7 Most Flattering Makeup Trends for Spring!

Spring is right around the corner, and I couldn't be more excited!

My beauty Bible, Allure magazine, announced the 7 most flattering makeup trends for spring, and I can't wait to try them! For most of these trends they gave a department store, and a drugstore brand.

First up is shiny patent lips, in orange and red!

Their picks? 

1. Mark Lots of Lacquer Hook up Super Color Lipgloss in Fever
2. Dolce & Gabbana The Lipgloss in Secret

Next up, orchid purple eyeshadow!

Their picks:

 1. NYX Eyeshadow in Purple

2. MAC Eye Shadow in Power Boosted

Third trend, I am not so sure about!

Citrus Eyes

Their picks:

1. L'Oréal HIP Studio Secrets Professional Matte Shadow in Striking
2. YSL Ombres 5 Lumières in 13

Cornflower Blue Liner and Shadow

This trend I love... Just a little blue liner on the bottom makes the eyes pop for spring!

Their picks:

1. E.L.F. Shadow in Sea Blue
2. Milani Infinite Liquid Eyeliner in Infinite

Probably my favorite... Coral cheeks and lips!

Looks perfect with a sun kissed skin!

 Their picks:

1. Too Faced Full Bloom Cheek & Lip Crème Colour in Prim & Poppy
2. Laura Mercier Sheer Lip Colour in Kissed Lips 

Terra-Cotta Eyes

1. Tarina Tarantino Jewel Shadow Palette in Dreamy
2. CoverGirl 1 Kit Eye Enhancers Queen Collection in Fire it Up

Last but not least... Ginger Sheen

 

Their picks:

1. Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pomegranate Punk (for dark skin)

2. Revlon Illuminance Crème Shadow in Skinlights (for fair skin)

3. Mattese Elite Luminizer in LMZ01

4. Nars Lipstick in Bilbao

Can't wait to try out some of these trends and new colors Allure has suggested!

(Besides the citrus eyes... I don't think that will work well with my blonde hair and fair skin! Eek!)

What trend are you looking forward to most for spring?!

(Photos and article taken from www.Allure.com)

The Glam of the Oscars: Biggest Trends

The Oscars are one of the more glamorous awards shows. 

The stars tend to be more composed, going for classy over trendy. It is always interesting to see what the biggest trends of the night were, when you can see some major stars wearing similar silhouettes, makeup or hair styles, and jewelry.

For today's blog, I thought I would go over the biggest Oscar trends, and see what all of the stars (or their stylists!) are loving!

The first big trend of the night was diamond chokers.

Every woman loves diamonds, but I'm not too sure if this is a favorite trend of mine!

Second biggest trend was big buns. 

This is a trend I am definitely a fan of. 

I love seeing everyone's hair off their face and focusing on flawless makeup!

Sexy, undone waves. 

Not typical for the red carpet, but they definitely pulled it off!

Deep Maroon Nails. Love it!

 Darker color adds a little bit of an edgier look than a pale pink or nude.

Heavy Bangs... I'm not a fan of them!

Rooney Mara's are too short, and Ellie Kemper's and Rose Byrne's were too heavy. 

All I see when I look at these woman is bangs!

The last major trend of the night was the ponytail. 

I love it. Hair off the face, with the focus all about the dress and the makeup.

These woman really pulled off the casual pony, without looking sloppy.

(All photos and trends taken from www.people.com)

What was your favorite trend of the night?

(Please, don't say the bangs!)

Grammy Award's 2012: Best & Hideously Dressed!

The Grammy's are my favorite awards show. Besides the fact that I love to see what crazy performances the artists are going to do, (Nicki Minaj? I'm still confused!).... I love to see the fashion! The Grammy's tend to be less formal, and a little more trendy and fashion forward!

Since the Grammy's were just on, I thought I would share my favorite trends, and the ones that just didn't cut it for me!

First up: The Amazing Adele!

 Adele wore a shimmering custom Giorgio Armani, that flattered her newly slimmed down frame. She kept her makeup simple, yet still glamorous with a bright red lip and heavy black liner. My favorite of the night!

 Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood always looks amazing. She was wearing a white open-back Gomez-Gracia dress, with simple makeup and her hair in a loose up-do.

Rihanna

Rihanna also wore a custom Giorgio Armani gown. The gown had an open back, low neckline, and high slit, yet it still looked simple and sexy. She topped her look off with her newly blonde hair, smokey eye, and nude lips.

Fergie may have been in many fashion magazines best dressed list, but she was in my worst!

Fergie wore an orange lace mermaid dress by Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture. The look was completed with a high-waisted black bikini underneath, which is fitting, since this looks more like a glamorous swimsuit coverup than a dress you wear to a red carpet event!

Last but not least, Nicki Minaj

I understand she was in character for her out of control performance we would see later in the night, but head to toe, in a red cloak? She should have limited the craziness to her performance instead!

