True Blue

Royal blue has been making an appearance in magazine layouts, store windows and cosmetics displays all throughout the summer and into autumn.  The power of a deep yet vibrant blue equals, in my opinion, to a great red. It isn't a color you can throw on to run to the store without getting noticed.  The intensity of the shade often needs a pulled together ensemble, face and hair to complete the look.  You could try to put on a royal blue sweater or a ruby red blouse with no makeup but you'll most likely look washed out.  A smokey eye and a nude lip would look fabulous, or flip it. A neutral eye with a powerful lip color.  Definitely not for the wallflowers. ;-)

 

Shades of blue shadow, from a bright ocean blue to the cobalt, royals and navys look fabulous on blue eyes to brown.  If you have green eyes I'd choose a neutral eye shadow (or choose silver or gray) when wearing this color. Use the blue on the mobile lid, then a deeper purple, brown or black in the crease. Buff and blend with a neutral transitioning color and then highlight with a soft matte or shimmer in ivory or cream.

 

 

 

I've found gorgeous shades from less than $2 up to high end. Whatever your budget, there is a gorgeous royal blue for you out there.  Pigmented, creamy smooth and ultimate color payoff.

 

(photo credit: makeupgeek.com)

 Deep blues can be intimidating to experiment with...color placement is tricky, especially when first learning how to blend properly.  If you have any questions or need assistance, please use the contact form.  Incorporating neutrals allows even the most inexperienced individuals a way to blend and create a wearable and beautiful true blue look, whether on the eyes or with the clothing ensemble.

 

(photo credit: makeupgeek.com)

 

 

The Duchess, in various shades of blue. From casual to elegant, she looks good in everything! The perfect color to match that gorgeous deep blue rock on her finger, eh? ;-)

 

 

 

**Special Notice:  Lilla Rose Customer Sale!!

 

10%-20% OFF Sale - Customers Only

All day August 22nd, 23rd, and 24th - Thursday through Saturday - customers can receive 10% off the re-release of two prior FOTMs (how exciting!), and 20% off many soon to be retired styles (no restocking). What a great way to end summer and begin Back to School excitement with a sizzling sale! Link below:

http://www.lillarose.biz/beautifulflexihair

 



Duochrome Euphoria

When I think of duochrome products, I smile, hence the euphoria part of the title of this post.  I recently found some pretty fantastic glosses and one in particular nearly dropped me to my knees. For less than $4, it's creamy, smooth, smells divine and ahhh, just makes me smile.  The effect is something so unique, so spectacular, so intriguing that I went out the following day to make sure I had enough backups for myself and clients. 

If you look up the term "duochrome" you won't come up with the makeup definition.  In the cosmetics world, duochrome is often a product color that gives off a different shade or cast depending on the surrounding light and angle of shine. It can be a bluish cast, more purple, golden or pink. The more obvious duochrome concept is the bluish cast because it's so unique and well, it's my favorite for a reason. "What IS that?? What an awesome color!" Swiped across a shadow or across the lips, it's unlike anything else.

Most women often overlook the peachy pink color with shimmery gold mixed throughout that is often used in blushes, lipsticks and nail polishes. It's a natural glow that can look more pink, more peach, or give off a flash of gold depending on the angle and light.

 

 

 

In these gloss swatches you can see the first one has a sheen of pink, champagne, even lilac mixed throughout. The middle swatch definitely has tones of blue and the last is a coffee undertone with a duochrome of pink mixed in. On the lips they give off the most gorgeous cast, drenched in liquid color.

 

The multi-colored effect of duochrome products is what makes cosmetics truly come to life on the face. It's the same concept behind highlighting and contouring. The lights and darks create dimension across the face, highlighting and creating shadows in various ways. Is it purple? ....No, it looks purple-pink face to face. Turn your head slightly and we'll see a sheen of blue. The sun is hitting you....ahh, now we see the gold. It's something to get excited about...just be sure to have backups. ;-)

Basic Makeup for Travel

A friend asked earlier today about what makeup products to pack that would specifically fit inside a quart size storage bag. Now this is a woman who camps, is very outdoorsy etc. Her everyday look is very simple so I kept her list short.  You know yourself better than anyone so if you think you need additional products or you have a special event where you'll need more than just the basics, by all means, add what you need!

Basics:

• mascara
• lip product (gloss, balm/tint or lipstick - a basic rose/mauve to suit your skin tone will work for most occasions)
• blush
• moisturizer (travel bottles are great for short trips, check the dollar store/drug store)
• cleanser (travel bottle)

Optional Items:

• eyeliner in black or brown
• bronzer for warmth/contouring
• eyebrow pencil/shadow
• multi-tasking powder for coverage/mattifying
• concealer
• q-tips
• brushes
• neutral eye shadow duo

 

Personally, I wouldn't put everything into a storage bag but then again you won't find me camping or rafting. ;-) If you do pack brushes, be sure to store them so that the bristles don't get smushed.

