The Idiot’s Guide to Contouring

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1. Don’t use Bronzer.

   I can’t tell you how many times a client has sat in my chair and asked me if I was going to use bronzer “you know, to like contour a little?”. When contouring, the idea is to create the illusion of a shadow that is created by your bone structure. When you look at shadows in real life (look down at the shadow from your desk chair right now—DO IT!), the color is nuanced slightly grey; using a color that is too WARM will look obvious or worse–dirty. And ultimately, it’s not believable. We want to replicate a shadow so we need something with a slightly COOL tone.

   Products to try:
   – Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder finely milled powder designed EXACTLY for this purpose. It currently only exists in the shade “medium” with shades “light” and “deep” slated to launch this spring!
   
   –Becca Lowlight Sculpting Perfector silky creme that is easy to manipulate and blend for natural to more dramatic and anywhere between.
   
   –RMS Myth Eye Polish – The Creator of the brand, Rose Marie Swift says this is her secret weapon for a un-fussy, natural sculpted look.
   
   – Girlactik Cabo Bronzer We know, we know– we said not to use bronzer. This is the ONLY bronzer we have EVER found that works–because it isn’t warm, and it does not shimmer. Shadows absorb light–they don’t reflect, so it MUST be a matte to work. This one fits the bill, and is affordable.
   

2. Don’t overdo it.

   Whether or not we realize it, we associate plumpness with youth. It’s the same reason FILLERS are so common–they are used to restore the volume that is lost as we age. It’s also why you’re supposed to apply blush on the apples of the cheeks floating up–it’s accentuating the fattest part of the cheek, tricking everyone into thinking we’re a few years younger! So if you make your cheeks look TOO contoured you look GAUNT, TIRED, AGED… With contouring, subtlety is truly key. Also, although contouring may look GREAT when photographed–realize that unless you’re doing your makeup just for a photo shoot, it will look much more obvious in real life. You want to look effortless–too-thickly applied contour just looks fake and like you’re trying too hard.

3. Use the right tools.

   If you’re using a powder, choose a brush that has a lot of air between the bristles–this will allow you to gradually add color instead of instantly applying too much and buffing buffing buffing until your arm feels like it’ll fall off. While it may put you on the fast track to have arms like Madonna, who has the time for that? I really like our Facade Angle Blush Brush. Much littler or much denser, and I think you run the risk of looking stripey. If you want a slightly more dramatic look, start with something like this, then layer over it with a slightly smaller denser brush in the part you want to look like the deepest part of the hollow, being careful to blend thoroughly.
   
   If you’re using a cream, honestly, I recommend using your fingers. Clean hands/fingers are a perfectly acceptable tool. I find that the warmth from your hands really helps the product bond effortlessly with the skin resulting in a more natural finished result. You can also use a damp makeup sponge if you prefer, or a dual-fiber brush will work, too!
   

4. Don’t forget to highlight.

Richard Nixon is famously quoted for saying, “Only if you have been in the deepest valley, can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain”. The same actually translates to your face–if you want those cheekbones to look sky high, not only do you have to accentuate the hollow (in this case, the valley) but you also have to make the mountain (your cheekbones!) look taller. To create this optical illusion, we need something a smidge paler than your skin tone, and preferably something that reflects light (AKA shimmer).

Products to try:

–Becca has the best highlighters on LOCK. Available in a variety of shades and textures, you’re sure to find one that you like! Her Shimmering Skin Perfectors are available in a liquid, pressed (powder), or poured (cream) texture.

–RMS living luminizer is made with coconut oil and other moisturizing ingredients that help you to glow from within and offer a subtle reflection, without looking too shimmery.

–Kevyn Aucoin Celestial in Starlight or Candlelight or Celestial Liquid Lighting in Starlight or Candlelight are similar to the BECCA SSPs but offer slight color variations

–Jouer highlighter  in Champagne is a lovely color for virtually any skin tone. Her clickable compacts are great because you can slide and lock together several favorite shades to create your own custom look.

5. Let YOUR bone structure be your guide.

I want you to touch your face. Right now. Bear with me–this really helps. Feel your own cheek bones— They start up high, right below your temples and angle down connecting just below the base of your nose and above your lips. now feel the nob of your chin, the hollows of your temples–feel your jawline and notice how it’s hollow and doughy just above that edge? When you do your contour, I want you to take your brush and press the product into the hollows BETWEEN your bones. So this means you won’t be contouring on your actual jawbone…it’ll look like a hard line between your foundation and neck anyway… the contour should always be on the UNDERSIDE of your bones to replicate shadow and the highlight is always going to be on the TOP of the bones to reflect light. But EVERYONE’S BONE STRUCTURE IS DIFFERENT. So just because you followed your favorite MUA on Youtube’s makeup tutorial doesn’t mean you’ll get the same result. As long as you feel for your own bone structure, it will always be right.

I personally DO NOT like to highlight the forehead or nose, because I feel like I look oily. If I do want a little extra dimension in those places, I choose a slightly lighter concealer to ever so slightly lighten those areas–but I avoid shimmer.

