Salons Unlimited Magazine with Bre from ANTM

Check out this amazing cover of Bre Scullark from America’s Next Top Model. This image was shot by Bonnie Holland and hair by Val Hamilton.

I created this look for Bre at the end of our 10 hour photo shoot. We stripped off all her makeup and started from scratch. I first applied moisturizer all over and then blended a mixture of Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation and RCMA Color Process foundation and then sheered it down with a wet Beauty Blender. I contoured the face with  MAC Sculpting Powder in Shadowy and then highlighted with Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in #10 (Golden Beige). The eyes were lined with MAC Smolder Eye Kohl and then sculpted and defined with a dark brown shimmery eye shadow. Lips were lined with a nude liner and then I applied a thin layer of Koress Cherry Oil Lip Gloss in shade #32 Beige Pink. I topped off this look with 2 coats of black mascara.

Follow Bre on Twitter at twitter.com/kissbre

Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/anthonymerante

MAC Cosmetics Art Supplies

MAC Cosmetic’s latest and greatest collection of makeup is appropriately titled “Art Supplies”. MAC is always on the cutting of what is new and hot at the moment in fashion. The collection of Greasepaint Sticks, Pearl Glide Intense Eye Liner and Pro Longwear Lipstain Markers does not disappoint.

I love the slip and feel of the Greasepaint Sticks, the shades that stand out in my kit are Green Grease, Charred Mauve, Uniformly Blue and Below Ground. The Greasepaint Sticks apply with an opaque finish but can be sheered down for the less dramatic. The Pearlglide Intense Eye Liners glide like butter and have a hint of shimmer. Undercurrent and Petrol Blue are a really hot and fresh alternative to the  blacks and browns commonly used. My favorite part of the “Art Supplies” collection is the Pro Longwear Lipstain Markers, they remind me of the YSL lip markers from back in the day. These are a lightweight lipstain that really last and can be layered for more intense color. The best part about these is they apply with precision, are non-transferable and you can skip the lip liner. Runway Ripened, Tomorrow’s Coral and Purposefully Red are my top 3 fave shades for creating this vibrantly stained lip.

Makeup Tip: Add a touch of your favorite clear lipgloss or lip balm for moisture.

To view the entire collection go to www.maccosmetics.com, but hurry, this collection is available for a limited time only!

Nursery Rhyme Photo Shoot

Here is a photo shoot I did last December with Bonnie Holland. The shoot took place over 2 days with 9 models. This shoot was extra special to me because my nieces got to take place and they did an amazing job. My aunt Sylvia also did 3 of the beautiful illustrations for the shoot.

Photography: Bonnie Holland www.bonniehollandstudio.com

Makeup: Anthony Merante www.anthonymerantebeauty.com

Hair: Georgina Penate www.georginapenate.com

Styling: Adria Heath www.adriaheath.com

Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream Colors

Make Up For Ever Cosmetics has been my go to brand for all things COLOR. I have been a huge fan of their Flash Color Palette for many years and these NEW Aqua Cream Colors are NO exception. Following the huge success of the Aqua Black Waterproof Cream Eye Shadow. They have come out with the same great formula in 22 eye popping shades. The Aqua Cream Colors can be used on face, eyes, lips and body and they are waterproof, creaseproof and will not move, even on the oiliest of skin. The color pay off is extraordinary in these little pots and blends easily.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream Colors should be available everywhere soon. But for now, you can pick them up at Nigels Beauty Emporium in North Hollywood.

www.makeupforever.com www.nigelsbeautyemporium.com

Josie Maran Cosmetics Spring ’10

Josie Maran Cosmetics has come out with a beautiful palette for Spring. The Natural Wonder Powder Palette contains 5 eye shadows, 2 blushes and a bronzing powder for that perfect sun kissed glow. I really love  “all in one” products because they are so easy to just throw in a bag for a weekend get away at the beach. The blue and teal shades are great for adding that extra pop of color either all over the lid or by using them as a eye liner. The JMC bronzer is one of my top “Must Haves” for Spring ’10 too!

Check out Josie Maran Cosmetics at www.josiemarancosmetics.com or at www.sephora.com

Spring 2010 Beauty “Must Haves”

Spring and Summer are my two favorite seasons, I love all the bronzed tan skin and bright colors Spring has to offer. There is no better place to be inspired by than your local Sephora, I find my self spending hours sampling and trying new shades of color. This usually means several bags of makeup and a pretty large bill. Some would say I am a bit obsessed, but these purchases really inspire me and help me create some really beautiful looks. Below, I have created my top 10 Spring Beauty Must Haves list. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed creating it. Please feel free to ask any questions or post any comments.

Stila’s Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer is an amazing product. This tinted moisturizer evens out the complexion effortlessly and blends well with other cream products, especially the Make Up For Ever HD Blush below. I even use this product on men from time to time and it is virtually weightless while offering ample sun protection.

