Makeup For Travel

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I'm sorry for the delay in postings, but I have just been on vacation (YAY!). I thought it would be fun to see what we bring with us in our makeup bags when we travel.

I love traveling light. I'd rather go without than be weighed down. The few things I pack are soft knitted separates that can be mixed and matched endlessly, and don't need ironing: a jersey dress, a cardigan, leggings, skirt, tanks. This can last me two weeks! My makeup kit is similar:

• Powder-Me SPF.
• PurePressed Base (used as foundation, sun block, and concealer. Really, it is my new favorite concealer, applied with the Sculpting Brush to my under eye circles and the redness around the corners of my nose).
• Pommisst Hydration Spray - brilliant for dry planes, in a travel-friendly 2 oz. bottle.
• Double Dazzle for a touch of shimmer on the lids or full cocktail party eyes; as well as lip color when needed.
• Black Pencil for the water line and lash lines.
• Lip Drink.

While this may sound like vacation packing (and it is) I use this formula for business travel as well. I might add my favorite Uniqlo blazer and one eye shadow triple instead of the Glimmer Gold.

My dear friend and colleague Laura is always prepared for everything, and her travel makeup kit proves it. When travelling, she will be equally confident on a hike in the woods or at a red carpet event, because in her Quilted Makeup Bag she packs:

• Deluxe Travel Size Dream Tint
• Active Light
• PurePressed Base
• Moonglow
• So-Bronze 3
• 2 Hydration Sprays- Pommisst and D20 (WHY? Because she likes to have options)
• Lid Primer
• 2 Longest Lash Mascaras – Black Ice and Espresso
• PureLash Extender & Conditioner
• 2 Cream to Powder Eyeliners- Black Plus and Black/Brown
• Champagne Eye Gloss
• PurePressed Eye Shadow Triple – Brown Sugar (this is the one I would bring too. it is so versatile!)
• Perfectly Nude Eye Shadow Kit
• Double Dazzle
• Powder-Me SPF
• 4 PureGloss (depending on the season…) Apricot Fizz, Cotton Candy, Soft Peach, Pink Candy  
• 2 Lip Definers- Nude and Spice    
• Lip Drink
• Pencil Sharpener
• 10 Brushes: Blending, Camouflage, Handi, White Fan, Detail, Deluxe Shader, Crease, Smudge, Deluxe Spoolie, Eye Brush/Comb

I wrote to Jane while she was on vacation to see what she had packed. She wrote back:

• PurePressed Base 
• D20
• brown XXX but you can't say that yet (sorry friends, this is a soon-to-be released product. I will fill this in later, after we release it!)
• Powder-Me, too, of course. 
• Lash Conditioner and Lengthening Mascara,
• oh and Whisper Blush which I can also use on my eyes.

Now it's your turn. Please share your travel tips! What do you bring in your makeup kit when you travel?

Anyone Can Wear Bright Eye Makeup! Here's How.

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Have you ever looked at bright and beautiful eye shadow colors and thought "I could never wear that?" Well you can! Your age and skin tone don't matter at all. It only matters how you apply it.

There are many levels of bright, from subtle to intense. The first trick is to experiment. Try new things and figure out what works for you. In fact, we want to hear about it, so please comment below or upload pictures to our Facebook page. 

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Bright Eyeliner: I love to use eye shadow as eyeliner, and this is a way to use that bright shade in the eye shadow triple you may have been avoiding. Wet your Detail Brush with Hydration Spray or water and dip it into a dark, bright shade like the teal in Azure. Or you could try a nice bright shade of 24-Karat Gold Dust, like Aquamarine. Line the lower lash line only, from inner to outer corner. Use a neutral liner on the upper lash line, such as grey, black or brown; and a neutral shadow on the lid. This really allows the one swipe of color to pop.
2. Bright crease and lid: Brighten your eyes in a whole new way by thinking color for the crease, not just depth. Eye Shadow Triples are so versatile! Use your Crease Brush to sweep on a medium shade such as the turquoise shade from Sea Foam, the orange shade from Pecan/Chocolate or the sage green shade in Azure. For more intensity, try the Eye Shader Brush. Another idea is to put one of those shades right in the center of the lid, above the iris. Then the color winks every time you blink your eyes.
3. Colored Mascara: Don't be shy, it doesn't have to be that electric blue from the eighties (unless you want it to). Try a flick of Navy PureLash or Ripe Plum Longest Lash  to add a hint of color when your lashes catch the light. You can apply from root to tip, or apply your usual black or brown first and then just paint the ends with the colored mascara. Feeling flashy? Try painting the tips of your lashes with Gold or Silver Liquid Eyeliner.
4. Smoky eyes: So you're ready to take the pure-drama plunge? Read our post about bright smoky eyes.