A great trick for sky-high cheekbones is to contour in your TEMPLES as well as below your cheekbones. By emphasizing the hollows above and below those cheekbones they look even more prominent in juxtaposition.

I also LOVE using highlighter at the tearducts to make the eye look open and bright, just above the cupid’s bow of the lip, occasionally on the nob of the chin for ladies that don’t have a very prominent chin, and on the brow bones to emphasize the arch of the brow.

6. Still intimidated?

Learn from the pros.

Kevyn Aucoin Contour Kit has printed instructions and a variety of creams and powders to play with.

Kevyn Aucoin also has a great creamy duo that has his color candlelight with sculpting “medium” in one great compact

BECCA has a lowlight/ highlight cream compact as well with a touch of each color conveniently paired together.

Ultimately, your look is customized to your face shape, skin tone, and the occasion–you can go to town contouring if you’re going to be photographed, and should practice restraint doing your makeup for special occasions where you will be viewed in person. If you need help figuring it out and happen to be near our boutique in Houston, TX call us and schedule a lesson or an update and we can help customize it to YOU!

 

Call us at 713.552.1545 to schedule an appointment.
Please note that we moved from our location in Uptown Park and are now in BLVD Place at the corner of Post Oak and San Felipe.

 

Casual Chic on Campus

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You have class across campus in about 30 minutes, and you can barely pull yourself from your bed after last night’s cram-session (or party…or both?). You don’t have much time, you are willing to put in minimal effort—but you want to look fresh and pulled-together in class. You never know who you’re going to meet and when, so having that edge can give you extra confidence during a sorority rush event, or even introducing yourself to that cute guy in Economics…

So here’s the deal…you want to look fresh, polished, but EFFORTLESS too…you don’t want to look like you’re trying too hard. And frankly–do you even have time to try “too hard?”

Use your study skills and you may just stand out for all the right reasons!:

• PRIORITIZE
• Multi-task
• Keep it simple.
• Organize it.

Prioritizing your beauty routine:

You’re not accepting a golden globe…you’re just going to an 7:30 AM Calc lecture… so we aren’t putting on every stitch of makeup you own. What is REALLY important to you? Do you feel naked without mascara? lipstick/gloss? You know how people will ask if there was “one makeup product you couldn’t live without, what would it be?” Mine is concealer…so make sure the 1 or 2 must-haves are the first things you put on!

I would say that lipstick, mascara, concealer, and eyeliner are probably the top answers to that question….so here are some of my faves (and why they are great for going to class)

1.) Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer by IT cosmetics. A little goes a LONG way and can cover blemishes or under-eye circles in a snap. Has a really realistic-looking finish so you don’t look cake-y. Having a bad skin day? Mix a smidge extra into your usual tinted moisturizer or foundation for added coverage.

2. Diego Dalla Palma Semi-Permanente Mascara. Volumizes lashes like nobody’s business. Waterproof because it has to last all day, and even possibly through your afternoon nap between classes.

3.) Facade waterproof eyeliners. Uber creamy so they glide right on without tugging your skin. Available in 10 shades (3 of the most popular are shown above). Dries waterproof so it will last all day without smudging.

4. (A)  Jouer SPF 15 Lip Sheers. These lip colors glide on as smooth as silk leaving behind just a kiss of sheer color, and protecting your lips from the sun. Every single color looks effortless and suits many skin tones. And if you use one of these in lieu of lipgloss you won’t have to constantly un-stick your hair from your lips every time there’s a slight breeze between classes!

 

4 (b) Lipsticks by Paul & Joe. Every single one of these contains a lip treatment to keep your lips soft. ALSO won’t stick to your hair like gloss. The lipstick is sold seperately from the case so you can choose a cute pattern or design you like. Then you can buy another lipstick to refill it when you’re ready!

Multi-Tasking products will swoop in and cut your time in half!:

Just as in other areas of your life, multi-tasking with your makeup will make you WAY more efficient. Choose products that you can use for more than one use and you will stream-line your collection–letting you get out the door way faster!

1. Use a tinted moisturizer or “BB Cream”. More than just providing a little simple color, these products cover uneven pigment in the skin while TREATING it to improve. So instead of applying moisturizer and then foundation separately you get both steps in one foul swoop! We like the Sensual Skin Balm from Kevyn Aucoin, and the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint for great moisture with moderate coverage. Plus the convenient squeeze tubes make it easily portable in your bag. For less coverage and a more dewy look plus MAJOR skincare benefits AND a sunscreen, we’re obsessed with Natura Bisse Cure Sheer Cream. (The one from Jouer also has a sunscreen built in, and comes in a luminous formula as well!)

2. Scout out products that you could use for color in more than one place! We like the tints AND the highlighters from Jouer for this exact purpose! You can pick 1 or 2 of your faves and smear on lids, lips, and cheeks with a finger for a quick pick-me-up anywhere! What makes them EVEN cooler is that they can slide and lock together or clip back-to-back, so you can keep them organized/together but also customize the colors you want! We LOVE their tints in petal, whisper, peony, and honeysuckle for a fresh pop of color that you could use on lips and cheeks, and ADORE the highlighter in champagne to smear along cheekbones for a luminous POP and to spread across lids for a gorgeous nude shimmer!

