Posted by Angelica Chayes on Thu, Jan 21, 2010 @ 11:11 AM
I may be nearly unique among all my friends and co-workers in that I LOVE winter. Here at the jane iredale home office, it is a winter wonderland. The frigid temperatures have us all outfitted in furry boots and furry hats, while snow-lined streets and snow-covered trees look absolutely beautiful.
What does not look beautiful is my winter skin. When temperatures plunge, the blood retreats to warm the core, leaving the face pallid. Dryness from indoor heat and outdoor winds adds to the dullness. I may feel invigorated, but I look like death!
Fortunately, where there's a beauty problem, there is usually a makeup solution. My answer to the winter doldrums? Blush and lots of it! My favorite for winter is In Touch Cream Blush because it is creamy and moist (and smells like chocolate). The shades look intense in the tube, but on the face they give such a fresh flush of color, it's like you've been sledding, throwing snowballs and sitting by the fire drinking cocoa.
Applying it is so easy: it can be swiped on straight from the tube and blended with the fingers. But to make a single tube last absolutely ages (and to keep those fingers clean), use the Foundation Brush or the Blending Brush. Apply blush from the tube to the brush, and then sweep the brush over the roundest part of your cheeks. Keeping it to the outer half of the cheeks really opens up the face.
Posted by Angelica Chayes on Mon, Jan 11, 2010 @ 10:15 AM
Liquid Eyeliner is fun, versatile eye makeup that most people are afraid to use. Messy? Harsh? Not at all. Whether your look is soft and natural, retro-glam, polished professional or anything in between, this is a must-have for your eye makeup arsenal. With a little practice, you will wonder how you ever lived without it!
Believe it or not, liquid liner is easiest to apply to an open eye. Let the brush do the work by laying along the lash line. Use short strokes to draw lines at the inside, middle, and outer corner of the upper lash line, then connect the dots.
- Shake gently before using for best results.
- Once you've opened the top, put down the bottle and use your free hand to lift the brow, creating a smoother canvas on which to draw.
- If you feel a little shaky, try lining the eye with a matching shade of Pencil or Cream To Powder Eye Liner first. This provides a template for your Liquid Eye Liner.
- If your eyes droop down a bit, try winging the liner up ever so slightly, just before the outer corner of the eye. This gives your eyes a wide-open, lifted look.
- If you want a softer line, but with the staying power of Liquid Eye Liner, use the Detail Brush to gently soften and smudge the line while your liner is still wet.
- For extra long wear, apply a bit of Lid Primer first.
- Black and Black/Brown are classic, but here are some tips on using the other colors:
- Pinot Noir is beautiful with so many looks. Use it as a fresh accent to a neutral eye. It definitely makes green eyes pop, but looks lovely on all eye colors.
- Gold Liquid Liner is great for global skin tones. Use it alone on the outer two-thirds of the upper lashes as a subtle way to draw attention to the eye. For a more dramatic look, line the eye with Black Pencil or Black Plus Cream to Powder Eye Liner, and then draw a fine line with the Gold just along the lashes. For even more drama, place the Gold liner just above the Black. Instant party look!
- Copper works wonderfully alone for red heads, especially those with fair skin and green or blue eyes. It's a gorgeous alternative to brown, and a lot more exciting. For the rest of us, use it to punch up the usual browns by first lining with Black/Brown Pencil or Black/Brown Plus Cream to Powder Eye Liner, then applying Copper at the lash line for a more current look.
- Silver along the upper lash line is romantic and enchanting. It creates a subtle flash of light with each blink of the eye. Apply a thin line over your usual makeup.
Makeup should be fun, not intimidating. Sometimes all it takes is a little know-how and a little practice. Enjoy!
Posted by Angelica Chayes on Fri, Dec 04, 2009 @ 11:38 AM
Shimmery makeup is an absolute go-to for holiday parties. Don't be shy! Unless you frequent the red carpet, this may be your one chance to create over the top, all out glamour with your makeup.
24-Karat Gold Dust in any shade is your best friend for fabulous:
- To create a soft halo of light, use the Fan Brush to dust it on the tops of cheeks, over finished eye makeup, to the collarbones or in your hair.
- For serious shimmer on your eyes, color wash them by tapping some Gold Dust into the lid of the jar and spritzing it with Hydration Spray. Use your Deluxe Shader Brush to mix and then pat onto the eyelids. You will get an incredibly long lasting, gilded look.
- To put the focus on luscious lips, use your finger to dot 24-Karat Gold Dust in the center of your bottom lip after applying Lipstick or Lip Gloss. Press lips together to blend.
- Now here's one you've probably never tried, which we tested in the office this morning (yes, we always try it on ourselves first): Use the Contour Brush to apply 24-Karatto the entire ear, avoiding the canal. It sounds a little avant gard, but it looks absolutely enchanting, especially if you are wearing your hair up. Add sparkly earrings and you will light up the night!
One final caveat: don't try all of these at once! Choose one (or two) at a time and have a sparkling holiday season!
Posted by Angelica Chayes on Wed, Dec 02, 2009 @ 11:23 AM
Because I work for the most fabulous makeup company ever, as the holidays approach the hints and outright requests for makeup start rolling in thick and fast from my friends and relations. I love to put together fun little "collections" for them, and I thought these might spark some fun gift ideas:
Best gift under $50: Chocoholicks, hands down. The adorable packaging, the yummy scent and taste: it's like giving chocolates and makeup at the same time!
