Pantene Challenge

Pantene Challenge

Total Beauty readers try new Pantene hair care products in lieu their usual ones

This is a TotalBeauty.com hair care products article See if our readers prefer Pantene's new hair care products to the pricier ones they were using. See results

In Focus: Eyeko Nail Polishes

Here are some more cute Eyeko polishes now available on their website. Remember, free shipping to US and Europe! I love the smaller cuter bottles and the adorable colors. What shades are you eyeing?

Eyeko Punk Polish

An Eyeko classic back by popular demand! For nails with attitude punk it up with fluro pink – after all “Pink is the only true rock n roll colour” Paul Simonon, The Clash.

Eyeko Chi Chi Polish

For instant embellishment layer up Eyeko Chi Chi Polish for intense glitter coverage. Pink glitters suspended in baby pink polish make for the ultimate girlie nail shade.

Konad Nail Art: MAC Nail Lacquer in Earthly Harmony

Here is a nail look featuring one of my favorite nail lacquers from the MAC Nail Trend F/W 2010 by Jin Soon called Earthly Harmony. It is described as a muted taupe with sophisticated copper shimmer. As you can see in the pictures, it has those beautiful goldish copper particles in the bottle that look amazing especially when light hits it. This is 3 coats, however, because I find the taupe TOO muted. I know this shade is the in color for the past several months and into this new season, but I had wanted this color to be a bit darker and it looked a bit too cool for my skintone. Nonetheless, it is lovely and I am glad to have this nail lacquer in my collection.

I wanted the image color to complement the shimmer, so I chose Passion from China Glaze Romantique collection.

Hairstyle Basics

Hairstyle Basics

Did you flunk beauty school? Time to revisit Classic Hairstyles 101 with this handy guide

This is a TotalBeauty.com hairstyles article Hairstyle trends come and go, but the classics -- they're here to stay. See how to give yourself the perfect blow out, curls, ponytail and bun. See hairstyles

Best Maybelline Beauty Products

Best Maybelline Beauty Products

From lipsticks to foundation to mascara, see which products Total Beauty readers applaud

This is a TotalBeauty.com beauty products article Read testimonials from real women about the Maybelline products that they love. See products

No. 16: Maybelline New York Mineral Powder Finishing Veil Translucent Loose Powder, $9.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8

"This one is inexpensive and the payoff is fantastic …"

No. 15: Maybelline New York Cool Effect Cooling Shadow/Liner, $5.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.1

"It looks great for day and night …"

No. 14: Maybelline New York Lip Polish Lip Gloss, $5.79

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.2

"It's not too sticky or too shiny, and has just enough color in it …"

Want to see what other products made the list? Click here!

MAC Fabulous Felines: Mineralize Blushes and Pigments Swatches and Review

MINERALIZE BLUSH


Pet Me, Utterly Game


Pet Me

Swatches and Review after the jump

MAC Fabulous Felines Superslick Liquid Eye Liner Swatches and Review

Smokey Heir


Defiantly Feline


Marked For Glamour

Swatches and Review after the jump

MAC Fabulous Felines: Lipstick and Lipglass Swatches and Review

Check out my MAC Fabulous Felines Initial Swatches and Review

Check out my MAC Fabulous Felines Eyeshadow Quads Swatches and Review

Here is part 2 of MAC Fabulous Felines review. I now focus on the lip colors in this entry.


Top-Bottom: Aristo-Cat, Pet Me Please


Top: Superior, Of Royalty, Aristo-Cat, Cunning lipsticks
Bottom: Mauvement, Bloodline pigments

MAC Fabulous Felines Eyeshadow Quads: Burmese Beauty, Leopard Luxe and Palace Pedigreed Swatches and Review

Here is Part 2 of the MAC Fabulous Felines review, but I will make separate reviews and swatches according to products. For my MAC Fabulous Felines initial swatches and review, CLICK HERE.

