Posted by Angelica Chayes on Fri, Jul 16, 2010 @ 12:59 PM
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.
Posted by Angelica Chayes on Fri, May 21, 2010 @ 09:38 AM
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.
Posted by Angelica Chayes on Thu, Mar 25, 2010 @ 01:01 PM
The smoky eye trend is still going strong, but now it's fresh and bright for spring.
Here in the office we are in love with this look! One day four of us all came to work rocking it. You can refer to the Quick Smoky Eye Technique for a basic how-to (we all used some variation of this). We have included pictures and listed the products we used below. Have fun, we did!
Lovely Lilac:
Gorgeous Green:
- Apply three coats of PureLash Extender & Conditioner to lashes.
- Apply three coats of Black Ice Longest Lash Mascara to lashes.
- Apply a tiny bit of Petal Lid Primer over the whole lid.
- Apply Black/Brown Pencil in a thick line across the upper lash line and under the lower lashes.
- Apply Green Silk Eye Gloss to the outer two-thirds of the upper lid with the Crease Brush.
- Apply Cut Grass from Artists' Eyes II to the inner third of the upper lid with the Crease Brush.
- Using the Crease brush again, blend the two shades together well.
- Highlight the inner corner of the eye and the brow bone with Oyster PurePressed Eye Shadow with the Crease Brush.
- Using the Mini Dome Brush, apply Cut Grass from Artists' Eyes II to highlight everywhere you placed the eye Pencil.
- Apply one last coat of Black Ice Longest Lash Mascara.
Bold Blue:
- Use the white end of the White/Pink Highlighter Pencil as a base on the whole eye lid and under the lower lash line, including the inner and outer corners.
- Thickly line the upper lash line with Black/Grey Pencil. Blend well. Also line the inner rim (water line).
- Using the Deluxe Shader Brush, press the teal shade from Azure PurePressed Triple Eyeshadow on the outer two-thirds of the lid.
- Use the pale blue from the Bling Eye Shadow Kit on the inner third of the lid, around the inner corner of the eye, and under the inner third of the lower lashes.
- Use the Detail Brush to line the outer two-thirds of the upper and lower lash lines with the blue shade from Jewel Box Cream To Powder Eyeliner.
- Finish with several coats of PureLash Extender & Conditioner and Longest Lash Mascara in Black Ice.
Pink Smoke:
- Cover entire lid from lash line to brow with Peach Silk Eye Gloss using the Sculpting Brush.
- Once the Eye Gloss dries, cover the same area with the lightest shade in Think Pink Triple Eye Shadow using the Deluxe Shader Brush.
- Using the Eyeliner/Brow Brush misted with D20 and dipped in Rose Gold 24-Karat Gold Dust, line from middle to beyond the outside of upper and lower lash lines in a rocking motion, creating a wing.Blend upward while damp.
- Using the Deluxe Shader Brush, lightly dust entire lid with Rose Gold.
- Dot the inner corner of the eye lid with the white end of the White/Pink Highlighter Pencil.
- Finish with Longest Lash Mascara in Ripe Plum.
Posted by Angelica Chayes on Fri, Aug 21, 2009 @ 02:34 PM
Does blush disappear on your face? It used to evaporate on mine, so I always left the house looking like a clown, hoping it would last till noon. Recently, I was lucky enough to have my makeup done at an event by our makeup artist and educator, the amazing Kevin Mendelson. He told if my blush disappears, then my skin was dehydrated. I started using Dream Tint every day under my PurePressed Base (I used to just use it on weekends instead of foundation) and I also began taking omega fatty acid supplements. My skin looks more plump and smooth than it has in ages. Sometimes I even forget to moisturize after cleansing because it doesn't feel tight! Best of all, I applied my makeup at 8 o'clock this morning and I just checked in the mirror (it's 3 pm); I don't need a touch up. No more disappearing blush!
A natural flush makes you look awake, healthy and vibrant. For cheeks that are natural and glowing all day long, try this: after applying Dream Tint, but before foundation if you are wearing it. Smile to find the apples of the cheeks and then rub a streak or two of In Touch Cream Blush straight from the tube on the part that sticks out the most. To open up the face, place it no closer in than the iris of the eye. Use the Foundation Brush to blend in a circular motion, up and out towards the temple. If I am already (gasp) at my desk, I use my fingers to blend and it works just fine. Then go on to apply your regular foundation. You will look lit from within. How simple is that?
Posted by Angelica Chayes on Tue, Jul 07, 2009 @ 12:59 PM
When we talk about how to apply eye makeup, we usually mean which colors to use and where to apply them on the eye. But how we apply our eye makeup can take you from struggling with your makeup to creating artful and beautiful eyes. Here are a couple of tips from some of our artists and consultants that have really helped me:
When applying eye shadow to the lid, don't swish. Pat or press the color on with a flat brush like our Deluxe Shader Brush. The color sticks better and stays where you want it, rather than all over your face.
Apply darker eyeshadow in circular motions so that the color blends more easily and you don't have any lines or harsh areas. Try this when you are applying that darker shade in the outer corner or crease. This works beautifully with soft and natural eye makeup looks, and also with dramatic looks, vivid shades, and smokey eyes. By blending as you apply, you don't have that hard edge that is so difficult to blend away.
For in-depth tips on applying contour shadow, see our earlier blog post on that subject. I also love this video using our Daytime Eyeshadow Kit.
Posted by Angelica Chayes on Tue, Jun 09, 2009 @ 05:23 PM
Here is an example of how makeup brushes can make a huge difference in your makeup application:
Dream Tint is a beautiful, light-textured tinted moisturizer with SPF 15. It really is a dream come true! It can certainly be applied with your fingers, but to get the best results, use the Blending Brush to blend it in. It's definitley worth it!
Dot Dream Tint onto the face then really work it into the skin with the Blending Brush. You can't be too vigorous! It takes about 12 seconds from start to finish and is so goof-proof, I have even done it without a mirror! Results? Flawless, no-makeup look, perfect alone or for more coverage, under your regular foundation. Thanks to celebrity makeup artist Christian McNally for this how-to!