BEAUTY TRENDS FOR 2010

What to do on a night with no plans? Have a glass of wine (or two) and look at magazines of course! I examined the new Elle, Marie Claire and Glamour to find the latest and best trends of the season. January is always a fun time because spring trend reports start to appear in magazines. It may be cold outside, but the fashion world is always a step ahead. Here are some of the fun ideas that I spotted for springtime.

THE BOUFFANT
You can create this style by teasing, the Bumpit, or whatever you find to get the volume you need. To tease you will need a fine tooth comb and some hairspray. Add a headband or some bling to your bouffant for some extra va-va-voom. Celebrities have been sporting this look on the red carpet lately. I love how it brings back the old Hollywood glamour.

BRONZER INSTEAD OF BLUSH
Say goodbye to rosy cheeks, bronzer and contouring is in. Apparently the runways are sporting less blush the season. Makeup artists are saying that it creates a more serious look that women want. I personally don't feel the need for a more "serious look" and I love my cream blush. I am willing to mix it up though. I usually do a bit of both anyway

SHEER CLOTHES
Sheer fabrics are making a comeback. Mostly in pretty and soft tones such as blush, ivory, and ecru. Lace is also included in the mix. Anything from pants, blouses, shoes, and skirts, sheer is having a moment. I am really liking this trend because it is really feminine and romantic yet it can be worn very comfortably.

FLORALS
Beautiful floral accents are in style this season. There is no better way to add a bit of femininity to an outfit than by accessorizing with flowers. This trend is showing up on patterned shoes, dresses, skirts and purses. As someone who usually wears a lot of black, this trend is a great way to mix it up and add a pop of color.

HEADBANDS
Headbands had been showing up a lot this past year. Expect this trend to continue throughout this coming year as well. The style is showing up combined with a ponytail as a more preppy look. They are also showing up a la the sixties as a wider head band with patterns.

PINK!
From hot to baby, pink is in when it comes to your pout. The runways were covered with pink stained lips. This trend can be really fun. If you are going to go all out with bright pink lips steer clear from heavy makeup. Black liquid eyeliner looks great matched up with this trend.

BLACK IS THE NEW BLACK

I was looking through a magazine when I spotted a great way to do a black manicure. It got me intrigued enough to research other ways to tweak my rather consistently painted black nails. If you are looking for some good alternatives to your black manicure, check out the options bellow.

THE REVERSE FRENCH MANICURE
For this look, you will need black and white nail polish. First paint your nails with a couple coats of black. I recommend Sally Hanson's black because it dries fast and you don't need too many coats to make it opaque. Once it dries, use a white polish and create a crescent shape at the base of your nail. I recommend Essie for a good solid white.

BLACK FRENCH MANICURE
To get this look, you will need a matte black and a shiny top coat polish. First apply the matte black on your nails and let it dry. Try Flatte Black by KO Knockout Cosmetics. They also offer a variety of other shades in matte available at Koknockout.com. Then apply a strip of clear gloss across the tips of you nails to complete the black french manicure. Try Sation for the the clear coat.

BLACK NAILS WITH WHITE TIPS AND RHINESTONES
This look is a lot like the first one but it is a reversed version. Apply a couple coats of black nail polish(matte or shiny). After it dries, apply a strip of white polish at the tip of your nails. Once the white dries, apply rhinestones at the middle tip of the nail with nail glue. You can find nail glue and rhinestones at CVS. To apply the stones, use a tooth pick and apply the glue on the back of the rhinestone. To place it in the proper space, you can use tweezers.

RAINY DAY BEAUTY

This morning I didn't want to get out of bed. I had all these plans of what I wanted to accomplish today. I decided to be somewhat lazy and blame the rain for my lethargy. I guess I could be somewhat productive as I sit on my couch and watch the continuous coverage of the weather. It's a perfect day for both hair and facial masks. It's little work for great results. Best part is, you don't have to leave your home to do them. Here are a couple good ones.



There are many ways to get a moisturizing mask using home products. This one only needs 3 ingredients that you can find in your own kitchen. You will need 2 tablespoons of honey, a few egg whites, and a spoonful of oatmeal. Mix together and leave on for 10 minutes. While you are waiting, you can use cucumber(sliced) or green teabags(lukewarm) on your eyes to relieve puffiness.


