Staying in touch with Bobbi Brown
31 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Cosmetics photos, Cosmetics world
What I do online these days? I mainly browse beauty products, makeup artists, skincare, whatever I can read about beauty. Today, as I was browsing Bobbi Brown’s website trying to absorb as much as I can, since I love her style and how she creates beautiful faces, I took snapshots of some of her makeup looks (of her models) which I am posting here. Observe how her style is simple, yet so rich.
Do you know how she started?
Even as a young girl, Bobbi was enthralled by makeup. “I remember watching my mother apply her white eye shadow and black liner in her blue gilded bathroom—she was glamorous, but fresh-looking.” And as soon as she was able to work, Bobbi raced to the small cosmetics store in town, where she got her first taste of formal training.
These are the first lipsticks that Bobbi created
Bobbi’s education continued at Boston’s Emerson College, where she earned a B.F.A. in theatrical makeup. Upon graduation, she moved to New York City to make it as a professional makeup artist. She showed her ever-growing portfolio to anyone who would look at it, slowly built up contacts, and experienced the challenges typical of most freelance makeup artists trying to make it in Manhattan.
But despite the ups and downs, her talent and drive earned her coveted gigs with top magazines, photographers, and models. Bobbi began her collaboration with photographers Bruce Weber, and Arthur Elgort for American Vogue, as well as with the late Francesco Scavullo for Cosmopolitan and Self. A seven-page spread of full-face beauty shots of supermodel Tatiana Patitz—shot by Wayne Maser—also put Bobbi’s work front and center.
Bobbi’s big breakthrough was her first American Vogue cover. The image was shot by famed photographer Patrick Demarchelier and featured the soon-to-be-supermodel Naomi Campbell, made up by Bobbi Brown. Seven years after arriving to New York City knowing no one, Bobbi was part of the club. The industry took notice.
Bobbi’s Big Idea: As a successful makeup artist with access to everything in the market, Bobbi found nearly all products looked too artificial, making it impossible to create a gorgeous, no-makeup look.
Ten years into her freelance career, a chance meeting with a chemist at a magazine photo shoot changed everything. “I had the idea to create a lipstick that didn’t smell, wasn’t dry or greasy, and looked like lips, only better—and I told the chemist about it,” she says.
The chemist made the lipstick following Bobbi’s unprecedented specifications and the result was Brown Lip Color, a pinky-brown shade. Nine other brown-based lipstick shades followed soon after, and Bobbi’s set of lipsticks was complete.
In 1991, her 10 lipsticks debuted at the Bergdorf Goodman under the name of Bobbi Brown essentials. Bobbi was expecting to sell 100 in a month. She sold 100 within the first day.
The message was clear: Women wanted makeup that was simple, flattering, and wearable.
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Video: My weekend makeup look
30 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Cosmetics world, makeup before after, video
Best foundation primer?
30 Jan 2012 2 Comments
in Cosmetics photos, Cosmetics world
Photos coming soon.
I bought another foundation primer, and I am still trying it out.. I hear that Laura Mercier created the first foundation primer, before everyone else followed her. This one is for all skin types. My other primer is by Paula Dorf, for oily skin. There is now a selection of oily skin, dry skin, radiance primer, mineral makeup primer.. so many to select from. Do you know what would work best for you?
What is a primer supposed to do?
Foundation Primer is a lightweight, creamy gel meant to be used prior to foundation, creating an invisible layer that acts as a buffer to outside elements. This colorless gel leaves makeup looking fresh and colour-true the entire day.
- Ideal for all skin types.
- Featured in the Bridal collection.
- 1.7 oz.
- By Laura Mercier; made in the USA.
If you go down, you can get up ~ Video
30 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in video
This is a motivational story I want to share with you.. by LisaLisad1 on youtube.
Did you exercise today? here is some music to make you exercise
28 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
or just walk on your treadmill.. but you need to do something.
Should you buy a full brush set?
27 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Cosmetics photos, Cosmetics world
My thought on brushes and what is worth getting:
When you need a brush, you go to sephora and you see several brush sets. You also see single brushes. You check the prices, and you are now thinking if you should buy the entire set. Something like this (it says online the value is $120 but you pay only $48). So is this a good idea? probably not.
I say buy only the brush that you need and for the purpose that you need. Sometimes this idea of having so many brushes, turns into ridiculous. Like in my case, I have invested in various company’s brushes, and bought entire sets, assembling the collection brush by brush. I purchased Bobbi’s collection, Trish McEvoy (the best) and my latest about two years ago, Paula Dorf (even better and more practical brushes). When I look at brush sets at sephora, I can help but smile.
Do they really think a person is really so ignorant that they will not know that this brush set that they claim is valued at $120 and selling at $48 plus tax is a good deal. I look at the brushes.. none on them are brushes that I like. But maybe if I was in my early teens, perhaps I would be happy with this brush set.