3. If you like, try a curling mascara so you don’t have to curl THEN apply mascara. We love Kevyn Aucoin The Curling Mascara. It isn’t waterproof, but it DOES have pretty great staying power. So if you prefer NOT to do a waterproof mascara and/or want the added benefit of a curl while applying your product. This is the mascara for you!

Keep it Simple:

Keep in mind that you do not need to wear every stick of makeup you own to class. You want to look fresh and effortless–NOT overdone. If your goal is to get out the door fast, this is NOT the time to blend 5 eyeshadows together! Heck, you can even SKIP eyeshadow all together! (We won’t tell anyone–pinky swear!) Remember to PRIORITIZE what you feel is most important, but to still keep the steps themselves simple!

 

 1. Try a roller loose shimmer eyeshadow from Kevyn Aucoin so you can simply roll a great color straight onto your lids, and use your finger to blend it out in the blink of an eye! We LOVE the colors Rose Quartz (pictured), Topaz, and Citrine for pretty shimmery nude tones. (The Deeper Lapis, Jade, and Amethyst jewel tones will be great going into fall, though!)

2.) Try a CRAYON eyeshadow from Jouer! WHAT!? These things are FAB. They glide on with a gorgeous creamy consistency, but have the power to really last! Scribble to your heart’s content and blend with your finger or a brush. We LOVE Rococo (soft nude) and Baroque (metallic taupe) for a sexy day look. Stash Abstract in your bag if you want to INSTANTLY up the ante for a night out after study hall! 😉

3.)Instead of keeping track of a powder compact and mirror, stash powder papers in your bag! Just press the pink side of the paper to your face and watch as it absorbs oil and leaves behind the sheerest veil of translucent powder!

4.) Don’t have time for mascara? Just CURLING your lashes makes a humongous difference, and only takes a couple of seconds! We can’t get over what a great job The Eyelash Curler from Kevyn Aucoin does. The wide mouth gets even the teeniest of lashes near the corners of eyes–so you get an instant lift!

 Organize it!:

All the best products in the world won’t do you any good, if you can’t find them quickly!  Try containing everything in a TRUFFLE Petite Clarity Pouch! We can’t get enough of these things (Senior staff artist, Kate, has about FOUR of these in her purse as we speak). These things are great because they are easy to wipe clean, and since they are clear you can see exactly what’s in it…no more searching for what you need! (Kate has hers color coded…pink has makeup….blue has pens/notepad/coupons, nude has pain reliever, tampons, first aid items, gum, etc…)

All of the above items can be found in our store located in Houston’s Uptown Park. Please feel free to stop in our store and take a peek around, or call to order any of the products listed above! We are always happy to help!

Once and for all…the best colors for your eye color!

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It’s about time someone cleared this up. Everywhere you look, it seems that someone is telling you what you should and “shouldn’t” wear to bring out your eyes’ natural color. While everyone is entitled to their own opinion, there IS a sort of “science” behind this art. It’s called “color theory”. It was pounded into my head over and over again when I was in school for fashion design, but unfortunately it’s not something every makeup artist or hair stylist really ever masters (they should! It’s SOOOO very helpful!)

Bear with me here…we have a short lesson that will help you do this all on your own. And if anyone tries to tell you differently…look it up! These theories are true and really work!

You simply need to re-learn the color wheel! We all know our primary colors right? (Red, blue, and yellow) When you mix any 2 primary colors together you get secondary colors (orange, purple/violet, and green). When you mix any primary color with any secondary color you get a tertiary color (red-orange, yellow-orange, red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green, yellow-green). When you make a chart of their colors with their relationships you get this nifty little wheel:

I hope I still have your attention, because this is the MOST IMPORTANT PART!:

Complementary colors : are colors opposite one another on the color wheel. But here’s what you need to remember. When these colors are placed next to one another, that is when they look their brightest! (To remember it, think this…they COMPLIMENT one another best) I will use this theory to show you how to apply it to your eye color in a moment.

Now you know how everyone tells you “if you have blue eyes you can’t wear blue eyeshadow” etc? I HATE that! It’s just not true. First of all–in my opinion, most girls can wear just about any color eyeshadow they FEEL like. It just may not bring out their eye color the most! But even so, you can make blue eyes look bluer wearing blue eyeshadow! Just like you can make green eyes look greener with green (you get the idea). The trick is to wear a blue that is LESS BOLD than your own blue…So yours looks brighter in comparison! I will use this theory below as well. If the color you choose is brighter than yours—that’s ok. It’s not wrong–it won’t look bad. It just won’t make your eyes flash their boldest brightest…

NOW for the best part, I have provided the complimentary colors to the most common eye colors, plus recommendations for facade eyeshadows that fit into this suggestion! To view larger pictures of any of these eyeshadows or to purchase, you can find them at our webstore here!