I am really obsessed with these NEW High Definition Blush’s from Make Up For Ever. They are super pigmented and a little goes a long way. Pump out a little product on your fingers and blend into the apples of your cheeks for a dewey finish. Skip the powder with these cream blushes and keep the skin luminous.

The genius at NARS who created the original Orgasm Blush has turned this beautiful shade into a cream highlighter. I have quite the collection of highlighting creams but this one really stands out in my kit and the pink and gold undertones flatter all complexions. Just take a pearl sized amount and blend into your cheek bones, bridge of nose, middle of forehead and chin for a youthful glow.

The Josie Maran Cosmetics Bronzer is stunning! I have been using this all over the face and body on all of my shoots in the last month.  This product offers the perfect amount of color to complement all skin tones while giving you that perfect “Sun Kissed” look. This bronzer is also great layered over the cream bronzer from Josie Maran Cosmetics. Josie Maran Cosmetics are all formulated with natural ingredients that are non toxic, Paraben and frangrance free.

These finger paints in “Lovely” from Josie Maran Cosmetics is a fantastic “All in One” product. The four creamy shades can be used on eyes, lips and cheek for that effortless beachy look.  Use the darker shades for a golden smokey eye and the lighter shades for highlighting the face. When you need to pack light, this is a must have!

Vibrant poppy hues are all the rage this Spring. This Lavender and Violet eye shadow duo from NARS Cosmetics (Jolie Poupee) is perfect for those days when you want that extra pop of color. Use the lighter shade all over the lid up to the crease and then apply the darker shade in the crease for some dimension. Make sure to blend well and then apply a coat of black mascara for flirty lashes.

These 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils from urban Decay are great for adding a vibrant pop of color to a nude eye. I love all the blue and purple shades for adding just a hint of color to the lash line. They can also double as cream eye shadow and are water proof.

Smashbox Bionic Mascara is one of my favorite mascaras right now. This mascara leaves you with longer, stronger and more voluminous lashes. The brush defines and separates each lash as you apply and does not clump up. Bionic Mascara is also water resistant for beach days and pool side fun.

For that perfect nude colored lip, try Guava Lip Stick in Natural Pink. This lipstick has a really great texture and feels amazing on the lips with out being opaque. Guava lipstick is the perfect choice for those days when you want just a touch of color and a little moisture. The Lip Butters from Korres are also great options as well.

I can not escape hot pink, no matter what! I am just really drawn to this color. One of my favorite looks is pairing a nude eye with a bright lip. Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss is a great gloss that adds luminous shine and a pop of color. Electric and Starlit are my two favorite shades for achieving this look.

ALL products mentioned above are available at any Sephora or online at http://www.sephora.com

Red Carpet Beauty

Another award season is coming to an end this weekend at the Oscars. At all of the award shows this year, the hair and makeup have been pretty minimal. Everyone has been been keeping things neutral with safe nude lips and eyes, and really just focusing on the skin.  I am hoping that the stars will step it up a notch and wow us with some amazing hair and makeup this weekend. My favorite last year was Kate Winslet’s look when she won best actress for The Reader.

Whether you are going to the fancy  annual Vanity Fair Party or having your own private affair at home with family and friends. There is nothing more fun than gushing over all the stars, gowns, hair and makeup looks hitting the red carpet on Sunday. As Rachel Zoe would say… “Who will be shutting it down this year”? My vote is YOU will be!

My idea of a great red carpet look is flawless skin, smokey eyes and a light pink glossy lip. To achieve this looks follow the steps below.

Face: Cleanse and moisturize skin,  apply a highlighting cream to the cheek bones, nose, chin and forehead. Then apply a tinted moisturizer like Laura Mercier all over face and blend into neck and hair line. Set this with a translucent powder by blotting face with a velour puff. Next lightly sweep a foundation powder on top of this to really polish off this look. Apply a peachy pink blush like NARS Orgasm powder blush to the apple of the cheeks and then lightly dust the bridge of your nose and forehead for a nice glow. You can also add a bit of soft shimmer to the cheek bones if you like.

Eyes: Apply a thin layer of Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer to eye lids and let dry. Next, take a firm eye shadow brush and dip it into a slate gray color eye shadow like Scene from MAC Cosmetics and apply close to the lash line on top and bottom. Take a larger eye shadow and blend to get rid of  any hard lines. Next line the inside water line of the eye with a black kohl pencil. Close eyes for a few second and reapply the kohl. Curl lashes and apply two coats of black mascara like L’Oreal  Voluminous Mascara is Carbon Black. If you are feeling extra glamourous apply a full strip of lashes close to the lash line and apply another coat of mascara.

Lips: Keeps the lips nude and natural by lining with a flesh tone lip pencil and then applying a coating of sheer pink gloss like Smashbox’s Lip Enhancing Gloss in Scoop. This color is great for light and dark skin tones.

Happy Oscar Weekend!

Anthony Merante

http://www.anthonymerantebeauty.com