Who was your best dressed/worst dressed pick from The Grammy's?

(All photos from www.people.com)

Bad Hair Day? Try the Top Knot!

Lately I have been so busy,  I haven't had much time or energy to try and put together a cute hairstyle! Between rushing from class to work, I wanted something that is easy to do, without looking like I just rolled out of bed... (even if I did!)

Glamour posted an article on their website: 5 Cute Ways To Wear A Top Knot (Without Looking Like You Have A Small Squash Growing On Your Scalp) and I was instantly intrigued. 

I have been seeing numerous celebrities wearing the top knot hairstyle! Whether they are at a red carpet event, or shopping on the streets of New York, this hairstyle always looks classy and trendy.

What's nice about this hairstyle is that there are a lot of different ways that you can wear it, so you don't have to have a certain type of hair to make it work. It's simple to make it tight and neat, or messy and fun!

Kim Kardashian wore the top knot, keeping it tight and slicked back. This is more of a professional and classy way to wear the trend.

Keri Russell wore her top knot high and loose, creating a more relaxed and fun look, which is my personal favorite.

I have fallen in love with the top knot trend, and love how quick and easy it is! Below is a video I found on YouTube by "It's Judy Time". She gave a perfect demonstration of the top knot as inspired by Kourtney Kardashian. Spend the 2 minutes to watch the video and join the top knot trend!

Photos from Allure.com
YouTube video by It's Judy Time: http://www.youtube.com/social/blog/itsjudytime

Self Tanner or Skin Cancer?!

Well, it's February now and I have finally hit my breaking point. I am missing the sunshine and sick of being pale!

Every year about this time I get the urge to go to a tanning bed, "just to get a little color." Even though I remind myself how horrible it is for my skin, I still have to fight myself on the idea. What could a couple times hurt, right?!

(Image from www.mycanceradvisor.com)

Well, according to the National Cancer Institute, women who use tanning beds more than once a month are 55 percent more likely to develop malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. That is a risk I am not willing to take!

After reminding myself of this, I realized its time to look into some alternative (and safe!) methods of getting some color. Of course, I looked to my trusty Allure magazine for their "Best of Beauty" products hoping to find one that will work for me.

The first recommendation was Lorac TANtalizer Body Bronzer, which is a temporary bronzer and retails for $32.00

The second recommendation was for St.Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Lotion. Bronzer and moisturizer in one? Sounds good to me! Retails for $40.00

The third recommendation was also by St.Tropez, Gradual Tan Body Moisturizer. Retails for $30.00

These three products have won the Best of Beauty awards, and with St.Tropez having won for two different products, I think I need to give them a shot! If any one as any other recommendations, I would love to hear them! Results to be continued!


Information provided by:
http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/entertainment/tipsheet/tanning-booths
http://www.allure.com/beauty-products/best-of-beauty/2011/best-of-beauty-body#slide=6

What's in my beauty box?!

I thought I would start my blog off with sharing a few of my favorite beauty products that I cannot live without! Even if I only have a couple minutes to get ready... these are the first products  I would grab!

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara, $26

No need to spend a few minutes applying mascara with this one! The large brush and waxy texture makes it easy to put on 2 coats and go!

Bare Minerals Original SPF 15 Foundation, $26

Best foundation for varying coverage. Tap a little bit into the cap, use your favorite Kabuki brush and swirl onto face until you get desired coverage. Perfect for getting ready quick as you don't have to worry about getting those nasty foundation lines!

Benefit Cosmetics Erase Paste, $26

Perfect for those days when you have dark under eye circles or blemishes!

Last, but certainly not least, MAC Cosmetics lip glosses. Every year during the holiday season they come out with limited edition lip gloss sets, and I buy them in every color. This year, there were 4 in each gift set for $32.50. Perfect way to try new colors that you may have never tried before!

Here is my favorite color theme, coral. Perfect for an everyday, natural look. Good color pigment, and not sticky!

What are your favorite beauty products that you cannot live without?!

Until next time....

Amanda

Just a girl with a beauty blog

The purpose of this blog is to take a deeper look into one of our passions and share it with the blogging world. Sure, I could have come up with something a little less cliche than a girl with a beauty blog, but hey, it's what I know and love!

I'm sure there will be people that will come across this blog that will say they could careless about beauty, makeup, fashion, hair, fitness, or diet... but they are lying.

Everyone has something they do every day in their beauty routine that they could not give up. For men it could be a certain hair gel or shaving cream they couldn't live without. For women it could be a certain mascara or shade of lip stick that brings out your inner confidence.

I love everything about beauty from the way it makes you appear on the outside, to the way it makes you feel on the inside. With this blog I hope to share my views on whatever the latest beauty buzz is about, and I welcome any feedback you may have on a topic!

See ya soon with my first "beauty" related blog!

Amanda