Pucker Up!

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Same model, lips, and lipgloss!

Lips look fuller and sexier with a very EASY trick! Just like the rest of your face, you can CONTOUR your lips! Unlike how time consuming contouring your cheeks or your nose can be, contouring your lips is a SNAP with a couple of great products.

You will Need Revitalash Spotlight highlighting stick ($25), Facade “Vanity” (nude) lipliner pencil, and your favorite sheer lipgloss (like Facade’s “Elektra” pictured here).

The lip liner on the bottom was subtle enough that in the picture you could hardly see it, so I accentuated it in PAINT. You want it just BARELY darker than your natural lip tone. For girls with more pigment in your lips, you may prefer to use “Tender” or “Fever” instead. You may use it lightly to line the contour of your upper lip/cupid’s bow.

Then just slightly ABOVE your actual lip, use the Revitalash spotlight stick to trace along the shape of the cupid’s bow! Also, if desired, dab a bit in the center of the lower lip, all of these will create the illusion of more fullness.  Once you have applied it (I exxagerrated a bit in the photo above), If necessary, pat lightly with your finger to blend.

Then swipe on your favorite sheer lipgloss! Works well with Facade Forget-Me Not, Lingerie, Noelani, Dazzle, Maverick Pink, Windflower, Petticoat, Sweet Kate, or Caprice. This trick will work on the upper lip with any lipstick or gloss, but the reflection on the lower lip may not shine through an opaque lipstick or gloss. You could acheive a similar effect, though, by layering a lighter lipgloss just in the center of the lower lip!

Here’s our inspiration for pulling this look off perfectly!

We LOVE products that can serve multiple uses, so we re-purposed Revitalash’s spotlight stick to help with our lips too! But the traditional more expected use would be to highlight the inner corners (or tearduct area) of the eyes, and under the brow bone. Use your finger or a brush to smudge a bit if necessary, for a fresh look a la Carrie Underwood or Taylor Swift!

Cleaning Your Own Makeup Brushes at Home

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It has been driving me CRAZY on pinterest seeing links to people demonstrating the “right” way to clean makeup brushes. Many of them aren’t really ideal. Makeup brushes are often the largest investment of your entire makeup kit (with our brushes ranging anywhere from $10 for a spoolie to $75 for our huge fluffy bronzer brush, TRUST me, we know). So you want to take care of them and clean them in a way that will make them last you for years and years. One DIY blogger suggested combining dish soap with oil. The idea was that the oil would condition your brush bristles to keep them supple. While not a bad thought in theory…dawn dish soap is what they use to get oil off the sea creatures in oil spills! There’s no point in MIXING oil with a detergent that will remove it! It’s not doing anything for you in this instance. You won’t want to dip it in oil after either, because who (except for people with crocodile skin) wants to put straight oil on their face?

First, you will need to know the anatomy of your brushes.

It’s pretty basic. You have the bristles (these are obvious, right?), the handle (duh), and the ferrule is the thin metal band that wraps around the brush handle where the bristles are attached to it with adhesive. If you don’t clean your brushes properly (like one blog on pinterest that suggests SOAKING them in some kind of solution that immerses the ferrule in liquid) you will surely have a brush that sheds bristles all the time. It will leave those pesky hairs all over your face, and worse, will eventually shed to being half as full, or less, than it originally was.

We operate a fully functioning makeup boutique where we offer makeup services every day. We clean our brushes all day long between customers, and we clean our customer’s brushes they use at home FOR them, so you can trust we won’t lead you astray. Quality makeup brushes will last you years and years when taken care of properly. We have been around for 13 years (and counting) and this method has always worked for us!

We recommend WET WASHING your brushes at home at least once a month. Do it too much more often and they may wear out sooner than you would like. If you break out often, you may prefer to do it up to 2x a month to prevent spreading any bacteria around your face for an extended period of time.

To WET WASH YOUR BRUSHES YOU WILL NEED:

• A bar of gentle bar soap (or “milk” soap)- make sure it doesn’t leave a feeling of a residue on your skin when  you use it to wash hands–we don’t want a residue on the brushes

OR

• a dime to quarter sized amount of your current shampoo (if it’s gentle enough for the hair on your head, it’s gentle enough for your makeup brushes)

AND/OR

• dawn (or a comparable dish liquid)

OPTIONAL

• downy (or comparable liquid fabric softener)

HOW TO WET WASH YOUR BRUSHES:

Start with your dirty brushes and a wash cloth. You could use a colored wash cloth so as not to stain it permanantly, but we like white because 1) You can bleach them, and 2) If there is still color in the brush, you will see that when you are drying it so you can wash it again!

dampen the bristles of the brush under a faucet and swirl onto your soap. Work up a good lather. If your brushes are particularly dirty, you will see the lather turn a dirty color instead of white. Rinse the bristles under the faucet (be careful not to get near the base of the bristles too wet…it’s important that the adhesive doesn’t become loosened) Depending on how dirty your brush is, you may need to repeat this step two or three times. (Until the lather looks white, and if you blot the brush on a white towel, it doesn’t leave any color behind)

Once you are able to get a white lather from the brush, and it blots clean on a towel, all you need to do is gently press out the excess water from the bristles with your hand or with the towel, reshape the brush head with your hand if necessary, and lay FLAT to dry. (this way just in case there is any remaining detergent in bristles, it will not loosen the adhesive keeping the bristles in place)

For brushes that you use for liquids, creams, or anything with oil in it (think your lip brush, your concealer brush, your eyeshadow primer brush, your foundation brush), you may need the power of DAWN or another dish soap! Get a little bit out so you can swirl your brushes into it.

