Recently in Tips & Tricks Category

While everyone was oohing and ahhing over Sandra's super-shiny hair at the Oscars, we were busy obsessing over J Lo's  perfect eyebrows! Yes, there are many salons that can shape similar brows, but remember the recession?! Not everyone can afford a trip to the brow Dr every month. The best advice is to lighten your brows a shade with dye, but it isn't safe to recommend any at home kits, because the trick is to know how light to go. Worst case scenario you end up with no eyebrows, or disproportionate eyebrows...it can get scary. Second to dye, brow shaping kits are a must-have and the best way to perfect your arch. 

And the nominees for best eyebrow shaping kits are:



1. Tweezerman Mini Brow Kit, Sephora $25 2. Cle de Peau Beaute Eyebrow and Eyeliner Compact, Neiman Marcus $70 3. Too Faced Brow Envy Shaping and Defining Kit, Sephora $35 4. Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zings, Benefit Cosmetics $30 5. Anastasia All About Brows Kit, Sephora $75 6. Sephora Collection Arch it Brow Kit, Sephora $35

Picture this: you hit the snooze one too many times, should've been at your desk, oh, about five minutes ago, and your hair is such a disaster that the Red Cross won't give it coffee. S.O.S!

Never fear: Living Proof, the company responsible for cult favorite No Frizz, introduces the latest innovation in the battle against bad hair: No Frizz Restyling Spray, a style reviver that detangles, reduces static, and adds weightless shine...all without having to rewash.

No Frizz Restyling Spray's non-silicone formula contains PolyfluoroEster, which works by adding just the right amount of moisturize to refresh hair without making it greasy or heavy... turning disheveled, frizzy, or flat hair into beautiful, shiny hair in just minutes.

Simply spray on dry hair until lightly damp, follow with heat to style, and you're out the door!  Crisis averted.


$20, QVC.com

While Hollywood is prepping for the Oscars, we've been thinking about all the work that goes into making our favorite celebs look so damn glamorous on this big night. How do they (or their makeup artists -- yes they have help) get that amazing red carpet glow? If you have a big Oscar-like event coming up...maybe even the Oscars who knows?...make sure you're covered with these red carpet must-haves:

Lip Plumper:
The makeup world got a lot more exciting after the invention of lip plumper. What's better? A good limp plumper + a good gloss all in one.

Our suggestion: Givenchy Pop Gloss. Sephora, $24.50.












Fake Eyelashes:
Talk about an optical illusion. Fake lashes are the best way to illuminate your eyes and add a dash of intensity.

Our suggestion: Andrea Perma Lash Starter Kit. Sally Beauty Supply, $9.99.
 















Eye Shadow Palette:
The best way to get a modern, glamorous eye is to layer the right colors and eye shadow palettes make it relatively easy.

Our suggestion: Sephora Colorful Artist Palette. Sephora, $32.











Body Shimmer:
Shimmer, shimmer and more shimmer. But we're not talking just the face. You need a good illuminating powder to apply all over the body.

Our Suggestion: Urban Decay Flavored Body Powder. Sephora, $26.

At Victor de Souza's F/W 2010 collection, the designer wanted an otherworldly beauty. Bring on the drama!

For the hair, lead stylist Danilo, worked with PHYTO products to create an "alien chic" silhouette. Hair was formed into a tight pony tail which was subsequently slicked back with PHYTO Professional Strong Sculpting Gel and wrapped into a chignon at the top of the head.  Small sections of hair were left out at the temples, and extensions wrapped within a hair net (in blond, brunette, and black shades depending on the model's hair color) were fastened to the top of the head, covering the chignon, and loose side pieces were tucked back and underneath. To finish, Danilo used PHYTO Professional Workable Hold Hairspray.




For the face, Lena Koro for the NARS created a look inspired by a photograph of Audrey Hepburn, and was intended to emulate the feeling of her elegance and class, with an "alien twist." The face was paled with NARS Snow loose powder and Sheer Matte Foundation in Siberia. Eyes were dramatically lined with jet liner (Black Moon eyeliner and Eyeliner Stylo in Black). Models also sported blackout contact lenses to completely cover the whites of eyes and add to the alien aesthetic. The look was finished by dabbing NARS gloss in XXX on lips.