I got this hair mask at Target the other day and really fell in love with it. It was only $7.00 as opposed to L'Oreal's other product line Kerastase which can run upwards of $60! I have used both product lines and L'Oreal may be less money, but it works just as well. It smooths hair and takes away frizz. It is also sulfate free so it is great for color preservation. Just apply it to shampooed hair and leave on for 5 minutes.

GOLDEN GLOBES BEST DRESSED

Well if you didn't watch the Golden Globes or the red carpet event, you may have at least seen the dresses. There were many different trends. There were short hemlines, trains, ruffles, plunging necklines, asymmetry, vintage silhouettes, sparkles, and lots of color. I loved the risks and all the different colors. It is always fun when fashion isn't necessarily taken seriously and people are willing to try something new. Here are a few of my favorites of the evening.



Olivia Wilde wore a gun metal beaded Gucci gown that was absolutely stunning. The plunge-front dress was daring but paid off.


Drew Barrymore wore this Atelier Versace champagne silk gown with rhinestone beading. I love the way this dress is draped and think that the accent risks were amazing and unique.

Christina Aguilera, like Drew Barrymore also wore a Versace gown. The dress was strapless and peach colored. The material was chiffon and it had a metallic bodice with asymmetric detail. She is not normally what comes to mind when I think of "best dressed," but I believe she got it right with this one.

HAUTE LOOK

My sister told me about this website a couple months ago. When you sign up it alerts you of their daily sales on designer products and clothing that are being sold at discounted prices. The sales last from 48 to 72 hours and the discounts run anywhere from 50 to 75% off!!! It's also free to join. I have seen great deals on makeup from Kevyn Aucoin, clothing labels such as BCBG, watches from Cartier, DDF skin care, and Urban Decay cosmetics. Also unlike other sites of this kind, items don't sell out right away if you log on early enough to get the deals.

http://www.hautelook.com/

HAIR 911

If you are anything like me, your hair gets a little abused by all that it's put through. Curling, blow drying, dying, bleaching, even ponytail holders can cause damage. I've gone from blond to brown to brown with highlights to red all in 2 years. Not to mention the daily grind of styling. There are some products I've grown to love over the years that help my damaged hair look healthy. Here are some of my faves.



WELLA COLOR PRESERVE HYDRATING SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER available at Buy.com for $10.40
This shampoo and conditioner is inexpensive and works really well. My hair color lasts about 2 times longer than when I used regular shampoo and conditioner with out color preserve. When you have red hair the color is hard to hold. This one works great for reds.




FREDERIC FEKKAI BRILLANT GLOSSING CREAM available at Sephora for $20.00 4oz
I use this on my hair when it is slightly towel tried before I blow dry. It works as a protectant and makes my hair smooth and glossy with less frizz.



WELLA COLOR PRESERVE THERMAL PROTECTION SPRAY available at at shopwiki.com for $10.00
I use this to protect my hair from the heat of a dryer. It makes my hair SUPER shiny. It keeps my hair healthy but the only drawback is that it makes it a bit coarse and textured after blow drying.


CURL CONSCIOUS DEFINING CREAM BY BUMBLE AND BUMBLE available at bumbleandbumble.com for $27.00
I have naturally curly hair but sometimes my curls are affected by the coloring I've done. To get beach waves or better shaped curls I use this product. It also smells amazing! * You can smooth it over your hair after a night out and it will hide the smell of smoke. It will have the smell of roses instead:)

THE ORIGINAL MOROCCANOIL OIL TREATMENT available at Target for
$39.00 3.4oz
Okay, so I haven't tried this one but I have heard amazing things. It claims to restore shine, strengthen and condition, and reduce drying time. I will post something as soon as I try it. I can't wait!