LEOPARD LUXE


Wild By Nature, Notoriety
Style Predator, Furiously Fabulous

Homemade Beauty Recipes

Homemade Beauty Recipes

Natural and affordable potions and lotions

This is a TotalBeauty.com health & beauty article Try best-selling author Janice Cox's easy, DIY beauty recipes from honey hair masks to strawberry facial masks. See recipes

Find Your Best Hair Color

Find Your Best Hair Color

Take this quiz to find your ideal hair color for your skin tone

This is a TotalBeauty.com hair care article Celebrity colorist Beth Minardi helps you find the most flattering hair color to enhance your skin tone. Take quiz

Red Carpet Eye Brow Tips By Anastasia Soare

August 25, 2010 (Los Angeles, CA) – Beverly Hills’ most sought-after brow expert, Beauty Innovator Anastasia Soare, is a must for any A-Lister walking the red carpet. Along with her signature brow shaping techniques, Anastasia also has a new line of versatile products that go beyond the brow, providing stars with the perfect total eye area. Using her Kit for Perfect Brows and Eyes and Line Erasing Serum, Anastasia’s signature eyebrows give her clients instant face lifts by creating what she has coined the “Perfect Triangle” in the eye area. This year, Anastasia will be perfecting the brows of Emmy nominees Julianna Margulies, Elisabeth Moss, and presenter Eva Longoria before they hit the red carpet.

Anastasia’s tips on how to get Red Carpet Ready:

How many days/weeks before a big event should you have eyebrows done? Why this period of time?

“We never want to schedule brow shaping’s for actresses the day before or the actual day of an event because there is too much running around between fittings, hair and makeup and your skin can become very sensitive to wax after a facial or with the application of makeup right after a shaping. I prefer 3-6 days before as this gives the skin enough time to be even with the skin tone of the face. When we remove hair with wax the dead skin in “exfoliated” off and can be slightly lighter in pigment for a day or two. In addition, in the event that there is any redness at all we want to be cautious and avoid this by shaping ahead.”

Should brows be natural-looking for a big event?

“Award Shows and the red carpet events are really the perfect time to vamp up with a glam look. The stars will be very glamorous and not in everyday clothes so their brows should embody the glamour of Hollywood.”

What will the red carpet trend be for brows during the Emmys?

“Brows will follow closely with hair and I have the feeling that the ultra feminine is back thanks to all the Vampire trilogies and True Blood, the starlets will make smoldering choices with clothes, hair and makeup. Brows will be high arched and of a medium to thick shape. We will use pencil and powder to highlight where the brow corners as well as the beginning and end of a “power shape”. Think of Dita Von Teese as a modern example of your ideal Emmy’s brow at this time. It is a little much for day to day but for this event, it will work perfectly in tune with the
style I am going for. I have been looking over lots of Erte’s work to get inspired for the right brow and as I mentioned it’s all about glamour.”

Anastasia’s brow studio is located in Beverly Hills, CA, with a second studio recently opened in Brentwood, CA. Anastasia has satellite mini brow studios in Sephoras throughout the country. Top products include Lash Lifting Mascara, Brow Enhancing Serum, Brow Duality and The Kit for Perfect Brows and Eyes, available at Nordstrom and Sephora nationwide and on www.anastasia.net. Celeb clients include Jennifer Lopez, Heidi Klum, Reese Witherspoon, Penelope Cruz, and many others.

MAC Fabulous Felines Initial Swatches and Review

Check out my MAC Fabulous Felines Eyeshadow Quads Swatches and Review

Check out my MAC Fabulous Felines: Lipstick and Lipglass Swatches and Review

Check out my MAC Fabulous Felines: Superslick Liquid Liners Swatches and Review

Check out my MAC Fabulous Felines: Mineralize Blushes and Pigments Swatches and Review


Here are some initial swatches of the MAC Fabulous Felines collection. I will be coming up with swatches of the rest of the products in the next few entries.

Obviously, this collection's theme is all about pedigreed cats. Three sub-"cat"-egories were made: Burmese Beauty which is about shades of sable, champagne and teak-olive, Palace Pedigreed which is about emerald eyes, silvers, russian blue, and Leopard Luxe which has golds, browns and bronzes from the collection.

For this entry, I will divide the reviews according to products instead of the sub cat-egories for easier navigation. Let's start!