 

If you are going to have a special evening out, pack a more intense lip color option, a foundation with coverage if necessary and an extra shadow palette or two.  Everything else you've packed should be enough for you.

 

 

 

Rose Gold

   The two choices of metals used to be white gold or yellow.  There has always been the inexpensive sterling silver or the fall-out-of-your-chair crazy expensive platinum, but those are both "white".  Yellow gold remains the traditional metal and always looks classy and "rich". Where in the middle of all these metals and blends does rose gold fit in? Ahh, it was the rare color most often mixed in with "tri-color" jewelry pieces or accented in luxury watches.  Designers used rose gold as an accent metal in their engagement rings.  Now you see rose gold everywhere, from discount stores to high-end boutiques.  Rose gold suits most skin tones and flatters the face when used as shadows and blushes especially.

 

You can see from the palette above that rose gold isn't just one shade. There are shades with more yellow gold, more pink, and more brown. Think the mixing of the metals. To compliment rose gold shadows are the ever-popular matte shades in cream to chocolate brown, including the mid-range latte shades.  I love the metallic shimmery colors on the mobile lid. The color catches the light with every blink of the eye. It's bright, awakens the face and compliments every skin tone. A matte shade tones down the shimmer when used in the outer corner and crease. The lightest cream shade looks wonderful as an accent on the brow bone as a highlight.

Soft shimmery pink on the lid, dark chocolate "cut crease" and buffed out with a deeper peachy rose in the outer edge. A jet black winged liner completes the look. Absolutely gorgeous with neutral outfit, whether light or dark. I'd love this with a little black dress and earrings of rose gold to tie the look together.

A deeper rosey brown shimmer on the lid feathered out by a light brown matte shade in the crease. A fabulous wing, liner underneath the eye and the same rose gold rimmed underneath the black on the lower lash line. Absolutely beautiful.

All year round, daytime or evening, shades of rose gold bring warmth and beauty to those who wear it. The warm glow of candlelight, the highlights of the face....there's a reason they call it "mood lighting". It's a universally flattering shade. For product suggestions, please use the contact form and I'll be happy to share my favorites with you.

(photo credit: makeupmagpie.com)

Wearable Red

  Most women have heard that wearing red is a sign of confidence.  And yet most women don't wear the color often. Coincidence? Sadly, no. Wearing red attracts the eye, whether it's the lips, a statement necklace or a red dress. It's a "power" color for sure. Nudes blend in, natural pinks enhance but don't highlight and anything deeper requires thought and motivation. "Does it match my outfit? Will it go with my tan/pale skin?" and so on.

In my opinion red is the classiest color, most definitely the shade on the lips.  From the fairest to the deepest of skin tones, every single woman can wear red and should, dare I say...at least once a week? We reserve the fancy outfit, the red lips, that sparkly bracelet or that awesome pair of heels....for what exactly? Why are we holding off? Enjoy your pieces and work them into the rotation. 

 

Cool tone gals should stick with blue reds (deep berries, cherries and dark skin apples), warmer tones with warm reds (think tomatoes and red peppers).  There are great sheer lipsticks from drugstore to high end, though it's not an easy task to find the right shade without a lot of trial and error. Finding the perfect red lip can be a daunting task...but that's why you have me, right? ;-)

 

(photo credit: Self magazine 8/13)

 

 

You can barely see her red lips (above). She's a warm girl, hence the warm tomato red. It's not a heavy shade and the rest of her face is simple with just a winged liner. Her dress is amped up and she's definitely wearing her confidence from head to toe.

Again, Katherine is a warm girl so she's rocking that warm pepper red to match her dress. Her eyes are still subtle, she's wearing plenty of bronzer to give her face warmth and she oozes confidence. She stands out in that color and I'm pretty sure that's why she chose red. :-)

Gwen is blonde but she's cool tone. She chooses a deeper red and that is her signature lip. Very rarely will you see her in a pink lip.  In fact, she actually mentioned in an article that she knows the importance of appearance and she always makes sure her face is "done" if she leaves the house. No matter the venue or outfit, she's wearing that red...and there's nothing sheer about it!

 

 

The striking contrast between dark hair and red lips always catches my eye. It's vintage, classy, Old Hollywood. It's absolutely gorgeous. A deep cherry red (and she pulled the color for her earrings too!) with the most subtle shine....she could wear anything and her face would still be the main attraction.

Everyone can wear red. A sheer tinted lip balm, white t-shirt and jeans. A berry red and a little black dress for an evening out to dinner. A juicy deep red for a holiday party. An ombre look with liner and sheer tint for a lunch out with girlfriends or running errands. Whatever the occasion, there is a red out there for you. If you'd like suggestions on colors/brands to try, please use the contact form and I'd be happy to give you some recommendations.