What I would get today if I were you, a middle aged woman with ‘some’ makeup experience. I would get one or two brushes for the eyes and then one for the face, but good quality brushes, regardless of what they cost. Paula Dorf’s blender brush, eyeshadow brush medium paddle, and tiny (precision) brush would be enough to do the eyes and the eyebrows. Nars’ flat contour brush would be enough to do the cheeks, apple of the cheek, and even face powder. That’s all you need. Don’t fall pray to the advertisements coming from various makeup artists and stores, saying that you need this and that and you end up buying a dozen brushes. Then there are the brush guards, another must (supposedly).. hey what were we doing before these expensive brush guards came on the market?
Vanity Brush Set ($120 Value)
What it is:
A set of six essential makeup brushes that come in a stylish case that’s perfect for travel.
What it does:
Create an array of looks with this set of quality synthetic brushes. Apply powder, blush, or bronzer with the complexion brush. The versatile concealer brush allows you to apply concealer, eye shadows, and cream shadows—even use it to apply your favorite primer or eye cream. Plus, there are four more brushes to help you achieve the effects you want with precision.
This set contains:
- Complexion Brush 5.5″
- Concealer Brush 4.75″
- Flat Eyeliner Brush 4.75″
- Eye Blending Brush 4.75″
- Pointed Eye Crease Brush 4.75″
- Smudge Brush 4.75″
- Case (4.5 x 3 x 6.5)
What else you need to know:
At home or when you travel, protect and tote your brushes in this stylish cylinder case. Wrapped in black faux-leather, the case features a slot for each brush. With its handy snap-on, snap-off lid, the case functions as a brush stand for easy access while applying makeup.
Clarins: in the beginning
27 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Cosmetics photos, Cosmetics world
How it all started.. how does one simple massage oil become a full range of skincare and beauty products. Read the story.
FULL CIRCLE-ATION
Clarins Turns Massage into a Botanical Beauty Empire
Sometimes a simple decision can change your life. Case in point: When a young medical student named Jacques Courtin-Clarins decided to treat circulatory problems through massage, something strange started to happen. After their treatments, Clarins’ patients not only felt better, but they also started noticing smoother, healthier-looking skin in the process. It was this miraculous occurrence that prompted Clarins to devote himself to research. And what started off as a few simple botanical body oils ballooned into one of the world’s foremost beauty companies, spanning a presence in over 150 countries.
In 1954, Jacques Courtin-Clarins opened the first Clarins Institute de Beauté in Paris, France, where he developed treatments and products using natural botanical ingredients for the face and body. The first beauty company to employ 100 percent pure plant extracts, Clarins used only the best botanicals to complement the appealing textures and scents that made his luxurious products a pleasure to apply. Still a family-run business, Jacques’ sons, Dr. Olivier Courtin-Clarins and Christian Courtin-Clarins, continue on in the Clarins tradition today.
The brand’s equally impressive makeup collection, which is inspired by runway shows and loved by fashion icons around the world, is known for its ability to adapt to the demands of everyday life. Whether a woman wants all-out glamour or is primping in a taxicab, Clarins’ wide range of color products are up for the challenge. And just like their skin and body care, their makeup is also loaded with beneficial botanicals, which means the more you wear Clarins’ makeup, the more naturally beautiful your skin will be.
What type is your skin?
26 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
OILY SKIN
You Know the Type: Your face tends to get shiny two hours after washing it.
Special Care: “The natural tendency is to over-scrub to get rid of the oil, but ironically that just makes it worse,” says New York City dermatologist and psychiatrist Amy Wechsler, MD. “You actually need to wash gently.” Follow with an alcohol toner and use blotting paper throughout the day. Also, avoid products that don’t one of these phrases on the label: “oil free,” “water based,” or “noncomedogenic.”
The Fab Factor: You can bring out your natural dewiness with a light dusting of matte powder foundation, says Hollywood makeup artist Kerry Herta. The good news? Despite its bad rep, ”oily skin definitely ages more slowly than other types,” notes West Palm Beach dermatologist Kenneth Beer, MD. ”It’s less susceptible to damage and you tend to have fewer wrinkles. So if you’re having a tough go when you’re young, know that it will work for you after age 50.”
DRY SKIN
You know the type: You can’t see your pores at the end of the day. The skin may feel tight after washing.
Special Care: Make sure to use a gentle cleanser and an alcohol-free toner, and stay away from gels, which tend to dry you out, says New York City dermatologist, Neal Schultz, MD. Also intensify the moisturizing. Wechsler suggests looking for products with glycerin, shea butter—”just be careful it doesn’t make you break out”—and hyaluronic acid. Another good bet are night creams. “Yes, you can use them in the day,” says Schultz. “It’s all marketing.”