Nails were done by CND (Creative Nail Design). Lead Stylist Christina Estabrooks shaped false nails into rounded points and adhered just below the first knuckle. They were coated with one of two polishes (Pink Lily and Copper Chrome), and finished off with French tips (Studio White) before being topped with Super Matte topcoat.



The final look:



While it isn't exactly a wearable look, it was certainly one of the more exciting looks we've witnessed this season.... it was, as promised, completely out of this world!

On of our favorite looks this season was the fierce, bad girl beauty at Tony Cohen's Fall 2010 collection. The look was comprised of a chic french twist, toughened up by messy roots and sewed in leather... adding seriously smoky-eye drama for a "You'd better notice me, but don't you DARE mess with me" look.

To get the hair: Staci Child for Cutler prepped hair with Cutler Volumizing Spray for texture, then massaged Cutler Definition Paste into the top of head to give hair a dirty, unfinished look, like "she's done it herself". She then pulled hair into a french twist and weaved leather cord into it to compliment the lines of the collection, finishing with Redken Workforce 9.

To get the makeup: Napoleon Perdis wanted a tough-chic, "opera goes to the club" look with a strong eye. He prepped skin with a peptide serum, then misted skin with his own airbrush foundation. The eye was done in a shades of charcoal and black for smoke, and blended out with a terracotta shade for a "hint of romance" into a square shape with focus on the inner bridge. Perdis then groomed brows with a touch of Suede pencil, and coated lips with Devine Goddess l/s in Lianna, a beautiful nude that Perdis told me was inspired by his daughter. Final touches included a dab of gloss in Hot Toffee, and a spritz of facial spray to give a dewy look.


So simple, so chic, major badass.

Backstage at Kardashian for Bebe Fall 2010, the look was all about day to night glamour, a look that can take you from the office to cocktails with little modification.

To translate this to the hair, Whitney Blischke for TIGI said that "Kim wanted an effortlessly glamorous look, and she liked this because it looks easy." Blischke prepped hair with Fashionista Spritz and Shine before blowing out for texture. She then sectioned hair and wrapped around a barrel iron, pinning curls up to cool in order to hold curl. Once released, curls were finger combed to loosen wave, and roots were sprayed with Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo for a matte finish, while ends were sprayed with shine spray to give the illusion of darker roots and lighter ends, which is a huge trend in hair right now.

For the face, makeup artist Nathalie Bechard for Sephora Pro created a look for day to evening, modeled after Kim's own look. To create this, she applied Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes Liner in Star Black, Make Up Forever Aqua Black Waterproof Cream Eye Shadow and Make Up Forever Diamond Powder. For the skin: Dior's Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup and YSL's Touche Éclat Radiant Touch. Sephora Rouge Cream Lipstick in Mmmm... was pressed into the lips, after lining them with Sephora Nano Lip Liner in Candid Candy.

To complete the look, Kim D'Amato for Preti New York coated fingers in Willow, an almost transparent nude, and toes in Spring Song, and more opaque nude.

Instant day-to-night chic. And so easy!

Trends can be intimidating, especially during Fashion Week- not only are the models 16 year old goddesses, but they have the best in makeup, hair, and design backstage dressing them up like dolls. How can we compete?

Thankfully, as we jet from backstage to backstage this season, we keep hearing the same phrases used over and over again: clean, fresh, organic, and "like they did it themselves". Good news for us, who don't have the beauty team following us around all day ( a girl can dream!)

Backstage at the Charlotte Ronson show, we noticed some really chic looks, which thankfully are super easy to re-create at home. Here's how to get the look:

For the face, Sephora PRO artist Gilbert Soliz told us that Charlotte wanted the girls to look as if  they'd done their own faces. The skin was kept dewy using Make Up For Ever Face and Body Liquid Makeup, and then sculpted with taupe powder to lift the face. The eyes were then given a monochromatic brown smokey look using Makeup For Ever Aqua Eyes in Pearly Brown. The shadow was applied to the lid and then winged out with a brush, followed by DiorShow mascara enhance lashes. The eyebrows were kept natural and only lightly groomed, and lips were left nude, touched only by clear balm to enhance (Sephora FACE Very Sexy Nourishing Lip Balm SPF 15).

