective often involves a new look. Sometimes subtle changes in your personal style can be a great jump start into the new year. Here are some ideas:

1. Change your hair. It doesn't have to be anything drastic. A shade darker or lighter, or adding subtle highlites can make a big difference. If it's curly, try wearing it straight or vice versa. Cut some wispy bangs or layers. If you're really feeling adventurous, visit the salon for a brand new 'do. Pick something that suits your personality to acknowledge the potential in the coming year.

2. If you don't have a beauty routine...get one. No more excuses. Let's face it, we're not getting any younger and don't we always want to look fabulous? Great skin is always in! There are oodles of products out there for every skin type and in various price ranges. Exfoliate and hydrate is my mantra. For you newbies, start with a cleanser or moisturizer and then add to it gradually. If you're not sure of your skin type check out my article for help. Here are some of my favorite products:

Lancome Crème Radiance Clarifying Crème-to-Foam Cleanser ($24)

Cleans skin and removes makeup in one step. Used with water it lathers nicely. But be careful, a tiny bit goes a long way.

Comodynes Makeup Wipes (about $8)

Never sleep in your makeup again! Keep these on your nightstand and you won’t even have to get out of bed. Choose the best formula for your skin type. Even works on eye makeup.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub ($6)

A great skin polisher you can use every day. Helps your skin look radiant and smooth under makeup. Be sure to avoid your eyes.

3. Exercise regularly, eat healthy, drink lots of water and get plenty of sleep...yeah, right! Well, at least try to do the right thing. If you can accomplish it at least 80% of the time then you're ahead of the game.

4. Change Up Your Makeup. New year, new you right? If you normally wear lipstick try a gloss on top of it, or all alone if you chose. Play up your eyes with a colored eyeliner or a new mascara. If you don’t wear makeup…start. That “just rolled out of bed” look is soooo last year. Here are a few great products to try.

MAC Lipglass in Frozen Dream ($14)

A sheer pearly-pink shade. Lip Tip: Paired with a warm liner or lipstick it works on all skin tones (no fooling). Gloss first, then outline for a natural looking pout.


Lancome Le Crayon Khol Eye Pencil in Le Bleu de Jim ($23.50)

One of my favs! Goes on easily and has great staying power. Well worth the price. It won’t run out till next year sometime (well not really, but almost.) Eye Expert: Always begin lining at the outer corner of the eye, where lashes are naturally thickest. Get as close to your lash line as possible. If you don’t line corner-to-corner then smudge it toward the ends of the eye or you’ll look unfinished.


Dior Iconic Mascara ($27)

Really defines and curves lashes. The special brush fully coats with no clumps. Making Eyes: Try closing each eye while you apply your mascara. You’ll get coverage from base to the tips with no need for wiggling.

Work smarter, not harder to achieve that chic look this year! More tips to come that will help make it easier for you to get your glam on!

Karol