Beauty News: TIFFing In The eTalk Lounge!

In case you aren't following me on Twitter or Facebook, I've been working with CARGO Cosmetics in the eTalk Lounge doing makeup for the hosts of eTalk and doing the occasional powder touch-up on the celebrities. I'm off for a couple of a days and decided a much needed blog post was in order! Again, my apologies for the lack of blogging! 

Our makeup/swag storage room. Ben Mulroney's makeup all ready to go (far left corner)!

The above room is where the lovely Annesley from CARGO and I beautify the hosts. It's cramped but I've worked in worst conditions! The lucky celebrities are gifted with some of my fave products from CARGO: Cannes Blush, Toronto and Los Angeles Palettes, The Essential Smokey Eye Palette, and Lash Activator Primer and Mascara. 

Celebrities that have come through the eTalk Lounge so far: Kat Dennings, Rachelle Lefevre (who loves CARGO), Paul Giamotti, Rosamund Pike, Shannon Woodward, Kathleen Robertson, Jack Rathbone, Bruce Greenwood, Scott Speedman, Minnie Driver, Zach Braff, Josh Brolin, Josh Lucas, Dominic Cooper, Molly Parker, Allie MacDonald and Terence Howard. I know there are more but names are slipping my mind! While on lunch I walked by Chris Cooper! 

I did a powder and lip touch up on Kathleen Robertson who played Clare Arnold on my child-hood must-watch Beverly Hills 90210. She was so sweet and utterly gorgeous! Terence Howard on the other-hand was a different story. I had to do a quick powder touch-up on him yesterday. He's kind of intense but lightened up after the interview was over!

I'm back on Thursday and excited to see who will pass through. I'll try and snag more photos! I've had a blast so far getting to work on Ben, Lainey Lui, and Susie Wall! Check out Monday's eTalk TIFF coverage here: http://watch.ctv.ca/etalk/highlights/etalk-highlights/.

Have you seen any great TIFF movies? Spotted any celebrities?

Attention!!!!

I am not dead, nor have I been in a coma. More looks, tutorials, requests, reviews and more coming soon!!!

Beauty News: CoverFX International Treasure Hunt!

(Picture heavy!) :)

Start the first day back to school with a treasure hunt! The lovely team at CoverFX has organized this amazing treasure hunt taking place in select cities in Canada, US, and the UK. I love contests that really get the fans involved. CoverFX's last event was a successful flash mob that took place all over but I have to say the treasure hunt tops it all! Click on the poster to enlarge for contest details and visit their Facebook page!

Last week I attended a fabulous event to celebrate the launch of CoverFX's newest star, EyePrep FX. I'm already a huge fan of their primers so I knew I would fall in love with this one. Not only is it an eye primer for your concealer, foundation and eye shadow but it's also an eye cream!

I spoke with Co-creator, Jenny Frankel, who informed me that it's better not to layer the EyePrep FX over your traditional eye cream as it may affect the 'stay put' primer quality. However, if you just can't live without your favourite eye cream, Jenny suggests applying EyePrep FX during the day and your night cream at night. But to reap the full benefits of EyePrep, it's best to use both day and night. It's also made without silicone so for all you oily lids your shadow won't slip and slide throughout the day. 

I had a blast at the event (despite the heat and sweat!) seeing all my fellow blogger buddies and meeting new ones. And of course, it's always a pleasure being able to chat with CoverFX creators, Lee and Jenny! Thank you to the fabulous Marketing Co-Ordinator, Melissa Shum, for throwing a great event and wearing those fantastic purple heels! 

Sh-wag!

Gorgeous ladies Monica from Beauty Parler and Jennifer from Spiced Beauty

Co-creator Lee Graff demonstrating EyePrep FX on the lovely Melissa Shum

Clearly EyePrep FX works! The colour is definitely more vibrant.

More gorgeous ladies and sporting the "glow"! Rhia from ArtistRhi, Anjali from Rock That Look, and Farah from FacesByFarah

The awesome Lee Graff and Jenny Frankel! Love Lee's dress!

