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.

Black Lips

When going for a full-on black lip, pick a creamy lipstick or gloss versus a matte lipstick to soften the look.

• MAC Creamsheen Lipstick in Black Knight – creamy true black – $14
• Illamasqua Lipstick in Pristine – matte black – $20

Alternatively, layer black lip gloss over another lip color of your choice for a blackened lip that’s not too intense.

• MAC Glimmerglass in Blackware – creamy true black (sheer) - $18

I’ve just ordered the Illamasqua black lipstick above (Pristine) and I will definitely post a FOTD once I receive the shipment.

Basic Blacks

• MAC Cream Colour Base in Black -creamy true black – $16.50
• Essie Nail Polish in Licorice – true black – $8

Nightlife

Add gold glitter for glam factor.

• MAC Nail Laquer in Seriously Hip – black with gold pearl – $12
• Stila 24kt Smudge Pot in Golden Noir – creamy black with flecks of gold – $20

Love this:

• Forever 21 Ruffle Lace Top w/ Cami – Features include a ruffle trimmed neckline, a key hole element with a single loop-button top closure, short ruffled capsleeves, and a finished hem. Complete with a smooth adjustable spaghetti strap cami underneath - $19.80

• 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

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

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

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.

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.

For Spring 2009, sheer washes of eye color were seen on the runway. You could totally get away with using just a pear green eyeshadow with nothing else, especially if you have fair skin. Personally, I like to add depth with any color, so I ended up applying a dark matte brown in the crease and a shimmery tan eyeshadow on my browbones and on the inner corners before doing the wash of pear green. I used the top color from Wet ‘n Wild’s Amazon Greens eyeshadow palette (using saline solution for better color feedback). I also added half lash strips on the bottom.

I love this look for Spring What do you think?

NARS Backstage Beauty at 3.1 phillip lim Fashion Show for Fall 2009

The look that NARS makeup artist Ayako created at the 3.1 phillip lim NYFW show for Autumn/Winter 2009 was all about wispy lashes and translucent matte skin. The makeup was intended to look very mod with a touch of rock & roll, for an overall “poetic mod-rock” look.

Ayako applied false lashes to the outer corners of the bottom lash line of the models to create the wispy look. Shimmering pink and gold eyeshadows were brushed on the lids. For lips, a bit of concealer was applied to mute the natural lip color. (This muted-with-concealer lip look has been seen in many shows during Fall 2009 NYFW, so it’s safe to say that nude lips are definitely a go for this Fall).

The skin was perfected with the new NARS Sheer Matte Foundation and a bit of shimmer was swept on the cheekbones to catch the light.

How to Create This Look with NARS Makeup

Face:

• Apply NARS Concealer generously, to cover any imperfections
• Use a small amount of NARS Sheer Matte Foundation ( NEW for Fall 2009 ) to create even, beautiful skin
• With NARS Yachiyo Brush , dust NARS Single Eyeshadow in Bombshell from apple of cheeks up to temples for a light shimmer without pigment

Eyes:

• Line lower lashes with NARS Glittler Pencil in Danceteria
• Smudge with finger to bring out gold shine
• Use NARS Eye Contour Brush to layer rose gold with golden flecks side of NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Silk Road ( NEW for Fall 2009) over Danceteria
• Apply frosted champagne side of NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Indian Summer ( NEW for Fall 2009) over entire lid, blending up to brow
• Cut a set of false eyelashes in half and apply to outer half of lower lash line
• Apply NARS Larger than Life Volumizing Mascara ( NEW for Fall 2009) to lower lashes
• Wet NARS Liquid Eyeliner Brush and apply matte charcoal side of NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Brumes ( NEW for Fall 2009) , drawing lash shadows on outer half of lower lash line

Lips:

• Apply a generous amount of NARS Concelear to entire lip

NARS Backstage Beauty at Thakoon Fashion Show for Fall 2009

NARS Lead Makeup Artist Diane Kendal wanted to create a strong smoky eye look “without being too girly”. To bring strength to the face, Diane focused on strong brows and smoky eyes while downplaying the lips. “The look is all about the eyes with soft matte lips for contrast,” said Diane. The skin was kept fresh with a light dusting of blush to give the cheeks a warm glow.

How to Create this Look with NARS Makeup

Face:

• Use NARSskin Hydrating Moisture Cream to moisturize entire face
• Apply NARS Concealer as needed, to cover any imperfections
• Use a minimal amount of NARS Sheer Glow Foundation (NEW for Fall 2009)
• Lightly stroke NARS Blush in Gilda on the apples of the cheeks

Eyes:

• Use NARS Eyeliner Pencil in Mambo to line upper lashes and crease
• Blend over entire lid and up to brows, keeping dense color by lashline
• With Mambo , line lower lashes and gently blend
• Use NARS Single Eyeshadow in Bali to fill in brows
• Draw a very thin line on upper lashes with NARS Eyeliner Stylo in Black ( NEW for Fall 2009)
• Curl lashes with NARS Eyelash Curler

Lips:

• Apply NARS Lip Therapy Treatment in Rain to entire lip
• Lightly pat a small amount of NARS Concealer over Rain to take down color