Archive for the ‘Beauty Looks’ Category

Thanks to my mother and grandmother, I grew up idolizing Elizabeth Taylor. Here violet eyes, wicked winged liner, multiple affairs with leading men…Whether her moments were sensational or scandalous, she definitely embodied all that is a Hollywood star and everything that was timelessly glamorous. As a teenager, I had the full intention of becoming the next Liz Taylor. Multiple marriages and a savings fund for purple contacts were definite life goals at the time. (FYI: Quite bittersweet, none of those things happened.) Alas, there can only be and will only be one Elizabeth Taylor in this world.  Fans like me can only be so lucky that we inherit the ability to recreate her signature exquisite look with these tips and tricks from modern day makeup artists to the stars, Napoleon Perdis.

Black Eyeliner

Napoleon Perdis Neo Noir Eyeliner ($20)

You can’t work and wow the crowd like Liz without those beautiful eyes being emphasized by sultry, winged black liner.Napoleon’s Tip – Use it to create an exaggerated cat eye, or make a subtler statement. The super soft applicator tip means mistake proof lining, while the intense black color is buildable for more drama at night .

Violet Eyes

Color Disc in High Voltage Violet ($25)

Though we can’t all have violet eyes, we can all have violet eyeshadow. This pick is as luxurious as it is bright! Napoleon’s Tip – Before applying to lids, prep the base with a concealer to guarantee color longevity; always use a eye shadow brush to evenly distribute onto the eyes for minimal fallout .

Red Lips

Devine Goddess Lipstick ($22) in Xenia

Red lips are hard to master, but once you do, you can guarantee that you will be turning heads in this signature Liz Taylor shade. Napoleon’s Tip – Apply your lipstick and then use a pencil to line around the edges. The liner will glide on more smoothly, leaving a more natural outline but still preventing the lip color from bleeding

Rest with angels Elizabeth Taylor and thank you for touching so many hearts with your beauty and talent.No doubt the images and masterpieces of the star will live on forever.

Waking up early on a Saturday morning (and by early I mean anytime before 10:00 AM)  must be worth it. Like really, really worth it. When I got the e-mail saying that the Grand Opening/Launch to  L’Occitane store was going to start at 11:00 AM, and they mentioned that Gilles Marini was going to be there, I thought “Eh! Why not?” Celebrities and skincare are always a great reason to wake up at 8:30ish on the weekend.

Unfortunately, as you can see from some of the pictures taken by Drew Altizer at the event, my makeup barely even showed up. Perhaps because I kept it really simple, or it might have melted off my face from me rushing from Bart station to Bart station with no time for touch-ups. I went extremely casual that day. Wearing my Patrick Robinson reversible tank, brown boots, a vintage crocheted layer vest, and some Forever 21 blue skinny jeans.

Above was my FOTD (Face of the Day) which, I like to call on here, Face Value. *Because, I grew up in a Green Day obsessed generation and FOD was the bonus song on their Dookie album and it was an abbreviation of “F*** Off and Die” which is, therefor, an abbreviation that I am uncomfortable to use as an abbreviation to represent my face.

Again, I’m wearing the most basic of my makeup routine in the pic and all that was used is pretty much under $10.

MAC lipstick: Revlon Super Renewist Lipcolor in “Naturally Nude” (Discontinued – Somewhat tell them to bring it back because I LOVE it.)

Eyeliner: Almay Waterproof Eyeliner in Black

Foundation: Maybelline Dream Mousse in Creamy Natural

Brows: E.L.F. Studio Eyebrow kit in Medium

Bronzer: Rimmel London in Sun Bronze

That’s it for now, Boho babes! Until next time. xo

Here’s another picture for hoots.

The first Saturday of October, I was able to attend the 11th Annual Vegetarian Festival of San Francisco, which was being held in a community hall of Golden Gate Park. With sunshine, bikes, and natural surroundings, the location was fitting as ever, and the place was packed with people, loads of vegan and vegetarian companies, communities, delicious munchies to sample… and  the first ever SF Vegan Fashion Show.

(I interviewed coordinators Karine Brighten and Kara Ashe  if you want to read their opinions about veg food and fashion just the click the links on their names above.)

I met New York Times Best Selling Author Rory Freedman: (of “Skinny Bitch”)

saw some fantastic cruelty-free clothes and tasted some of the most DELICIOUS vegan food I have EVER tasted in my life. What  stood out the most?

Vegan Thai tea, I loved it so much I went back for seconds. Unfortunately, I lost the contact info and I cannot even remember the name. *Serious sad face..I even contacted head Veggie Fest man to ask if he could forward me their info and he said it was “Trader Joes.” No. No, it wasn’t. In fact TJ’s was on the opposite side of the hall. I know this is a long shot but, if anyone can e-mail me that info that would be fantastic!

Tofurkey Pizza. As my fellow examiner, @Parmie, tweeted “Very dangerous for the figure.” 

Vaute Couture. If you read my work on www.GreenByDesign.com, you know she is one of my favorite vegan designers.  Her coats were the highlight of the fashion show. as were Pansy Maidens adorable purses. (Interview coming soon!)

ColorCraft and Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics worked the runway makeup. They gave me a tube of their red lipgloss. Which is like a stain and a gloss. It’s Soooo addictive. I love it. More to come about that.

And so many more… I’ve actually been so busy that I haven’t been able to back track and look through my treehugger bag of flyers and business cards eversince the event…but I will. So just stay tuned.