For the hair,  TRESemmÉ Celebrity Stylist Jeanie Syfu said that Ronson wanted "decadence". The hair was prepped with a lightweight mousse (Tresemme 24hr Body), and then dried with a round brush for volume before being sectioned off and wrapped lightly around a barrel iron. The curls were then finger combed to loosen the wave, and spritzed with a dry shampoo (Tresemme Fresh Start) to absorb leftover styling products.

Viola! So simple....turban optional.

We've all been there: alarm blaring WAY before we've completely slept off last night's cocktails with the girls. A shower and coffee may help wake us up, but wait a minute - what's going to help wake this tired skin?! 

We say: if you can't beat it, fake it. You may not feel anywhere near a million bucks, but follow these tips and you'll look it in no time...five minutes to be exact.

1. Give skin a double boost by smoothing on a  primer that hydrates and brightens, Tarina Tarantino Pearl Glow primer.
The primer hydrates and smooths skin while light reflective crushed pearl pigments brighten skin and diffuse light to fake a radiance. Time: 1 minute.

2. Apply a sheer to medium coverage tinted moisturizer to mask imperfections and even out skin tone. Depending on the amount of coverage you'd like, use fingers for more control and coverage, or a dampened sponge for a more sheer finish.
Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer has just enough pigment while still being lightweight and invisible. Added bonus? SPF to protect skin from harmful rays. Time: 1 minute.

3. Any problem areas are easily covered with a creamy concealer like Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage.
Use a small concealer brush to dot onto problem areas with precision, then use your ring finger to tap into skin and diffuse, for the most natural coverage. Time: 1 minute.

4. We've been trained to be afraid of powders to set our makeup, for fear of looking unnaturally matte or cakey. The new HD powders are foolproof, and give skin a soft-focus look. Makeup For Ever Microfinish contains silica powder, which helps to soften the appearance of imperfections.
Sprinkle a small amount into cap, swirl powder brush, tap off excess, and lightly dust over contours of the face. A little goes a long way. Time: 1 minute.

5. Lastly, here's an insider tip to a fresh, no makeup look: Spritz skin with a light facial spray to take down the powder, set, and give an added dose of hydration. Shu Uemura Depsea Facial Water Mist contains over 60 minerals to enhance moisture.
Holding bottle 1-15 inches from skin, mist lightly and let dry. It may sound counter-productive after applying the other four products, but trust us: One time, and you'll wonder how you ever lived without this step! Time: 1 minute.

Total time elapsed: 5 minutes, which leaves you time to stop for that double latte!

Rachel McAdams appeared at the London premiere of her new film, Sherlock Holmes, looking nothing short of glamorous with a texturized braid to compliment her Grecian-inspired gown. We found out how to create this look from the hairstylist behind this look, Sebastian Stylist Design Team Member Thomas Dunkin.

Dunkin shares his styling tips for recreating a look like Rachel's at home:

1. Start by applying a volumizing product to wet hair.

2. Blow dry in sections, and pin each section in medium and large sized velcro rollers throughout whole head and allow to set for 5-10 minutes.

3. Allow to cool then take down rollers, and spray hair with a dry shampoo for added texture.

4. Emulsify a small dab of Sebastian Professional Microweb Fiber ($16, amazon.com) between palms and run through top of hair. Backcomb front section and manipulate for height and volume. Secure with pins.

5. French braid bottom half of hair starting behind left ear and pin random remaining pieces into braid for haphazard, playful positioning.

6. Finish the look with a medium-hold hairspray for tousled movement and controlled hold.

Short and pixie-style haircuts can be worn in a slightly undone way during the day, but creating a more piece-y or sleek look with a pomade or styling wax will add the perfect amount of glamour to compliment your evening ensemble.