I hope this encourages you to experiment, so please comment and share what you've tried.

Oily Skin? Go Beyond Matte!

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Oily skin plagues many of us year round, but it gets worse with summer heat and humidity. Even those of us who don't consider ourselves oily might be surprised and dismayed by a beaming forehead in a photo (when can I renew my passport?!). Just in time, jane iredale has launched its super-duper HD-ready matifying powder in not one but FOUR shades! Why four?

Translucent is ideal for light to medium skin tones

Dark is perfect for medium to dark skin tones, and also makes a great bronzer.

 Lilac does wonders to brighten sallow complexions,

and Peach warms up pale skin. 

One time someone asked me how to get a dewy-matte look. I was stumped, but thankfully I have a team of experts to whom I can refer. Here are some great tips for how to achieve different matte finishes by using different brushes:

• To get a red-carpet, HD-ready look that is totally matte with a velvety smooth finish on the skin, apply Beyond Matte with the Chisel Powder Brush.

• For a medium matte finish, dust it on with the Blending Brush. This deposits slightly less powder on the skin for a clean, sophisicated look.

• To leave a little glow on the skin (the elusive dewy-matte!), apply Beyond Matte with the Fan Brush. This leaves just a hint of product on the skin for a natural, luminous finish.

And if that's not enough, here are a few extra tricks from the experts:

• For a controlled glow, apply Beyond Matte to the center of cheeks, nose, forehead and chin - the often shiny T-zone.

• Thinking forward to fall's dramatic lips, you can make your stand by lipstick more vivid by applying Beyond Matte over the entire mouth area with your brush before applying lip color.

• To tone down shimmery eye shadow, apply Beyond Matte right on top with the Large Shader Brush.

Bronzer Blunders

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This week I am so happy to introduce a guest blogger, our own Creative Brand Designer (and trend spotter extraordinaire) Courtney Maum. Here is her wonderful and timely advice about how to avoid bronzer baddies and look like a golden goddess all summer (and all year) long.

Bronzer Blunders: 4 tips to get your glow on (correctly) this summer

If ever there was a dividing line between girls-in-the-know and girls-in-the-no-no, it would be drawn with bronzer. When it’s used correctly, bronzer gives us ladies an immediate allure of sun-kissed sensuality. When it’s used incorrectly, well…the word oompa-loompa comes to mind.

Here’s how to turn bronzer blunders into bronzer wonders in no time flat.

Follow the sun: Make sure to apply sun-kissed color where the sun would kiss you. Stick to the cheeks and the bridge of the nose, and avoid the jawline. Better still, follow the sun outside and bring a mirror with you. If you look “dirty” or “orange”, go back inside and tone things down.

Remember you have a neck: And you have a nice one! Your face should never be a different color than the rest of you. Don’t trust a compact mirror to tell you whether or not you’re ready to step out into the wide, wide world. Trust a full size mirror, or an honest friend.

Know when to shine: I love me some shimmer. Who doesn’t? But I recently saw a picture of myself rocking a golden goddess look during the après-midi, and you know what? Instead of shimmer, I saw shine. So unless you’re so fabulous you spend your days flitting from one red carpet to the next, stick to a matte look for the daytime, and shimmer for playtime.

Hot tips:

• Pressed powders are ideal for a matte, daytime-appropriate look. (Try So-Bronze 1 for classic terra-cotta color with gold mica flecks so teeny tiny, they add glow, rather than sparkle).
• When the magic hour hits, reach for 24-Karat Gold Dust to give a delicately gilded look to cheeks, eyes and lips. But don't stop there – mix it with a moisturizer for the décolleté or into styling product for your hair!

Do the Duo: A bronzer and blush combo is the easiest way to get a natural looking flush with just the right amount of shimmer. A large brush, like the Kabuki, will pick up the perfect dose of color to give your face a warm, multidimensional look.

Hot tips:

• So-Bronze 1 and So-Bronze 2 offer a blush and a bronzer in one pretty package, while Moonglow and Sunbeam feature four different shades so you can blend your way to beautiful.