 

repeat the same process as used with the bar soap above. Swirl to get color out and rinse. Blot gently on towel–if it colors the towel at all, REPEAT! Gently squeeze out excess water from bristle and reshape before laying flat to dry!

CLEAN YOUR HANDLES/FERRULES:

Use a sanitizing wipe (like clorox) and thoroughly wipe the ferrule and handle of each brush. If you swatch colors on your hands, or use fingers to blend concealer, foundation, or even shadows, you ARE getting product (and germs!) on your handles too!

OPTIONAL STEP:

If your bristles don’t feel soft anymore (maybe they were never soft to begin with) you can actually pour a little bit of DOWNY (or another liquid fabric softener) into a cup. JUST A LITTLE. Make sure it isn’t so much that it covers the ferrule, just the middle to ends of the bristles. Let it soak for 5-10 minutes then RINSE THOROUGHLY. Gently squeeze excess water from bristles, re-shape, and lay flat to dry! CAUTION: IF YOU HAVE VERY SENSITIVE SKIN, I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS STEP, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE ARE THOROUGHLY RINSING AFTER, THE FABRIC SOFTENER RESIDUE MAY CAUSE A REACTION.

We recommend dry cleaning brushes if you are using one brush to switch from one color to another so you don’t accidentally combine colors you didn’t mean to. This is useful if you dabble back and forth among different shadows or blushes.

TO DRY CLEAN YOUR BRUSHES YOU WILL NEED:

• a clean towel
• 
  Cosmetic Brush Cleanser (We sell it for $15)

First, try to get all the color you can off the brush by wiping the bristles on the towel. Once you think you have as much as you can get off at this point, continue to the next step.

now spray 1 or 2 squirts of the brush cleaner directly onto the brush head (you don’t need too much) and repeat wiping the brush a clean part of the towel until you no longer see color come out of the brush. If the brush still has pigment, you may need to repeat this step OR wet wash the brush, let it dry, and use it tomorrow!

And there you have it! Cleaning your brushes really is simple and affordable. You’ve got to do it to keep them in the best condition to use. Your makeup is only as good as the tools you use to apply it. If you’ve invested in good makeup brushes, you WANT to take care of them! You’d be AMAZED at some of the brushes our clients bring to us to be washed. Some of them look like they haven’t been washed in years! (and some of them actually haven’t!). Even if you spent a modest amount on your brushes, clean brushes WILL give you a far prettier application and truer colors than dirty ones!

Makeup Tutorial: Get the Wide-Eyed “New Girl” Pixie look a la Zooey Deschanel!

Tags

bardot, beauty brush, blossom lipstick, bombshell, Caradona Lipstick, Colette Blush, Dizzy blush, dorado, eyelash curler, Facade Beauty, Facade cosmetics, Facade makeup, Fandango Lipstick, FB#21 Perfect Blender, FB#25 mini flick brush, FB#29 Wash Brush, FB#43 Pom Pom brush, Flamenco lipstick, florabelle lipstick, Glendora Blush, Invisible Touch Concealer, Jess New Girl makeup, Jess New Girl makeup tutorial, Kevyn Aucoin eyelash curler, limelight eyeshadow, make your eyes look bigger with makeup, Makeup tricks to make your eyes look bigger, mojave eyeshadow, natural touch foundation, Nilla Creme, pom pom brush, Revitalash Perfect Primer, Revitalash Volumizing Mascara, Runaround Lipstick, sabrina eyeshadow, spellbound eyeshadow, venice eyeshadow, Verano Pink, white linen eyeshadow, Zooey Deschanel, Zooey Deschanel Eye makeup, Zooey Deschanel Eye makeup tutorial, Zooey Deschanel Eyes, Zooey Deschanel Makeup, Zooey Deschanel makeup how-to, Zooey Deschanel makeup tutorial, Zooey Deschanel New Girl Jess Makeup, Zooey Deschanel white eyeliner myth

Zooey’s makeup look has become almost iconic. Part of what makes her (and her makeup look) so magnetic is how effortless and carefree it all looks when it comes together.

What most people notice about Zooey is her EYES, but surprisingly the makeup she uses to accentuate them is relatively simple–allowing her the ability to play with a fresh pop of color on her cheek and lip without looking too made up or overdone!