Best gift around $10: Chocoholicks wins again: Buy the set and break them up into individuals. Stuff them in a stocking (or two); or pair them with a chocolate truffle for a great Secret Santa treat!
If that doesn't cover everyone, let's look at the lovelies in our lives that we want to delight:
Is she Dancing With the Stars? How about the Bling Eyeshadow Kit and the White/Pink Highlighter Pencil? Try placing them in an inexpensive but fancy clutch.
Is she a Twilight Temptress? Give her the look with Pinot Noir Liquid Eyeliner, 24-Karat Rose Gold and Rasberry PureGloss. Pair them with a little moonstone ring, and you've got her ticket!
What about the Princess who has everything? It's the Limited Edition Sweet 15 Kit for her! This hot commodity is sold out in many places and may be hard to find, so check a location near you.
Do you have a friend you're dying to make over? The one who is so caught up in more mindful pursuits, she pays no attention to her gorgeous appearance? She may be no fuss, but just a touch here and there.... A flick of Longest Lash Mascara, a whisper of In Touch Cream Blush and a kiss of PureGloss in Just Gloss or In The Pink, and she's done. Present them with a beautiful blank notebook, and she'll know you cherish her inner world too.
What to get the outdoorsy gal? She skis or snowboards, she hikes, she bikes, she plays in the garden. Help her protect her skin so she can focus on the activities she loves! Pair Powder-Me SPF, Dream Tint and Lip Drink together with a big, broad-brimmed hat (try a brimmed beanie if she's a snow bunny).
Is the sugarplum fairy in your life still playing dress-up? Give her the gift of shimmer with an assortment of Eye Glosses or the 24-Karat Gold Mine Kit. Put your baking skills to work and pair her pretty gift with this sweet treat.
We all know (and love) a drama queen! The Silver Lining PurePressed Eyeshadow Triple and Midnight Blue Pencil along with an elegant black cashmere scarf gives her all the glamour she needs.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. Is there someone on your list that has you stumped? Leave a comment below and we'll do our best to help!
Posted by Angelica Chayes on Fri, Nov 20, 2009 @ 08:52 AM
When we think of holiday makeup, it is usually shimmery, sexy, smoky, glossy (woo hoo!). But what about more sedate holiday gatherings, like Thanksgiving, the office holiday party or a demure gathering of family and friends? There are occasions when we may want to look dressed up, but also grown up.
For a look that is sophisticated, classic and timeless, try Triple Cognac PurePressed Triple Eyeshadow on the eyes, with Black Plus Cream To Powder Eyeliner and Longest Lash Mascara in Dark Auburn.
To finish the look, there is nothing more elegant and refined than red lips. For real staying power, remember to start with Lip Definer. Try Crimson and then top with Nicole PureMoist LipColour, or experiment to find the perfect shade of red for you.
Posted by Angelica Chayes on Sat, Nov 14, 2009 @ 05:44 AM
Got New Moon madness? Even if you don't, everyone else seems to, so why not get in on the fun? Here's a way to capture all the drama and excitement of the second installment of the Twilight series in a look that's PG by day, and red-hot by night.
Our own Internet Marketing Assistant, Carleen, came in this morning rocking this amazing vampire eye look, inspired by the Twilight series and the sensational Prada's fall '09 runway look. We all loved this look on the runway, but none of us were quite so sure how to translate it into a wearable version. Our heartfelt thanks to Carleen for figuring it out!
This is how she did it:
- First, line eyes with copper end of Double Dazzle.
- Apply 24 Karat Rose Gold to entire lid by patting it on with the Deluxe Shader Brush.
- Use Oyster PurePressed Eyeshadow to highlight the brow bone.
- Finish with Black Ice Longest Lash Mascara.
One thing to keep in mind: I'm a beauty fanatic, but I'm not a photographer, so my apologies for the sub-par quality of the photos. Also, these pictures were taken at 5pm. It's the end of the day and with no touch ups (we wouldn't let her), Carleen is still looking way, way Bella.
Coming soon: An evening version of this seductive look for a special occasion look that will "Eclipse" everyone else's!
Posted by Angelica Chayes on Mon, Nov 09, 2009 @ 01:35 PM
Hi there,
This is the last week of our scavenger hunt. Collect the codes and enter to win at http://janeiredale.com/contest.html
The code is MineralMakeup.
Sorry i forgot to post it yesterday!
Posted by Angelica Chayes on Mon, Nov 02, 2009 @ 08:42 AM
This week's code for our mineral makeup scavenger hunt is TheSkinCareMakeup. Be sure to visit twitter.com/janeiredale, facebook.com/janeiredale and YouTube.com/janeiredale for the rest of the codes and then go to our contest site at janeiredale.com/contest.html for your chance to win!
Good luck!
Posted by Angelica Chayes on Fri, Oct 30, 2009 @ 04:11 PM
Beauty means so many things to different people, but most of us identify with one (or many) icons of beauty and style. Do you see yourself as the easy-going beauty next door? Are you classically stylish with a quirky twist? Maybe you're a blonde bombshell, a sultry vixen, or a fearless trend-setter. Or maybe it depends on the day!
Whoever you are or would like to be, let your voice be heard! We have a fun poll on Facebook, and would love to know: who is your beauty icon?
Posted by Angelica Chayes on Mon, Oct 26, 2009 @ 08:59 AM
This week's code for our mineral makeup scavenger hunt is NoAnimalTesting. Be sure to visit twitter.com/janeiredale, facebook.com/janeiredale and YouTube.com/janeiredale for the rest of the codes and then go to our contest site at janeiredale.com/contest.html for your chance to win!