The Fab Factor: This type of complexion can look dull, ”so you need to create a little sheen and luster,” says Herta. ”I’m a fan of creamy foundation, blushes, and eye shadows with glossy lips.” She often uses Koh Gen Do’s light-illuminating primers and foundation on her dry-skin clients.
NORMAL SKIN
Your Know the Type: The texture is smooth; the tone, even. Your oil and water levels are in balance.
Special Care: ”I hate to be a nag, but you really need to use sunscreen,” says New York City-based makeup artist Tracy Murphy. “You’ve got to protect your greatest beauty asset. Also, don’t forget to take off your makeup at night.” Otherwise, just follow the basic regimen: Cleansing in warm water, and moisturizing with a cream or lotion that feels good without making the skin greasy. Schultz is also a big believer in starting regular exfoliation after your first pimple.
The Fab Factor: A healthy complexion doesn’t need foundation, in Herta’s opinion. But if you want to even out your tone, try dusting your face with mineral powder. “It’s so easy,” she says. “Take a Kabuki brush (the kind with a short handle) and buff it around in little circles wherever you need it.”
More
Who is Danny Sanz?
25 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Pondering
Everybody wants to know who created makeup for ever brand makeup. Well, it was created by Danny Sanz, a French makeup artist.
Originally a painter and sculptor, MAKE UP FOR EVER creator Dany Sanz ultimately found her inspiration in a more organic application of color: the living, moving, three-dimensional canvas of the human body. It was her passion for this type of artistry that altered her course, taking her from sculptor to makeup artist extraordinaire. But her passion for makeup didn’t stop there; she created a world of beauty that has industry insiders and beauty buffs alike For Ever indebted.
In 1984, Dany Sanz created MAKE UP FOR EVER. Her objective: To develop an all-encompassing line for fashion and show-business professionals that has every product, texture, and color needed to achieve any effect a makeup artist’s heart could desire. At the same time, she was experimenting with unique techniques in body painting—the first makeup artist in France to be so specialized.
Shortly after developing the line, she opened the first MAKE UP FOR EVER boutique at 5 rue la Boétie in Paris. It was a place where she bounced product ideas and formulations off her makeup artist collaborators. The shop served—and continues to serve today—as a studio and workshop where every bit of feedback from colleagues goes into refining and perfecting her product.
Aside from creating high-performance, wearable makeup, Sanz also makes products for every facet of the makeup industry. Her experience with theater makeup artists showed a need for products to recreate visual effects such as wounds, burns, and even prosthetic devices. Makeup for the ballet, opera, and open-air theater can be subject to harsh conditions—cold, heat, perspiration, humidity—necessitating long-lasting, stable products with enough pigment to be seen from afar. And once adjustments have been made for those conditions, it’s a no-brainer to apply these concepts to fashion shows, where MAKE UP FOR EVER often gives conceptual and backstage direction.
The latest changes in the broadcast industry called for Sanz to create one of the most relevant and technologically advanced high-definition compatible ranges of products: MAKE UP FOR EVER’s award-winning HD Complexion line. Reinforcing the brand’s position as the leading professional makeup artist line, HD Complexion is already adored by both television and movie professionals who shoot in high definition, as well as consumers who desire full coverage with the look of truly natural skin.
With MAKE UP FOR EVER established and growing, Sanz took the art of makeup a step further. Having been principal of the Ecole Chauveau—an exclusive school in Paris specializing in professional makeup application—she was itching to open her own school to share her know-how and passion with the makeup artists of the future. So in October 2002, the MAKE UP FOR EVER Academy in Paris was born.
Backed up by her international experience with all types of makeup—cinema, television, stage, fashion, artistic—and as an instructor, Sanz herself directs the MAKE UP FOR EVER Academy in Paris. She trains every teacher, ensuring that the students’ education is not only one of quality, but also one that embodies the experimental spirit of the company. Intensive courses, offered in both French and English, cover topics from fashion and television to special effects, body painting, and airbrush. To complement the curriculum, specialized outside professionals—photographers, hairdressers, wig makers, cameramen, chemists—share their expertise during conferences and demonstrations. Association with the Academy also grants students access to hard-to-get internships while an on-site photo studio, with resident photographer, ensures that students graduate with a working portfolio.
Dany Sanz started out simply filling a niche and fulfilling a passion—never suspecting that her creation would become a major cult brand. But by honoring the history of her art and investing in the future, Sanz doesn’t just make great makeup for now. She creates MAKE UP FOR EVER.