START by prepping your face with the right foundation. Zooey’s skin never looks heavy, cakey, or fake. Our Natural Touch Foundation will give you coverage but still looks REAL. Absorb 2-3 pumps at a time into a damp sponge and use a dabbing/pressing motion to apply wherever necessary. (Zooey would likely be shade #2)

Next, be sure to use concealer to cover any under eye circles. This is one of the keys to keeping your eyes looking big and bright! FACADE Invisible Touch Concealer is very opaque so it can cover well even when only using a small amount. Using a big powder brush like our beauty brush, set with a thin veil of oil-absorbing powder like NillaCreme or Verano Pink if desired.

For CHEEKS try mixing blush colors Dizzy and Glendora, $25 each, with your Pom Pom brush and swirl onto the apples of the cheek for a healthy flush of peachy pink. or for something a little more subtle try Dizzy with Colette, instead!

Next for EYES:

Use #29 Wash brush to dust the entire eyelid with a sheer white shimmer eyeshadow like White Linen to instantly lighten and brighten the eye area.

Next, use #21 Perfect Blender brush DAMP to apply a soft caramel color like Sabrina over the lower half of the lid. (For variations with a little more COLOR try a pretty soft blue/silver like Spellbound, a soft lilac like Juju, or a delicate green like Limelight–all would look GORGEOUS with the rest of the shadows recommended remaining the same!)

gently dab off excess color, and using the same damp brush apply a more dense, pearlescent white like Venice to the inner corner of the eye–softly spreading into the tearduct and a little bit under the eye. THIS is pretty much her signature! You can stop here OR

ADD a matte earth tone like Mojave in the crease using the #25 mini flick brush.

Liner adds a LOT of pop–especially for Zooey. I’ve heard many people say that she lines the bottom membrane (waterline/rim–whatever you want to call it)of her eye with white–but in most examples I’ve found in pictures, that isn’t exactly the case. (Look closely, for instance, at all of the examples I found above!). What she DOES do is line the TOP membrane (underneath the lashes) with a black pencil (try BARDOT waterproof eyeliner) AND, either she lines the outer 3/4 of the bottom membrane with the same black pencil OR she lines the entire bottom membrane with a soft bronzey tone like Dorado. Additionally, she tends to have liner in the lower lashbed–something still in that taupe-y bronze family like Bombshell.

Zooey is all about the FRINGE-not just the bangs, but the lashes too! this is where she gets all the ooomph! Curl your lashes first! This is VERY important to really open up your eyes and help them look bigger. (We love the eyelash curler by Kevyn Aucoin!) Start with a mascara primer like the one we carry by Revitalash, and top with your fave volumizing mascara (We love Revitalash mascara in Raven). Last but not least, false lashes are pretty much always a must for Zooey. The trick is to find lashes that will add FULLNESS not over-the-top length. Also look for false lashes that have fibers that aren’t completely parallel–in order for them to look seamless with your own lashes, they should overlap slightly and be of varying lengths–just like your own lashes.  You could also always try lash extensions if this sounds like way too much work!

FOR HER MOUTH:

She almost always seems to have something different on her mouth! On episodes of her TV show New Girl, she usually seems to have a pretty pop of pink like with Flamenco or Blossom. She also could try a shade like Florabelle, or Fandango. For something a little bit more subtle she could do Runaround or Caradona.

NEED MORE!?: There are a few non-makeup related things that help make Zooeys eyes POP:
1.) You can’t do anything about this if you weren’t: but SHE was blessed with LARGE beautiful eyes! They’re naturally big. That helps A LOT. Of course we can always make small eyes appear larger–but just know that if your eyes are very small, you won’t acheive the same results.

2.) They’re bright. Contacts come in a variety of colors–you can change your eye color completely, or just amplify your own color. Their intense color against her fair skin and dark hair make them appear to shine even brighter.

3.) Her heavy bangs don’t work for every face shape, but on her they work perfectly! They hit just above her eyes (BELOW her eyebrows) drawing your attention right to them. Aren’t ready for the commitment? Try inexpensive clip-ins to see how you’ll look before snipping. Also talk to your stylist about the best look to accentuate your eyes for your face shape!

Get the Look!: Rachel Zane/Meghan Markle from Suits’ Makeup Tutorial

Tags

#21 Perfect Blender, #25 mini flick, bardot, belladonna eyeshadow, blush brush, boudoir eyeshadow, caleche eyeshadow, elektra lipgloss, eye makeup tutorial, eyeshadow brush, Facade, Facade Beauty, FB#31 tate contour brush, FB#43 Pom Pom brush, foxglove eyeshadow, hermosa, lorelei, Makeup, makeup brushes, makeup tutorial, Meghan Markle, Meghan Markle makeup, minx, parfait, Rachel Zane from Suits, Rachel Zane makeup, Rachel Zane makeup tutorial, Rachel Zane suits, Rachel Zane suits makeup tutorial, sandollar eyeshadow, starlet lipstick, tutorial, vanity lipliner, waterproof eyeliner

Since Season 1, Episode 1 of USA’s TV series SUITS, we haven’t been able to stop ogling at Rachel Zane played by Meghan Markle. Okay, obviously she’s naturally a beauty–but her makeup is always done in a way that shows off her feminine yet exotic feaures. We’ve deconstructed her makeup look in this photo to help you get that pulled-together-but-somehow-effortless, sexy, professional look!