Younger Looking Skin From Head To Toe

Younger Looking Skin from Head-to-Toe

Learn the importance and the how-tos of your anti-aging routine

This is a TotalBeauty.com body article This guide includes everything from the best anti-aging body products to post summer skin repair to secrets to a younger looking body. See guide

MAC Fabulous Felines Burmese Beauty: Face Chart and How-To Tips

FACE / PEAU
Cleanser/Démaquillant Cleanse Off Oil
Moisturizer/Hydratant Studio Moisture Cream and Fix +
Foundation/Fond de Teint Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation
Concealer/Cache-Cernes Studio Sculpt Concealer
Blush/Fard À Joues The Soft Meow Mineralize Blush and Prized (highlight)
Powder/Poudre Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder
Brush/Pinceau 129, 168, 190

EYES / YEUX
Brows/Sourcils Showstopper Eye Shadow
Brow Highlight/Touche Lumière Prized Eye Shadow
Eyelid/Paupière Skintone 2 Eye Shadow
Crease/Creux de L’oeil On the Hunt Superslick Liquid Eye Liner with Showstopper Eye Shadow
Liner/Eye-Liner On the Hunt Superslick Liquid Eye Liner
Lashes/Cils Plushblack Plush Lash
Brush/Pinceau 219, 239, 266, 224

LIPS / LÈVRES
Pencil/Crayon Pour Les Lèvres Velvetella Cremestick Liner
Lipstick/Rouge À Lèvres To Pamper Lipstick and Spree Lipglass
Brush/Pinceau 316

HOW-TO TIPS BY AMBER DREADON
This look is all about drawing attention to your eyes. Soft textures, and rich dark eye shadows blended and buffed with a few M·A·C brushes, can create the wild drama and soft allure of the feline.

First, prep the skin with a generous spritz of Fix+ Spray; then gently massage Studio Moisture Cream over the entire face.

Apply Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation with a 190 Foundation Brush, so the skin appears radiant and flawless. Buff a small amount of Studio Sculpt Concealer over areas that need extra coverage (around the eyes, blemishes, etc). Set everything in place with Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder and a 129 Powder/ Blush Brush.

The Soft Meow Blush is our contouring shade. With a 168 Large Angled Contour Brush, start just under the cheekbone and close to the ear and sweep the brush following under the cheekbone. Use the same brush again (slightly dusted off) with Prized Eye Shadow just above the cheekbone for a sheer highlight.

Brows are slightly extended using a 266 Small Angled Brush with Showstopper Eye Shadow and then combed up using Clear Brow Set. This perfect brow will help enlarge the eyes.

Use Prized Eye Shadow to highlight the eye area. With a 224 Tapered Blending Brush, lightly dust the colour from the eyelid to the brow bone to create a sheer colour wash. Then, using a 239 Eye Shader Brush, swipe Skintone 2 Eye Shadow solidly onto the eyelid.

Create over-exaggerated eye lines above and below the eye by applying a line of On the Hunt Superslick Liquid Eye Liner.

To soften the edges, apply Showstopper Eye Shadow to the side of the 239 Brush Shader, and blend the two shades together. You need only a small amount of Showstopper Eye Shadow on the top of the 219 Pencil Brush, to add depth to the outer crease of the eye, and also to create a shadow on the inner corners of the eyes.

With precision, cleanly line the lash line using On the Hunt Superslick Liquid Eye liner. Follow this by curling the lashes and applying a generous amount of Plush Lash Plushblack to the top lashes only.

Enlarge lips artfully with Velvetella Cremestick Liner; use on the outer corners and blended inward using the 316 Lip Brush. Layer To Pamper Lipstick over the pencil, again using the 316. The whole look is then finished with a dash of Spree Lipglass on the centre of the lip.