DELICIOUS PERFUMES BY TOKYO MILK

The word perfume used today derives from the Latin "per fumum", meaning through smoke. In ancient times people used herbs and spices, like almond, coriander, myrtle, conifer resin, bergamot, as well as flowers. By the 18th century, aromatic plants were being grown in France to provide the growing perfume industry with raw materials. Even today, France remains the center of the European perfume design and trade. Through the advancement of the perfume industry, we now have technology to mimic almost any scent whether it is geranium, vetiver, or tuberose. I have always been intrigued by perfume and how it is made. Most fragrances are created by a principle if using 3 notes. The first is the "top note" which is used to create the initial impression of a perfume. The second is the "middle note" which is considered the heart or main body. The middle note acts as a mask to hide the often unpleasant scent of the top note. The third is the "base note" which brings depth and solidity to a perfume.
Today I was shopping with my mom and sister in Santa Monica and I came across the perfume line Tokyo Milk. I had seen it before. They initially attracted my attention because of the cute packaging and the perfume notes written right on the bottle. In fact, I got so caught up in trying all of their lovely fragrances that I couldn't make a decision. They come in 1.0 bottles and sell for $28.00 Here are some of their best sellers.




POE'S TOBACCO
Notes include Tobacco, Tea Leaves, Amberwood and Autumn Apple


FRENCH KISS
Notes include Mandarin, Tuberose, Gardenia and Vetiver



DEAD SEXY
I have been wearing this one all day and it smells amazing. Notes include Deep Vanilla, exotic wood, White Orchid and Ebony.

EYE CONCEALER AND HIGHLIGHTER ALL IN ONE

I was looking for a new under eye concealer and my friend Kimberly suggested I try LORAC Double Feature. I have used many different ones like MAC, Bobbi Brown, Covergirl, Smashbox, and YSL. Due to my ongoing search for the perfect makeup products, I was ready to try something new. This one by LORAC is great because it works wonders and has the special highlighting feature. It also has a roller on the tip that helps blend the concealer instead of using your finger. Check out the before and after bellow.


BEFORE
AFTER

BLEACHED BROWS??? SAY IT ISN'T SO!!!

Over the summer models were sporting an interesting trend on the runway. Yes, bleached brows. Why ? you might ask? I am not sure why anyone would think that this look would be flattering. Is this trend going to catch on in 2010? I hope not. I figured I'd post some natural dark brows v. bleached brows to prove my case.



Gwen tried it, but maybe not so successfully


Dark and natural, the way it should be

MY MAKEUP PREDICTIONS FOR 2010

Wondering what's in store for this year's makeup trends? Well so am I! Right now we can only predict what kind of makeup might appear in magazines and runways for 2010. It's always fun to play the guessing game, so here are some of my favorite picks for the upcoming year.


LAVENDER LADY
This look includes a light neutral base covering the entire lid. Apply a light lavender shadow on the base of the lid. Around the rim of the eyes use a darker purple liner or shadow. Use a neutral peach shade on the balls of your cheeks and lips. Add gloss to complete the look.

MAUVE AND GOLD
To achieve this look you will need a shimmery gold, neutral and a mauve shadow. Apply a neutral shadow along your entire lid. Apply your gold shadow at the base of your lid feathering up slightly. In your crease and lower lid use the mauve shadow. Be careful to build on the mauve and not deposit too much at once. Last touch is a mauve lip with a pink gloss on top and a neutral liner.

LUSH LASHES AND BOLD LIPS
For this look you will need 3 steps. 1st step is applying false lashes. 2nd step is applying a peach blush. 3rd step is applying a bold lipstick. Your options are endless for choice of a bold color on your lips because the rest of your face is relatively bare.

SMOKEY CAT-EYES WITH PINK LIPS
Smokey cat eyes can be done with either brown, gray or black shadow. The darker the shade, the more powerful the statement. Start by lining the top lid with your shadow and use a contour brush to extend the cat-eye beyond the edge. Use a baby pink cream-base blush on your cheeks and lips.

BLACK LIQUID LINER AND RED LIPS
Liquid eyeliner can be tricky, but there are secrets to making it even on both sides. To create the cat-eye shape, first use a shadow instead of the liquid liner. It is easier to remove shadow rather than liquid. Once you have created your desired shape, apply the liquid liner on top. Also, try to eyeball the corner of your eye to the end of your brow. That is where you can start to extend the cat-eye. To finish off this retro inspired makeup, use pink on the cheeks and red on the lips.