Fourth of July Makeup

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To celebrate the Fourth of July, here are some basic makeup tips featuring our favorite patriotic Pencils.

For a beautiful take on this summer's sheer red lip trend, start with a layer of Lip Drink, and line and fill your lips with Earth Red Lip Definer. Follow your natural lip shape, and don't worry about being too precise. Scribble the color in and press/blend into lips for easy-going glamour. I love to finish the look with Glimmer Gold PurePressed Eye Shadow and a little bit of Basic Black Pencil in the inner rim, and a flick of black mascara (Black Ice Longest Lash Mascara is my favorite).

Midnight Pencil is a wonderful eyeliner on it's own. It adds intrigue to the eye, because it is neutral yet subtly different. This particular shade of blue works well with any eye color, even green eyes.

To add a punch of color without going too crazy, try lining the lower lash line with Midnight, and then spritzing your Detail Brush with Hydration Spray and dipping it in a nice bright color like the teal from the Azure PurePressed Eye Shadow Triple, Blue Moon, Wine and Roses, or Emerald. The Midnight Pencil adds great depth and even a bit of opalescence to the colored eye shadow, while creating a nice base for the powder shadow to grab onto. Keep the lid shadow neutral, and don't line the top lash line. Of course, add plenty of Longest Lash Mascara.    

White Pencil has so many uses, I don't know how anyone does without it. Here are my top three:

1. Line the inner rim of the eyes to add sparkle and look awake and refreshed. If you have a lot of redness around the eyes, line the lower lash line as well, and blend gently.
2. Make tiny Xs or slashes in the darkest part of dark under-eye circles and blend concealer or foundation over.
3. Blend a bit of White Pencil into the Cupid's bow of the upper lip and into the center of lower lip before applying lip color or gloss. This will create a full, pillowy look.

Of course, you can just use the pencils to draw stars and stripes on your (or your children's) cheeks for the Fourth of July parade. At least you know since it is jane iredale, you won't break out! ;)

Do you have any pictures of your Fourth of July celebrations you'd like to share? Please post them on our page on Facebook!

How To Apply False Eyelashes - Even For the Faint of Heart

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I have always been brave and experimental about makeup, but false eyelashes were too much even for me. This truly seemed like something that only professional makeup artists could do.

Then jane iredale launched our own Professional Faux Lashes, and I was intrigued. First, they are individual lashes, so it is possible to get a natural, if dramatic, look. Second, it is jane iredale, so I trust them to be gentle on my eyes. I just had to try them.

Professional Faux Lashes give crazy length and volume, and are totally customizable. They come in two lengths. The outer circle contains 6mm lashes for a lush gorgeous look. These look most natural; but if you are applying dramatic lashes to the entire lash line, these might go in the inner corner and center. In the inner circle there are 9mm lashes. These are for big, bold lashes! Use them all the way across for the strip-lash look, just at the outer corners for that sexy tilt, or in the center for a doe-eyed Twiggy look.

I was not sure I would be able to do this, but with a little bit of practice, it was easy. Just don't wait till five minutes before a big night to apply them for the first time. Try it first on a lazy day off, and enjoy sitting around in your PJs with gorgeous, glam lashes! The best part is, the glue is included, it's latex-free and non-drying. All you need is a pair of clean, dry, flat-head tweezers, a hand mirror (for easiest application, not necessary once you are comfortable) and a lash curler (optional).

OK, ready? Let's go!

1. Lay everything out on a desk or table, with a mirror handy.
2. Pull back your hair, and if you have bangs, pin them aside.
3. Open the lashes, remove the disc from the compact, and take out the glue.
4. Spread out some paper towels
5. Curl your lashes if you have a lash curler.
6. Put on mascara (I recommend Longest Lash Mascara) and allow to dry. if you are going day to night and already have mascara on, skip this step.
7. Using your tweezers, pull several lashes from the disc and place them on the paper towel. Grasp the lashes close to the knot and gently wiggle them free. if you are too rough, the lashes may get damaged.
8. Open the glue. Squeeze a tiny dot out onto your paper towel. You can dab the lash directly onto the glue wand, but I prefer to squeeze some out and then close the glue tube. There are less moving parts this way ;)
9. Grasp a lash with the tweezers. Here is where experience comes in. You need to grasp them so that you can both easily dab the knot into the glue, and then without changing your grip, drop the faux lash onto your lashes. I have the best success with coming straight in from the front, grasping the lashes on the fringe.
10. Raise your eyebrows a bit and look down into the mirror. You can prop your elbows on the table if you need to steady your hands. All you should be holding is the mirror and the tweezers with the lash.
11. No here's the deceptively easy part: position the lash above where you want it, with the knot right next to the lash line, and just drop it on top of your lashes.
12. Repeat till you have applied all the lashes you want.
13. Wait thirty seconds after you apply the last lash, then gently apply mascara to blend.