Of course, first you will prep your skin accordingly with primer (if desired) foundation, concealer, and powder suited to your skin type and coloring.

To get Rachel’s warm rosy glow, use Facade #43 Pom Pom brush to swirl together Facade’s HERMOSA and PARFAIT blush. Start applying at the apple of the cheek and gently sweep back toward the hairline. (Envision the shape of a NIKE swoop). If desired, pick up a little more HERMOSA with the brush and sweep just a little directly above that for a healthy bit of bronzed color.

With Rachel, it’s all about the EYES!

• Start with a fluffy brush like Facade’s #25 Mini Flick and use it to sweep a nude matte tone similar to your own skin like CALECHE (or SANDOLLAR for those with fairer skin) over the entire eyelid (from lash line to just beneath the eyebrow).
• Then use a brush with a SABLE fur bristle like Facade #21 Perfect Blender and get it DAMP. (You can lick it , you can spray it with mineral water like Evian, or get it wet under the faucet (squeeze the bristles to make sure the excess is out–you want it damp not dripping).Use this brush to pick up a warm, shimmering, nude tone like BOUDOIR eyeshadow and glaze the entire lower half of the lid (from lashline to crease). Make sure to bring it all the way in toward the tear duct for that really pretty GLEAM in your eyes!
• Now pick up your #25 Mini Flick brush again. Hold it sideways to sweep FOXGLOVE eyeshadow (a rich, red-based brown) in the crease. Use the brush to gently flick up and out at the corners just a bit.
• Using Facade #31 Tate contour, choose a darker smokey tone like BELLADONNA eyeshadow. Apply this to the outer corner or “pie” area of the eye–basically draw a little < shape (the bottom line matches up with your lashline and the top line overlaps your natural eye crease–the corner meets up just above the outer corner of your eye.) Now blur this V in so that it delicately overlaps the other colors you’ve applied giving a pretty smoky diffusion.For subtlety, do this technique with a dry brush. For a little added contrast and drama, apply BELLADONNA with a damp brush instead!

If you have any trouble with the first 3 steps of this shadow technique, check out this youtube video for extra help!

Her eyes just wouldn’t have the same POP without eyeliner!

Our waterproof eyeliners are PERFECT for lining the membrane of the eye for a major WOW effect. They won’t disappear throughout the course of the day and they won’t smear all over your face either (legal assistants like just don’t have time for touch-ups!).

Use BARDOT to line the upper membrane, and LORELEI to line the bottom membrane. Lorelei is a very soft gold that helps cancel the redness of the lashbed without lending too much contrast. This is part of what gives that “glow” to the bottom/inner corners of her eyes! (if you prefer a little more contrast, you could also use BARDOT on the bottom lashbed–Rachel sometimes wears it this way, although it is not pictured here)

If you’re having trouble with this step, see the following youtube video…

Now, use MINX eyeliner to line the outer corners of the eyes. Carry the liner up into that corner we made using the darkest eyeshadow and use the smudge tip on the other side to blur slightly. This will deepen the contrast you achieved earlier.

Watch this video from about 1:12 on to see how I would recommend doing the eyeliner. (The technique in the beginning of the video is NOT used for this look)

Of course, you will want to finish your eyes with plenty of volumizing mascara. You could use black or brown. Revitalash Raven mascara in ESPRESSO would be pretty here. It’s a very rich dark brown that would look really pretty with that sort of chestnut hair and dark brown eyes. Use on bottom lashes too, if desired.

Last, but certainly not least, are her lips! Line first with facade VANITY lipliner. This perfect nude matches most natural lip tones so you can get crisp precision (and even over-draw just a touch) without any harsh-looking lines.

Apply STARLET lipstick, a gorgeous nude with just the teensiest hint of pink and a pretty pearl finish, and finish with ELEKTRA lipgloss–a gorgeous sheer nude. Her soft nude lips are part of what pulls this look together. Despite the smokey eye keeps it looking effortless and appropriate for work–even in a law office.

Get Your Glow On

Tags

Beauty For Real, Beauty For Real cream blush, CLASSIFIED Cosmetics, Cure Sheer Cream, Cure Sheer Touch, ERA Spray, Girlactik, glamourous skin glow, glow, jennifer lopez glow, jLo glow, luminous skin, Natura Bisse

Wanna get that “J.Lo Glow”? Who doesn’t!? We’ve got a variety of products to help you get the look!

FIRST we’ve got skincare!