The fabulous International Communications Director, Wanda Longo and Lee

Celebrity makeup artists of the night Tracy Peart from CityLine and Lucky B from MTV Canada!

Me (and my "glow") with some pretty fabulous women!

I'm really bad with names - sorry! Jill from Jillo Jello, Arianne from GlitterGeek and moi. 

Rhia and I getting our sweat glow on!

Hot!

Melissa's killer purple platforms!

Uber talented MUA, Lelo, from Ramblings of An Artist. I love how we're resting our sweaty heads on each other!

I heart you Lucky!

www.coverfx.com

Fall Trend 2010: Sparkling Plum-Smoke

I was so glad I got to use my brother's girlfriend as my model for this next look. It's so much more fun to do makeup on other people than it is on myself. I coined this one as "plum-smoke" with some sparkle. Here are some of my Fall faves featured in today's look: 

1. NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Bangkok ($25 USD): Since these new lippies landed in my hands, I've hardly picked up a gloss! I'm absolutely in love with the rich pigments and the smooth  matte application. The best part is that it's long-wearing without drying out my lips! It's rich in antioxidants like Vitamin E and Acai Oil and Wild Mango Butter to keep your lips well-moisturized. I actually prefer the texture of these lipsticks over the NARS Velvet Matte Pencils. Bangkok is a soft rose and is this season's perfect nude-pink to compliment smokey eyes. This one has definitely become a staple in my kit. Pure Matte will be sold exclusively at The Bay for the month of September in Canada before hitting other retailers. Be sure to check it out!

2. YSL Eyeshadow Duo #29 ($41 USD): I'm not so sure about the colour combination. It just doesn't catch my eye. However, each shadow on its own are absolutely gorgeous. The texture is unbelievably smooth and the pigments are long-lasting. For today's look, I only used the Purple Amethyst on the lid which is a pretty shimmering lavender. I love YSL, but I don't think I would spend $41 USD for these duos. These shadows are definitely a splurge item if you are a fan of YSL.

3. NARS Blush in Douceur ($26 USD): There has been much buzz over this blush because it is the first blush from NARS to have the logo etched on it. Love the concept and it looks awesome but after a few uses it starts to fade which doesn't bother me. Douceur is a soft pink-brown that my cheeks are kind of loving right now. On fair skin you only need one application for it to show but for someone with medium-dark skin like moi, I need at least 2 applications. It's just such a great neutral and goes with just about every look this season. I've used it multiple times on multiple people and it looks beautiful every time. Another staple for me!

The Look: Sparkling Plum-Smoke

Before

This is my brother's beautiful girlfriend, Amy, who loves makeup and learning about makeup just as much as I love applying it. She's a natural beauty and rarely wears makeup so we decided to do something a little edgier than normal. I love her eye shape and really wanted to play it up by extending it and making her eyes bigger. I chose to go with plums and purples because it's her favourite colour and it looks amazing on her! I also styled her hair by giving her volume and curls with a blow dryer and small round brush and defined the curls with a flat iron. The hair looked too pretty for this heavy eye so I put her hair up in a messy ballerina bun. Tip: When your hair is already curled it's so much easier to throw in a bun.

After

Skin:

Make Up For Ever HD Primer

Face Atelier Ultra Pro Foundation #3

YSL Touche Eclat #1 (under eyes)

CoverFX Setting FX

Smashbox Halo Bronzing Powder

Eyes: 

CoverFX EyePrep

Bobbi Brown Basic Eye Palette (dark brown for her brows)

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Galaxy (lash line & lid)

YSL Duo Eyeshadow Purple Amethyst (lid and lower lash line)

M.A.C. Shadestick in Royal Purple (outer lid/crease)

NARS Vintage Duo Eyeshadow in Bysance (irridescent iris on outer lid/crease)

Stila Smudge Pot in Black (liner and smudged onto outer crease)

Kat Von D True Romance Eye Shadow Palette (black shadow outer crease and lower lash)

M.A.C. White Frost Shadow (brow bone)

CoverGirl LashBlast Waterproof Mascara in Black

I took out the bun after with her curls still in tact looking voluminous and sexy!