I am loving NARS The Multiple Bronzer
25 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Cosmetics photos, Cosmetics world
The Multiple Bronzer
Nars Bronzer (stick)
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What is it: According to Karen, it is a matte bronzing stick packed with antioxidants, The Multiple Bronzer ($37) bestows a warm, sun-kissed glow (for face and body) and comes in three shades:
- Tuomota: For light to medium complexions with golden yellow undertones
- Malaysia: For medium to dark complexions with red undertones; great for tanned skin
- Rapa Nui: For dark complexions with red undertones
The Multiple Bronzer is a hybrid of two popular Nars products, Bronzing Powder and The Multiple, but isn’t shimmery or dewy. It’s ideal for creating the appearance of tanned skin that doesn’t look overly matte.
What does Nars have to say about it:
The iconic NARS Multiple available in two bronzing shades to compliment every skin tone to create an all-over warmth and contours for the entire face. Like the popular Multiple, the Multiple Bronzer can be used on the eyes, cheeks or body. Skin radiates an ultra-natural sun-kissed glow with a soft matte finish
- Enriched with anti-oxidants
- Easy blendability makes for mistake-proof application
Video: How to use bold eyeshadow colors after 40
23 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Makeup tutorial, video
Bobbi’s two new Shimmerbrick compacts
23 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
What is a Shimmerbrick compact?
Bobbi had them for a while, they are backed shimmery blush that can also be used as eyeshadow or even on the lips over your lipstick. What they cost? only $39 (only?)
Limited Edition
Shimmer Brick Compact – Rose Gold
Handmade in Italy, this award-winning editor’s favorite highlights skin with five bars of pearlescent shimmer. Each bar also doubles up as eye shadow. Now in limited edition Rose Gold, a golden pink rose.
To apply: Sweep the Face Blender Brush through all five shades of Shimmer Brick Compact and dust lightly on cheekbones after blush. Focus on applying shimmer on the top of cheekbones – where light naturally hits the face – for the most flattering look.
This is the gold rose, my favorite.. so pretty!
This is called wild rose.. very pretty also
Makeup and skincare questions and answers
22 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Beautiful you!, Cosmetics world, Pondering
I put together 8 questions that I answered and I would like to hear your answers. My answers are in a video that will come out today or tomorrow.
If you wish to answer these questions, you could cut and paste and respond or in the alternative, you could also do a video and post it on youtube.
1. What is the latest skincare product you purchased and why?
2. Which one makeup brush you cannot live without?
Burt Bees ~ Ageless Repairing Serum
22 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Beautiful you!, Cosmetics world, Product review
Never ending skincare purchases.. aaagh..
I went to my favorite supermarket this afternoon, after a lunch with hubby at PF Chang. Once I found myself in the vitamin section, as we needed to get more vitamins both for hubby and myself, I saw on a shelf beautiful products by Burt Bees. I checked them and was surprised that he even has a serum called Ageless Intensive Repairing Serum.
I believe I was was intrigued so I opened the box and saw a beautiful tiny bottle with a pump.. Let’s check the price.. humm…. it is $24.99 a bit pricey.. shall we get it.. I love oils.. more than creams. I believe oils can penetrate better than creams. Ok we will get this..
It is now sitting next to other precious products near the sink in my bathroom. I used a drop or two.. It smells beautifully and I just checked the reviews from others and was happily surprised to see that it had 4.5 stars out of five. Women seemed ecstatic about it.. so now I will use it for a month and see what happens. Here is the link.. check it out.
Naturally Ageless Intensive Repairing Serum
100% Natural
This targeted serum helps smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes, mouth and forehead for naturally ageless skin. Infused with Pomegranate, one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants, it helps fight free radicals responsible for the breakdown of collagen and elastin. Formulated with Borage and Evening Primrose Oils, known to help strengthen skin’s natural moisture barrier, it also helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• Helps smooth appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, mouth and forehead
• Infused with Pomegranate Oil, one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants
• Helps strengthen skin’s natural moisture barrier with Evening Primrose and Borage Seed Oils
List of (Impressive) ingredients:
Pomegranate Extract — Pomegranate fruit extract, from the tree Punica granatum, contains several polyphenols and anthocyanidins which are highly antioxidant, protecting hair and skin.
Ingredients: Rosa canina (rose hip) seed oil, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, borago officinalis (borage) seed oil, corylus avellana (hazel) seed oil, oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil, tritium vulgare (wheat) germ oil, calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract, camelia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) oil, rosa damascena (bulgarian rose) flower oil, punica granatum (pomegranate) oil, tocopherol, glycine soja (soybean) oil, vegetable oil, beta carotene.
Makeup lesson about Different Eye Shapes
22 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Makeup tutorial, video
Beautiful music, beautiful video, check it out.
SUBSTIANE from La Roche Posay, sold online only ! $56
19 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
- Sagging facial features
- Loss of substance
- Cutaneous dryness
- Skin regains intense comfort, is firmer, more toned and radiant.
- Acts against skin sagging so that day after day features are lifted.
- Skin’s support structure is reinforced.
- Rich, intense comfort texture.