One of our best selling products here at Facade is a product from Natura Bisse called Cure Sheer Cream. It has fabulous anti-aging benefits that actually help revive dying skin cells–giving them hydration and promoting collagen growth in the lower layers of the skin. It has a broad-spectrum sunscreen in it (meaning it protects against UVA and UVB rays) with an SPF of 20. What REALLY makes it amazing is the color! It’s the most high-tech tinted moisturizer you have ever seen. The “color adaptive molecule” adjusts to any skin tone–it doesn’t have as much coverage as a foundation, but it softly diffuses redness and other discolorations while imparting a radiant glow! That, plus the skin benefits, makes a 1.7 oz jar that lasts about 3 months a steal at $170. We’ve tried it on skin tones like that of Liv Tyler to Iman and it really does blend beautifully! Our clients who are big into tennis, golf, or horesback riding LOVE that it’s one step for sun protection, coverage, and moisture. It can be worn alone OR under your usual foundation.

One of the newest products from Natura Bisse, Cure Sheer Touch, is a spin-off–now in a gel formula with NO sunscreen, but the addition of dihydroxyacetone (DHA). This is a sunless tanner–at a VERY low dose, to give a delicate glow to skin over time. It too has the self-adapting color molecule of the sheer cream and can be used on the body or the face. It also has moisturizing and anti-aging benefits, and a formula that feels a little less rich–so girls with oilier skin may prefer this texture over the cream. It gives a gorgeous luminosity to the skin as well. Those who get spray tans could use this to extend the life of their tan! $105 for 5.3 oz.

Now for makeup tricks:

 

CLASSIFIED COSMETICS spray-on bronzers: Sunkissed (sheer bronze) and “One in the Sun” (richer bronze), $45 are WATERPROOF and come in an aerosol spray can. Mist it on your face (avoid your forehead, focus on cheekbones and nose) or on your legs, chest, and arms to really wow in a great cocktail dress or bathingsuit on the beach! If you need to cover spider veins or bruises, use a fine mist of one of their spray-on foundations to the legs or arms first, and then lightly mist the bronzer to get that beautiful luminous glow!

Girlactik Glamorous Skin Glow, $23.
Is an almost creamy-textured makeup.
It’s not heavy and won’t clog your pores, but it imparts a truly beautiful glow to the skin. Use with the sponge included or with a synthetic cream blush brush to glaze the cheek bones. We use this trick on brides all the time to make their skin truly come alive. It’s also beautiful on your shin bones when you’re wearing a skirt, or along your clavicles (collarbones) to look super sexy even in more conservative necklines. Even on busy errand days where you don’t want to wear a lot of makeup you can smear this on your lids and lips for a little effortless sex appeal!

Beauty For Real cream blush in Goldrush/Afterglow, $30.
This is a cream blush texture (a little richer than the girlactik product) and is best applied with a synthetic blush brush (we like the ‘M’ mixer brush from Geri G. Cosmetics, $15) It comes with a bronzy tone and a more golden hue. I like smearing the darker tone just under cheek bones for dimension and the golden hue just above it.

 

 

 

Whichever method you choose to keep your skin GLOWING, remember that the cheeks are the area you really want that shine—shiny foreheads and shimmery noses can look oily– keep them matte with blotting or powder papers. ($5)

 

 

 

You’re so high-brow

Tags

brow plucking, brow shaping, brow tweezing, brows, eyebrow shaping, eyebrow threading, eyebrows

Today’s the day to make sure your brows are perfection before Valentine’s! It’s best to do them the day before to ensure there is no residual irritation or redness for your date!

If you missed, our earlier post with our brow expert, Kate’s tips and tricks for achieving brow perfection at home, look at it now, or schedule an appointment with Kate herself!

 

Nailed it!

Tags

Cuticle Cream, Cuticle Oil, Cuticles, Emery Board, Jessica, Manicure, Nail file, Nails, Paul & Joe

It’s lovely to be able to get a manicure every week or two–but if you’re as hard on your nails as I am, you may need to do your own polish changes between times, or it may not even be worth your time/money at all, and you’d be better off doing it on your own.

First, you’ll want to shape your nails by trimming and filing. We have great emery boards from Jessica and Paul & Joe Beaute($5 each).

After this, you may like to soak your hands in warm sudsy water. If necessary, apply cuticle softener and use cuticle nippers to trim off excess cuticle, or use a cuticle pusher to gently slide back the cuticle.

Dry your hands thoroughly and use an appropriate base coat. Jessica makes one for hard, brittle nails, another for soft nails, one for peeling nails, and another for “regular” nails ($12). Choose one that is appropriate and apply 1 or 2 coats.

Next, apply 2-3 coats of your choice of nail polish color. We have a variety of gorgeous hues from both Paul & Joe, $15 and Jessica, $6.

Wait about 5 to 10 minutes before applying your top coat for maximum shine. The top coat made by Jessica dries quickly and really extends the life of your manicure!

Since you’re no manicurist, you may need to use a pointed q-tip ($10 for a pack of 40 double-ended pointed swabs) dipped in nail polish remover to tidy up the job you’ve done.

Last, but not least, once you are SURE your polish is dry, apply Jessica Cuticle Cream ($5) or Phenomen Cuticle Oil ($6) and gently massage onto cuticles and nail beds.

I recommend doing this step last, because if done before polishing the nail, the oils in these products can actually prevent the polish from adhering as well to the nail which makes your manicure chip sooner.