Cheeks: 

NARS Douceur Blush (cheek and contour)

Giorgio Armani Blending Duo Blush (shimmering Pale on apples)

Lips:

CoverFX MintGlaze FX (blotted with tissue)

NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Bangkok

What do you think of the plum trend? Will you be rockin' it this season? Have you tried any of these products? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Want 'em?

Products featured were sent for editorial consideration.

Fall Trend 2010: Dewy Skin

Glow on girl! Dewy skin is back this season so all you shimmer junkies can rejoice. Back in the day, the word "dewy" was over-used and over-done. Dewiness this time around should be less wet or moist looking (bad choice of words?) and more glowy and radiant.

1. Shu Uemura Stage Performer Instant-Glow ($49 USD): Supermodel skin in a tube? Yes please! Inspired by the models' hectic schedules during fashion week, this beauty cream is designed to revive tired looking skin, enhance the finish of your makeup, and deliver a natural glow. It contains depsea water to improve skin's moisturizing ability and contains ginkgo leaf extract to fight oxidation. I've replaced my day cream with this one and kind of love it too much. Once it settles into the skin, I really notice a rosier glow and a more even skin tone. It definitely delivers instant results.

2. Benefit Girl Meets Pearl ($30 USD): Pearls don't just drape around your neck anymore. Meet Benefit's liquid pearls for your face! This lovely golden-pink highlighter is a light-weight cream used to give your skin that "lit-from-within" glow. Similar to Benefit's That Gal Brightening Primer (love), just twist the bottom and dab a little on where light would naturally hit you. To avoid a disco shine, keep it to the high plains of the cheekbones, inner corner of eyes, and a little down the nose - don't forget to really blend into the skin. You can wear over top of makeup or on bare skin. You'll also love the light sweet scent of raspberry!

Throughout the Fall, I'll be posting photos of me (yikes!) trying out the hottest trends. This is my version of the dewy trend. 

Skin:

Shu Uemura Stage Performer Instant Glow

CoverFX BritePrep FX

Benefit Erase Paste

tarte Smooth Operator Tinted Moisturizer

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl (cheekbones, down nose)

CoverFX Setting FX (dusted lightly over t-zone)

Cheeks:

Smashbox O-Glow Bronzer (contour)

M.A.C. The Soft Meow Mineralize Blush (Fabulous Felines Collection)

Eyes:

CoverFX EyePrep

Anastasia Highlighting Brow Kit (brows)

Burberry Sheer Eye Shadow in Almond (lid/crease)

NARS Duo Shadow in Rajasthan (metallic beige on center of lid)

Anastasia Brow Duality (Lace Shimmer on inner corner of eyes)

Milani Liquif Eye pencil in Black (waterline and smudged into top lash line)

Lancome Definicils Precious Cells Mascara

Lips:

Korres Lip Butter in Guava

What do you think of the dewy skin trend? Love it? Hate it? Rockin' it?

Products featured were sent for editorial consideration. 

The Galvanic Spa Experience

Misty is here as a guest tutorialist to show us the fabulous products from Nu Skin. This is in conjunction with the Mature skin week that we are having here at Classy Cosmetics. Soon will be a giveaway as well. Sorry about the last 4 minutes of the video. Don't know what happened and have tried to fix it but can't. Basically we talk about how it helps with crow's feet and that we both like the product. In the end we talk about how results will obviously vary and you will see more drastic result the older you are. To learn more about this amazing product, click on the button to the left. Misty will also have a website where you can specifically ask her more questions. Contact me if that would interest you and I will put you in touch with her.

Mature Makeup!

Ladies, here it is. My video on mature makeup. Some tips and tricks to live by. This is a slightly dramatic look (and rather quickly done). Our next video will be a very light natural look.