Smokey Eye 101

Many women love the look of a smoldering smokey eye. Whether it be soft or dramatic, a smokey eye can be seductive and sexy. This is another one of those makeup techniques that some often find difficult to master.

Many cosmetic companies are making smokey eye shadow palettes. Stila Cosmetics has the Original Smokey Eye Palette. Sephora Brand also has a similar product as well. Bobbi Brown Cosmetics has the Basic Eye Palette with soft neutral shades of brown and cream. These are just a few of my favorite eye shadow palettes.

STEP 1: Apply your base makeup as usual. Apply a matte blush in a rosy shade, then apply a lip balm, gloss or nude lipstick to lips and blot. I like to keep the face makeup really light when doing a dramatic smokey eye.

STEP 2: Prep the eye with an eye shadow base like Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion, let dry and then blot with a translucent powder. Apply a light to medium shade of brown eye shadow to the entire eyelid and blend well. Place your middle finger at the outer corner of your eye, and gently lift the eye up. Dip the same brush into a darker shade of Brown or black, making sure to gently tap the brush to shake off any excess shadow. Apply the darker color into the crease and outer corners of the eye area. Take a clean blending brush and blend the entire eye area. Line the upper and lower lash line with a soft black or brown eye pencil and smudge and then line the inside of the eyes with a black kohl eye pencil.

STEP 3: Apply a coat or two of a thickening black mascara like, Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils. To finish off the look. Add a few individual eye lashes to the outer corners of the eye for a little extra drama.

Product Of The Week: Kiehl’s Lip Gloss

This Non-Sticky lip gloss is one of my favorite products of all time. It is made with all natural extracts, hydrates lips and contains antioxidants. This lip gloss glides on effortlessly and has a fresh peachy scent. Kiehl’s Lip Gloss comes in 14 beautiful shades, my favorites are French Rose, Icy Everist, New York Nude, Clearly Kiehl’s, Downtown Peach and Pear Tree. These amazing gloss’s add just a hint of color to the lips and keeps them looking moist and kissable. 

 

Product Of The Week: High Definition Powder

Makeup Forever has come out with a line of products to accommodate the demands of the high definition lens. My favorite product from the line is the High Definition Powder. This 100% mineral silica powder softens the appearance of fine lines and imperfections, sets foundation, and mattifies the skin without changing its shade. Its translucency matches any skin tone from light to dark. The powder is also free of talc and parabens and can be used on even the most sensitive of skins.

This best selling product can be purchased at any Sephora store or at www.sephora.com

Valentine’s Day Beauty Tips

As Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, here are a few quick makeup tips for that perfect kissable evening out with your dream date.

No guy  wants to kiss his Valentine with a gallon of lip gloss or foundation on their face. Keep the lip stick or lip gloss and foundation to a bare minimum.

For Luscious Lips:

Step 1: Prep your lips by scrubbing them lightly with a lip exfoliator such as the one from Benefit Cosmetics, called LipScription.

Step 2: Apply a generous amount of the Benefit Pocket Pal, a liquid lip stain that will stain your lips a bright shade of cherry.

Step 3: After you have applied your lip stain, then apply the lip balm that comes with the LipScription in Step One. All lip products are from Benefit Cosmetics, and available at http://www.Sephora.com

For Dewey Skin:

Step 1: Apply your favorite moisturizer as usual.   Next, dot a few drops of your favorite foundation and use your fingers to blend into your face.   My favorite foundation is the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, which is available at Barney’s New York, Saks Fifth Avenue or www.giorgioarmanicosmetics.com.  Set your foundation with a light dusting of translucent powder using a powder puff to the T-Zone area. 

Step 2: Use a rose tinted cream color blush, and apply to the apples of the cheeks and blend into your temples.

Step 3: For the eyes, I love to use a clear face gloss or lip gloss for the eye lid. You may also use a tiny bit of Vaseline to achieve the same look.   Apply a few coats of black mascara, and groom your brows.

Product Of The Week: The Ultimate Moisturizer by Lisa Ashley

I first read about this amazing moisturizer in Bazaar  magazine.  Madonna’s makeup artist, Gina Brook, stated that she couldn’t live with out it. I had to try this moisturizer ASAP!

This unique spray  is silicone based and infused with botanical extracts and essential oils and comes in two scents: Cucumber Lime and Yuzu Bergamot.

I lightly spray my clients face with the moisturizer and let it  absorb into the skin. This product creates a perfect canvas for my foundation application. I prefer to use the Luminous Silk Foundation by Giorgio Armani , these two products work seamlessly together.  

You can pick up this wonder product at one of my favorite beauty supply stores in Los Angeles called Frend’s. If you are not in LA, you can purchase this great product on Lisa’s  website at www.lisashleybeauty.com

February Issue of Vegas Magazine

For the February Issue of Vegas magazine. Hairstylist, Marcia Hamilton and I flew to Las Vegas to shoot a beautiful editorial with Photographer Bonnie Holland at The Paris Hotel. Tosh Yanez & Leilani Lacson styled this editorial.

Liquid Eyeliner 101

I am in love with a perfectly lined eye. To me, nothing is more sophisticated and sexy than a crisp black liquid line. Most women are scared to death of attempting this, and find it very difficult to master this technique. 

There are several types of eyeliners that you can use to achieve the same results. My favorite eyeliner is the Liquid Eyeliner Pen from Shu Uemura. This eyeliner looks like a Sharpie marker pen and is very user friendly. I also love the liquid eyeliner pens from Cover Girl, Yves Saint Laurent, and MAC. You can also achieve this look with a liquid or cream eyeliner like those from Bobbi Brown or NARS.

STEP 1: Apply your base makeup. Contour hollows of cheeks and apply a matte blush in a rosy shade. Apply a lip balm, gloss or nude lipstick to lips and blot. I like to keep the face makeup really light and monochromatic for this type of look.

STEP 2: Prep the eye with an eye shadow base like Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion, let dry and then blot with a translucent powder. Place your middle finger at the outer corner of your eye, and gently lift the eye up and out. Press the Eyeliner pen on the inner corner of the eye at the eyelash base and slowly work your way out in one easy stroke. If you make any mistakes, use a clean cotton swab to clean up as needed. I like to retrace over the line I create 2-3 times for perfection and to give it staying power.

STEP 3: Apply a coat or two of a black lengthening mascara like, Yves Saint Laurent Everlong Lengthening Mascara.

Once you have mastered this beautiful eye look. Next time, try to use a colored cream or liquid liner to add a burst of color. 

Product Of The Week: Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Every week I will be posting a NEW “Favorite Product of the Week”

I have been using this wonder product from Urban Decay called Eye Shadow Primer Potion for quite sometime now, but thought it would be the perfect product for my first “Favorite Product of the Week”

Primer Potion is a Eye Shadow Primer Base. It has a sheer nude color and is perfect for ANY skin tone. Just apply with the wand and smooth on with your finger or brush. Let the primer set up and then apply your favorite eye shadow for a  creaseless eye. Check out www.sephora.com for more info.

Urban Decay has also launched a shimmery version of this wonder primer and is also available at www.sephora.com