MAC Fabulous Felines Palace Pedigreed: Face Chart and How-To Tips

FACE / PEAU
Foundation/Fond de Teint Mineralize SPF 15 Foundation / Loose
Concealer/Cache-Cernes Studio Sculpt Concealer
Blush/Fard À Joues Pet Me Mineralize Blush and Taupe (contour) Powder Blush
Brush/Pinceau 109, 252, 116

EYES / YEUX
Brows/Sourcils Lingering Eye Brows
Brow Highlight/Touche Lumière Courtly Eye Shadow
Eyelid/Paupière Quite Spoiled Eye Shadow
Crease/Creux de L’oeil Quite Spoiled and Kid Eye Shadows
Liner/Eye-Liner Blacktrack Fluidline and Russian Blue Eye Shadow
Lashes/Cils Studio Fix Lash in Black Fix
Brush/Pinceau 217, 224, 266

LIPS / LÈVRES
Primer/Base de Maquillage Prep + Prime Lip
Pencil/Crayon Pour Les Lèvres Beurre Cremestick Liner
Lipstick/Rouge À Lèvres Superior and Docile Lipsticks
Brush/Pinceau 316

HOW-TO TIPS BY LYNE DESNOYERS
A feline’s gaze is glamorous and hypnotic – but can be graphically interpreted via an Eye Liner against muted shades of nudes and lavender. No need to default to the classic “cat’s eye.” This is new, modern, and flatters all bone structures!

Your starting point is fresh-looking, luminous skin. Apply Mineralize SPF 15 Foundation/Loose with a 109 Small Contour Brush. Use a circular motion on the outer part of the face and a dabbing motion where you need more coverage. If you have any imperfections, use Studio Sculpt Concealer with a 252 Large Shader Brush, then blend it into the skin until it disappears.
Dust the entire lid with Eye Shadow in Courtly. For a smooth application, use the 217 Blending Brush. Over this, apply Quite Spoiled Eye Shadow with the 230 Brush. Best coverage will be achieved if you use a dabbing motion.

Next, mix a little bit of Quite Spoiled and Kid Eye Shadows with a 224 Tapered Blending Brush and sweep gently into the crease of your eyes. The idea is to create skin tone-coloured shadow that provides soft definition but not a defined line.

Now, for the drama. Using the 266 Small Angle Brush, take Blacktrack Fluidline and draw a little “check mark” on the outer corner of your eyes. This mark should follow the line of your lash line and your brow bone. Make sure you keep your black line at the first quarter on the crease. Fill in this “check mark” with the Blacktrack and intensify it with Russian Blue Eye Shadow, using the same 266 brush. The combination of the two will give a very nice, velvety look.

Eyes like the above look best on a face with some definition. Here, we use Pet Me Blush dusted on the apples of the cheeks, while the cheekbones are sculpted with Taupe Blush. The 116 Blush Brush can be used for both applications.

Lips are defined with Beurre Lip Liner and then blended with a 316 Lip Brush. Once again, the idea is not to create a line but to shape and shade the lips. Superior Lipstick should be applied with a brush and then given a grand finale with a lush application of Docile Lipglass.

MAC Fabulous Felines Leopard Luxe: Face Charts and How-To Tips

FACE / PEAU
Cleanser/Démaquillant Wipes
Moisturizer/Hydratant Studio Moisture Fix and Fix +
Primer/Base de Maquillage Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50 PA/++
Foundation/Fond de Teint Mineralize Satinfinish SPF 15 Foundation
Concealer/Cache-Cernes Select Moisturecover
Blush/Fard À Joues Utterly Game Mineralize Blush
Brush/Pinceau 116, 187

EYES / YEUX
Brows/Sourcils Taupe Impeccable Brow Pencil
Brow Highlight/Touche Lumière Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light
Eyelid/Paupière Style Predator Eye Shadow (inner), Old Gold Pigment (center), Notoriety Eye Shadow (outer)
Crease/Creux de L’oeil Wild by Nature Eye Shadow
Liner/Eye-Liner Teddy Eye Kohl, Embark Eye Shadow, On the Hunt Superslick Liquid Eye Liner
Lashes/Cils Plushblack Plush Lash
Brush/Pinceau 217, 219, 239, 266

LIPS / LÈVRES
Primer/Base de Maquillage Lip Conditioner SPF 15
Pencil/Crayon Pour Les Lèvres Creamola Cremestick Liner
Lipstick/Rouge À Lèvres On The Prowl Lipstick
Brush/Pinceau 194

HOW-TO TIPS BY KERI BLAIR

This mix of warm tones and velvety finishes captures the sensual side of feline characteristics. Sultry browns softly sculpt the eye, and by extending the shape, we create a feline-inspired look that’s both
powerful and playful. Finish with a sweetly dramatic lip.