A few tips: you can clean the tweezers with alcohol if they are getting glue-y. There is no three-second rule with lashes. If you drop one on the floor, throw it away.

Removing your lashes: just take your Magic Mitt or a wash cloth and wet it well with warm water. Press it to your lashes and gently wiggle a bit. If they have not come out yet, wiggle some more. GENTLY! False eyelashes are single use. Once you take them off, please throw them away.

How do they wear? I applied two lashes to the outer corner of my upper lash line when I started writing this blog at 1 pm, just to refresh myself on how to do it. It took me about eight seconds, and they went on perfectly. it is now 4:17 (I had some meetings). They are still in place, haven't budged, and I forgot I had them on because I can't feel them. I will comment here tomorrow to tell you how late they stayed on and how they looked when I took them off. They look so natural, but very flirty and dramatic. So now it's your turn, are you ready to try them?

How To Shape Your Eyebrows Like a Pro!

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Every makeup artist I have ever spoken to says eyebrows are the most important facial feature. All angles of the face are determined by the brows: they can lift the eyes; narrow or widen the face. While there is a lot of opportunity here, it is important to let your natural shape be your guide. It is probably close to optimal for your face and anything too drastic can look unnatural. Here are some techniques from our team of fabulous makeup artist educators.

Basic Shaping:

• The inner edge of the brow should line up with the outside of the corresponding nostril (A).
• The highest point of the arch should be just at the outer edge of the eyeball. (B)
• The outer brow should taper off to a point that intersects with an imaginary line drawn from the outer nostril past the outer edge of the eye (C), and you thought geometry wouldn't be useful later in life! It sounds complicated, but just follow the drawing.

Advanced techniques:

• You can lift an experienced eye with strategic eyebrow shaping! With an experienced eye, the lid has a tendency to be heavy. Extending the brow down to the "D" line can drag the lid down and make the eyes look tired. Instead, try feathering the brow upward and out from the arch to just above the outer corner of the eye (E). Please keep it natural, we don't want to create wings here!
• To minimize the curve of a round face, direct the outer third of the brow towards the top of the ear.
• If the face is square, direct it toward the middle of the ear. This helps balance the face.
• If the face is long, keep the brow more straight across, directing it above the ear.
• An oval face already looks balanced, but to enhance this harmony, you can direct the outer third towards the ear lobe.

Eyebrow makeup

No matter how full and perhaps even unruly your eyebrows are (hello!), a little eyebrow makeup works wonders for your look.

• At the very least groom them. Every morning when you do your makeup, run a Deluxe Spoolie Brush through them (it works much better than an old toothbrush, believe me I have tried them both).
• A bit of eyebrow wax will hold them in place beautifully.
• Most brows have some thin places that need to be filled in. Try the brow powders in our new Bitty Brow Kit, any appropriate shade of PurePressed Eye Shadow or a soft shade of Pencil (Taupe is a favorite). Comb the brows down and apply the color directly to the sparse patches on the skin. If the brow needs lengthening, apply the color with light feathery strokes.
• Brows can be colored and held in place in one step with PureBrow Gels. Lightly stroke the wand into the hairs, using a little at a time. Smooth with your Deluxe Spoolie Brush.

Tips:

• If you want to preview a new brow look before you commit to plucking, use White or Taupe Pencil (depending on your skin tone) to color over the places you intend to pluck out.
• Beware of over plucking, as too-thin brows can actually age you (gasp)!
• Nobody's eyebrows are totally symmetrical. Be careful of using stencils, as they can make your brows look unnatural.
• The hair and brow color should match pretty closely. PureBrow Gels can change the color of your brows, if you want. When my blonde sister goes very strawberry, she reaches for Auburn; or try the Bitty Brow Kit in Blonde.
• For silver-haired lovelies, try Longest Lash Mascara in Slate Grey on your brows. Or if you prefer powder, try Slate Brown PurePressed Eye Shadow.