I wore my favorite vintage blouse (from Goodwill) and all my best cruelty-free makeup products:

Smashbox Jetset liner in Black, MAC Minerlize in “Deep Dark,” MAC lipstick in “Bare,” and my Pixi foundation stick in No.3 Warm.

I really had a blast. Can’t wait for next years! The healthy 12thy! Woot.

More pictures are available on my Beauty Bohemian Facebook page. Just click on the 11th Annual VegFest album.

 

The New York Fashion Week runway of BCBG Max Azria was summed up with just one word: effortless.  And really, it is. Both, the look as much as the application. Maybelline New York’s Global Makeup Artist Charlotte Willer headed the team backstage to create an extremely natural look. So natural that it’s even sans mascara!  This look is the perfect everyday appearance that portrays confidence, assurance, and low maintenance.  We all could use a little more of each of those things, no?

Straight from the Maybelline New York team, here’s how to get it:

Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation: Apply all over face like a moisturizer for a 100% poreless finish.

Define-A-Brow Eyebrow Pencil: Strong brows became the focal point of definition.  Softly framing the eyes and adding definition.

Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eyeshadow in Green With Envy: Charlotte used the creamy golden shade of the palette all over the lid to add a muted luminosity.

ColorSensation Lip Stain in In The Buff: To avoid looking too pale, Willer also added a single layer of lip balm for a nice moisturized lip.

 

Oh, boho babes! Who out there is a Maybelline fan? I know I am. This season, Maybelline New York and Charlotte Willer, Maybelline New York’s Global Makeup Artist, will be supporting an exciting roster of important designers by creating runway makeup looks for the following shows:

BCBG MAX AZRIA

Michael Angel

Vivienne Tam

Z Spoke by Zac Posen

DKNY

Custo Barcelona

Carlos Miele

and L.A.M.B.

I’m particularly most excited for L.A.M.B. and BCBG has already showed up online and in my inbox!  As my e-mail begins start getting full of images, how-to’s, and beauty tips straight from the ladies at Maybelline in New York. I’ll supply the knowledge online (here, my Examiner.com page, or both!) so that you can head over to your closest drugstore and score the Maybelline beauty products that are making all those coveted runway looks happen.

With the hot and sweaty season coming up, the messy pony has been my go-to look because (1.) Due to the heat, I make it a habit to shower/wash my hair at night to avoid greasy hair galore (2.) Hitting the snooze button 2,500 times after the morning alarm goes off leaves me very, very little time to prep for well, anything, let alone shower and (3.) Washing hair the night before is my deepest, darkest secret to keeping my hair healthy, shiny, and moisturized.

Mastering the perfect messy ponytail can change any outfit from drab to fab in a possible .5 seconds. The real trick to creating a pony that screams “wash-and-wear” chic, like Cameron Diaz, rather than trailer park mess, like Britney Spears, is the proper products. No brush required. Here’s how I do this haircaring and style-friendly hairdo daily:

After I shower, and before bed, when my hair is damp dry I throw in an obsessive amount of leave-in treatment or conditioner. My hair then air-dries through the night, crimping, binding and falling wherever Mr.Sandman positions me to slumber. Choose a non-greasy treatment, free of any oils, to ensure you don’t wake up with a grease ball of a mane. My favorites? For the most bang for your buck, try John Frieda’s Frizz-Ease Creme Serum Overnight Repair Formula, which is a smooth, lightweight cream that repairs and mends damage without leaving any residue in your hair or pillow. For a worthy splurge, try Redken’s Real Control Overnight Treatment, an award winning overnight recovery treatment which helps renew and repair severely damaged hair using Redken’s exclusive Interbond Conditioning System and Care-Adjust Complex.

By morning my hair is dry, wavy, and a big mess. No need for a brush! Just finger comb as much as you can.

Grab an elastic and get it ready. Starting from lifting under the neck line and up, Spray your head with a light-holding, non-aerosol, flexible spray like, Brocato’s FreeFix, which is a luxurious hair spray that adds volume, texture and a light flexible hold without the crunchy unwanted feel and funky smell other hairsprays leave. (It smells oh-so divine and is also perfect for keeping bangs in place.)

When spray is dry and hair is set, gather and tie it up, pull the ends to get that desired snug fit. How high, low, or poofy is totally up  to you.

Spritz more hair spray on your hands to smooth any unwanted bumps or pieces.

A messy ponytail is a fast and easy hairstyle perfect for work or summertime fun. The added technique for an overnight treatment also adds an extra hair healthy benefit to your mane without adding the extra work of having to wear a shower cap and wait minutes for a deep conditioner to absorb in the shower…Yah! I never understood that either. *shrugs*

Subscribe above, lovelies! Follow me on twitter, too. (@miratorres)

For the Chillin’s 12th Anniversary, I didn’t want a crazy makeup or artsy face. I wanted something simple, since after all, my dress was freaking electric blue and brown leather printed. I did a basic makeup application with a swipe of shadow and blush. Nothing too technical or overboard. To keep it natural and stress-free, I ditched the foundation, (just concealer) used  cruelty-free products, and a bunch of my favorite makeup bag staples:

Concealer: MAC Moisture Cover in NW25

Eyes: E.L.F. Mineral Eyeshadow in Confidence

Lips: MAC lipglass in Please Me

Blush: MAC Sheertone Shimmer blush in Sunbasque

Bronzer: MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Deep Dark

It’s an uber easy look, fit for any level of makeup expertise.

Enjoy!