Before you start with colour, prep skin with Fix + and Studio Moisture Fix, followed by a small amount of Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50 in the T-zone.

Smooth the lips with Lip Conditioner.

For colour, start with the eyes using Teddy Eye Kohl to line the upper and lower lash lines. Using the tip of the pencil, start at the end of the bottom lash line and wing the liner up to create the template for your
liner. Smudge the Teddy pencil slightly around the eye.

With the 239 Eye Shader Brush, apply Style Predator on the inner corner of the eyelid and blend towards the middle of the lid.

Flip over your brush and apply Old Gold Pigment to the center of the eyelid, layering it over the base colour of Style Predator.

Using the 217 Blending Brush, apply Wild by Nature into the crease of your eye. Start in the inner corner and work up into the eyebrow, then follow the natural shape of your crease and pull out the colour to your
eyebrow.

In the outer corner, use the 219 Pencil Brush and apply Notoriety to the outer corner of the eye in the same shape of a cat’s eye (blend this over the Wild by Nature).

Use Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light under your brow and pull down.
Using the 266 Small Angle Brush, apply Embark Eye Shadow as eye liner, keeping it tight to your lash line and winging out over the Teddy Eye Kohl.

Then, to intensify your liner, use On the Hunt Superslick Liquid Liner in the outer corner of your wing!

Lastly, apply two coats of Plush Black Mascara to the top and bottom lashes. Use the brush to extend your top lashes out and up!

Clean up any debris around your eyes with Fast Response Eye Cream and a sponge.

Using the 187 Duo Fibre Brush, apply Mineralize Satinfinish SPF 15 Foundation. Set with a light powder of Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder.

Apply Utterly Game Mineralize Blush with a 116 Blush Brush. Start close to the ear, and then using circular motions, move the colour over the cheeks, towards the nose.

Blot off the Lip Conditioner and lightly outline, then fill, your lips with Creamola Cremestick Liner.  Finish off with an application of On The Prowl lipstick.

Coming soon: MAC Fabulous Felines Swatches and Review

MAC Nail Trend F/W '10 Initial Swatches and Review

Here is a peek at some of the nail polishes from the MAC Nail Trend F/W '10 Jin Soon collection.  I am glad that MAC has improved the formula of their nail polishes, as the past few releases had good staying power and the consistency is just right - neither too goopy nor runny.  The newer releases, especially my favorite - Blue India - were a dream to apply and lasted chip-free on my nails for days.  This new Nail Trend for F/W 2010 is again from the creativity of Jin Soon, who was inspired by the colors of the Orient.  The colors truly reminded me of Chinese silk fabric, the different rich and deep colors of precious stones from Asia, and bold colors that remained faithful to the asian theme.  I really like the color crafts from this collection. The shimmer in each nail lacquer truly reflects the asian theme because the shades look like shiny Chinese silk fabric colors to my eyes.

Swatches and review after the jump

MAC Nail Trend F/W '10 Product Information

CLICK HERE For Nail Trend F/W '10 Swatches and Review

Mistress of the art of the sophisticated nail,
Jin Soon was inspired this season
by the sensual pleasures of the Forbidden City –
colours taken from the
sculptures, tiles,
architecture, fabrics
and decorative papers of Imperial China.
Jin synthesized this vision
to arrive at a collection in exotic and ravishing
combinations of orange, blue, taupe, green, purple
and, of course, lacquer red.
These hues are opaque and rich
with pearl essences for a subtle dimension.
Six must-have shades will be sold
with our top coat Overlacquer to finish off
the manicured look.

Nail Lacquer (Frost)
Concubine Blackened red with sophisticated red shimmer
Earthly Harmony Muted taupe with sophisticated copper shimmer
Ming Blue Cobalt blue with sophisticated teal and red shimmer
Rain of Flowers Blackened violet with sophisticated violet shimmer
Imperial Flower Bright reddish orange with gold and red shimmer
Jade Dragon Emerald green with sophisticated teal shimmer
Overlacquer Clear
Suggested Retail Price $13.00 U.S./$15.50 CDN

Available
North America August 26, 2010 at all M·A·C locations
International October 2010 at all M·A·C locations
1.800.588.0070 and www.maccosmetics.com