Fall-Winter 2009 Goth Makeup Trend

MAC Style Black

For Fall/Winter 2009, it’s gothic elements that define this season’s wardrobe and makeup looks. Leather, lace, spikes, and buckles, along with sooty, blackened makeup looks give you a dark edge. The keyword here is sultry rather than scary -  a little lace here, some black gloss there – and you’re doing “goth” well. Add some sparkle to glam up the night.

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Best Longwear Red Lip Colors for Fall

Red is the total IT shade for fall -  whether by handbag, a pair of suede pumps, a 40′s-inspired high-rise pencil skirt… Or, of a great, longwear lip color. Drench your lips in red for fall (at least, try it for a night out)! Here are three lippies that pack a longwear punch in luscious shades of red:

• Revlon Colorstay Lip Color in Top Tomato – 12-hour wear – $10.99 in drugstores
• CoverGirl Outlast Smoothwear Lip Color in Red Satin – 8-hour wear – $8.99 in drugstores
• Estee Lauder Doublewear Lipstick in Stay Scarlett – 12-hour wear – $22 in department stores

Summer/Fall 2009 Nail Trend: Matte Off-White Nails

For nails this Fall, the theme is “go matte or go home” with nail polishes that have no glossy finish. The result is a chic, semi-matte nail look that doesn’t at all appear dull or lackluster despite the lack of shine. How can one attain this look without specifically hunting for matte nail lacquers? Essie has made it easy with their upcoming “Matte About You” matte finisher top coat which is designed to give any nail polish a chic matte finish despite its natural finish. It’s not set to retail until August 09, so be on the lookout!

In the meantime, get nails trend-set for fall by donning light, white or off-white nails. Anyone can sport this look, but on tanned-dark skin it looks especially stunning! Celebs including Rachel Zoe, Paris Hilton, Khloe Kardashian, and Gwen Stefani are fans.

How about you? Will you sport this look?

Photo credit: BellaSugar.com

Fall 2009 Makeup: Purple or Plum Lids, Lips, & Tips

The IT shade for lids, lips, and fingertips this fall is purple – or lavender. Purple may seem like a daunting shade for anyone to pull off, but the key to sporting purple or plum for Fall 2009 is picking a hue that you’re most comfortable with, from lavender to the deepest of plum. If you want to sport a deeper shade of purple or plum but with less shock factor, choose a sheer shade with a little shimmer.

If you’re sporting purple lids, choose a chocolate, mauve, nude, or translucent lip color or gloss to accompany. If you’re doing a deep plum lippie, choose a shimmery taupe eyeshadow to complement the shade without competing. Opting for a sheer lavender gloss? Sweep a chocolate eyeshadow across your lids, fading out toward the brow bone. Hot!

Select Shades

• L’Oreal Paris Wear Infinite Wear Eyeshadow in Eva’s Violets (lavender, shimmer)
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Grifter (lavendar, shimmer)
• Clarins Single Eye Colour in Vibrant Violet (purple, matte)
• Lancome Color Design Eyeshadow in Trendy (purple)
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Last Call (purple, metallic)

NARS Nail Lacquer in Tokaido

NARS Eyeshadow in Mekong
perfect for the lids accompanying a lilac/plum lippie

Summer Makeup Look: Bright Lips

A hot makeup trend this Summer is bright, semi-matte lip colors in Starburst candy shades. It’s very colorful and fun! Think magenta, purple, and orange hues – the intensity of the color depends on your skin tone. If you think you can’t pull it off, think again! Be sure to keep your eye look minimal (think a simple cat-eye look and/or mascara only) and only use a light dusting of blush on your cheeks, if at all. Opt for a moisturizing lipstick in a bright shade and apply 2-3 coats, blotting well with a tissue after each coat. The result should be a chic, semi-matte “stain” effect on the lips that is bold and fun. (Yet, it works!)

My Bright Lip Pick:

Max Factor Vivid Impact Lipcolor in Rose Rage is a bright pink shade with a subtle dustiness that makes it amazingly wearable, even on dark skin! Rose Rage adds a perfect pop of color to my NW45 skin on days that I’m flying by with mascara only. The formula feels luxe and moisturizing and never dries out my lips. Max Factor’s Vivid Impact lippies are an awesome drugstore pick, not to mention THE go-to line for this summer’s bright lip look! It even made Marie Claire magazine’s Top Beauty Products of the Year list.

Spring 2009 Makeup Trend: Pink Cheeks

Compliment pear green eyeshadow this Spring with sweetly blushed cheeks in pink! It’s okay to go bright with pink blush if you keep your eyeshadow to a sheer wash of color or simply don naked lids with plush lashes, eyeliner optional.

Spring 2009 Makeup Trend: Smoky Plum Eyeshadow

Mmm, smoky eyes. My favorite look! Except it will be fun to ditch black in favor of colorful smoky shades, such as sooty plums. MAC Eyeshadow in Contrast is perfect – it’s a dark, dark matte blue-purple shade which makes it perfect for smoky eyes.

For this look I also used: Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Smog, Lancome Blush Subtil in Shimmer Coral Sunset, Chanel Sheer Brilliance as a highlighter, and Lancome Juicy Tubes gloss in Simmer.