So tell me, please! How important is brow maintenance to you? Do you DIY or do you have them shaped professionally? Do you wear eyebrow makeup? Pencil or powder?

No-makeup Makeup

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We love makeup here at jane iredale, but as the weather in the Northeast is finally warming up, our thoughts are turning to warm, dreamy summer days.

So what's a makeup-crazy gal to do when she is headed out to the beach, backyard BBQ, or a hike with her boyfriend? Bare-faced may be a little too bare, but looking made up looks out of place. A little enhancement always boosts our confidence and brightens our day, so here is a fresh and natural look that takes less than five minutes:

Start with Dream Tint. Squeeze a little out onto the back of your hand and either dot it on to your face and blend with the Blending Brush; or swirl the Blending Brush in the dollop of Dream Tint and then blend directly onto the face. Remember the eyelids, as these burn easily and are prone to hyperpigmentation as we age. And if you have dark circles or blemishes, you can add a little extra to cover up. For best results, use the Blending Brush, but if you are the grab-and-go type, your fingers are fine.*

In Touch Cream Blush gives the most natural, radiant glow to the cheeks. The color in the tube may be bright, but it is soft and beautiful on the face. Again, it is fine to rub a bit right on the cheeks and blend with the fingers; or use the Blending Brush to achieve a perfect finish (just wash it before you use it again for Dream Tint).

A sheer, barely-there shimmer on the eyelids is beautiful. Use the white end of the White/Pink Highlighter Pencil all over the lids and in the inner corners of the eye. Just draw it right on, and if needed, blend gently with the finger tips. For darker skin tones, use Double Dazzle.

Finish the eyes with a just a flick of Longest Lash Mascara.

For lovely lips, Sugar & Butter is a must. Exfoliate with the sugar end; then add moisture, a little sheen, and hint of color with the butter end.*

Now you can head out, fresh, natural and gorgeous!

*If you are going to be in the sun a lot, Dream Tint has an SPF of 15, so you might want to use PurePressed or Amazing Base (SPF 20), or Powder-Me SPF (SPF 30). You don't get to add the two SPF numbers together, but the higher SPF wins. Also please use Lip Drink (SPF 15) instead of, or under the Sugar & Butter to protect the lips.

How To Look Airbrushed With Mineral Foundation

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A question came in on our Facebook page asking whether our Liquid Minerals could be used in an airbrush system. Well the answer to that question is no, but in the process of getting the answer, I got a fantastic insider secret that is going around jane iredale. This comes from our National Makeup Artist Educator, Cheryl Shorter.

To get an airbrushed look in no time flat, squirt one to two pumps of your Liquid Minerals onto a Flocked Sponge. Spritz right on top of that with 3-5 sprays of your Hydration Spray. Work it right into the skin, really well until it looks dry.

That's it! No mess, no fuss, and super-quick. Just remember, there is no SPF in Liquid Minerals, so please apply your PurePressed Base or Amazing Base on top.

Spring Makeup Giveaway (read to the bottom)!

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Spring is beautiful, but in the Berkshires it can be tentative at best. In the past month we have had ninety degree days, and also snow. However, we are still determined to celebrate the season with fresh makeup and new clothes. So in that spirit, here are some of my favorite things about spring:

• Skipping the blow dryer. What's the point? With so many April (and May) showers, the blowout isn't going to make it anyway. So give your poor heat-distressed tresses a rest and look soft and romantic.
• Brilliant florals. What better time to access our inner girly-girls and just be really pretty. This year, Liberty of London is perfectly on Target ;)
• Jane's garden. It is an uplifting reminder on the way to work every morning that beauty has real value.
• Wild wellies. Let it rain, our feet are dry and fabulous.

• And last but not least: pink cheeks and lips. There is nothing as fresh, pretty and feminine as glowing pink cheeks (Clarity In Touch Cream Blush is my go-to); and soft, bright lips (Sugar Plum PureGloss and Fascination Lip Fixation are in heavy rotation).

Now it's your turn! Leave a comment on this blog post about your favorite things about spring. We will pick our ten favorite comments, and those ten people will receive one Lip Fixation in their favorite shade.

Contest rules, terms and conditions can be found here.