Sophisticated Makeup for the Holidays

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.

 

Week 6 Scavenger hunt code UPDATE!

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!

Makeover your Makeup Bag Contest code for week of Nov. 2

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!

Pure Ingredients and Makeup Safety

From time to time we get questions about ratings in the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, which rates the safety of cosmetics.

Although we support EWG which is responsible for the Skin Deep site, we also have serious issues with it.  The methods it has for assessing products is done without any discussion with the manufacturer and, therefore, leads to inaccurate information.  For example, it has assumed that we use nano technology in our sunscreens which is not true.  We have tried to enter into a discussion with them about this but they are unresponsive and have not replied to phone calls or e-mails.  They also pay no attention to quantities used in a product.  For example, they rate everything the same whether it's 50% of the formula or .005%.  This is hugely important since ingredients are toxic at different levels.  Homeopathy, for example, says that there is no such thing as a toxic ingredient, just toxic amounts. 

EWG gives us a toxic rating on our 24 karat food-grade gold because they rate it as colloidal gold which it isn't.  They rate the lakes we use toxic because commonly lakes and FD&C dyes are made from petroleum - ours aren't.  The lakes we use are natural dyes bonded to a calcium substrate.  We do everything we can to make our products as clean as possible. 

If you have an issue with a particular ingredient, please don't hesitate to ask us about it.  We will explain why we use it and how it is derived. Contact us at info@janeiredale.com.

Fall Makeup Trends - Part 1

Is it just me or are the fall trends amazing this year? Here is the first post in a series on having fun with them.

Trend #1: Hot Pink Lips!

Goes well with: Neon accents on clothing or accessories.

Our take: Use warm golden/copper shades on the eyes. Try the gold end of Double Dazzle on the lid, and a bit of the copper end in the crease. Simply draw it on and blend with your finger. Keep it simple and soft: skip eye liner, and add just a bit of mascara. I am obsessed with Longest Lash Mascara in Black Ice. it is the perfect inky black, makes full feathery lashes, and I've really noticed that my lashes are longer since I starterd using it.

Add a sheer pop of color to the cheeks with In Touch Cream Blush in Clarity. Just stroke it onto the apples of your cheeks (smile) and blend gently with your fingers.

For really bright lips, start with Renee PureMoist LipColour and top with Pink Candy PureGloss. Or for a more sheer look, just use Pink Candy.

Bright Eyes! Make up to make your eyes sparkle.

I have been totally inspired by playing with items in the new Silver Lining collection, and have recently discovered a few great tips that really add sparkle to the eyes.

Trick #1 Metallic Liquid Eye Liner: This is my absolute favorite,  and it can be used with even the softest daytime makeup. I picked this up during a video shoot with two of our beloved National Makeup Artists/Educators. Add a thin line of metallic Liquid Eye Liner close to the upper lash line once regular eye makeup is done (Shawn). Let the brush do the job: just lay it along the lash line (Kevin). It really works, even in the passenger seat of a moving car! You don't have to have such a steady hand because the shimmery, metallic quality of the liner is so forgiving. Silver looks lovely with cool eye shadow colors like grey and purple; while Gold is gorgeous with warm, rich shades such as brown, bronze and taupe. It adds this incredible, subtle flash of light, and the eyes magically twinkle with each blink or turn of the head.

Trick #2 Midnight Blue and White Pencil: Here at jane iredale, we have been waiting not-so-patiently for the Midnight Blue Pencil (thank you Jane!). Lining the water line/inner rim is an old trick that really makes the eyes look awake and adds beautiful intensity. But for a soft, subtle look, try lining just under the lower lash line with the White Pencil, blending well so it is unnoticeable. It simply makes the eyes bright.

Trick #3 Shadow Placement: Traditionally we are taught to put the medium shade of eye shadow on the lid, the dark shade in the crease and the lightest shade on the brow bone. This looks great, but here's another technique that really makes the eyes shine. Use the Deluxe Shader Brush to press the lightest shade, preferably with a bit of shimmer, onto the eye lid. Use the Crease Brush to apply the medium shade in the crease. Finally, accent just the outer corner of the lid with the darkest shade. Try applying it with the Eye Shader Brush in a small circular motion for control and nice blending in this tiny area. Blend everything with a clean Crease Brush. As a final touch, swipe the edge of the Flocked Sponge from the outer corner of the eye to the outer corner of the brow to be sure everything is neat and lifted. 

Try any one of these techniques or all three at once. They are beautiful, delicate and subtle; or dramatic, vampy and intense, depending on how you apply.

Fall Eye Shadow: Quick Smoky Eyes!

 

 

 

Smoky eyes are everywhere for fall, and the look has never been fresher because they are being done in every shade from classic charcoal to soft browns, and even vibrant shades like plum or teal. Smoky eyes is not a color, it is a technique; or rather many techniques. Here is one of my favorites from makeup artist Christian McNally. It looks fierce and only takes about five minutes. Have faith. it may look like a hot mess when you are halfway through, but it comes together magically in the end. Blending is the key!

 

 

 

• Start by smoothing a tiny bit of Lemon Lid Primer over the whole lid, lash line to brow. Blend well with your finger tips or the Camouflage Brush.
• Next, apply coordinating eye Pencil: For example, Black/Brown works well with brown or plum smoky eyes; Black or Black/Grey works with charcoal or teal. Draw a thick line across the upper lash line, going about half way up the lid towards the crease. Draw another line under the lower lashes, from inner to outer corner. Connect the two lines at the outer corner, and don't worry about being neat.
• Blend the Pencil well with the Small Fluff Brush to a soft, edgeless finish. One thing I have learned is to blend with a very light touch. It may take longer, but otherwise I end up blending off the makeup I just applied!
• Take your desired shade of PurePressed Eyeshadow Triple. Apply the medium shade to the outer two-thirds of the upper lid with the Crease Brush. The crease can stay clean for this look; concentrate the color on the lid and lash line.
• Apply the lightest shade on the inner third on the upper lid with the same brush and blend the two together with your clean Crease Brush (simply wipe it off on a tissue).
• With the Mini Dome Brush, use the darkest shade in the trio to intensify everywhere you placed the eye Pencil. Blend well.
• Again with the Crease Brush, highlight with a little bit of Oyster (shimmery) or Bone (matte) PurePressed Eye Shadow in the inner corner of the eye at the sides of the nose, and on the brow bone. Blend well.
• Line the inner rim (waterline) of the upper and lower lash line with Liner. Use the same liner or try Black for fierce drama, or Midnight Blue to really whiten the whites of your eyes.
• Apply PureLash Extender & Conditioner to upper and lower lashes to condition lashes and add volume and length. While it is still damp, follow with several coats of Longest Lash Mascara in Black Ice.  

Now with eyes this intense, please keep the cheeks and lips soft and neutral. The one exception for this fall might be a subtle pop of hot pink. Use a light hand and try Clarity In Touch Cream Blush on the cheeks and Sugar Plum PureGloss on the lips

Does your blush disappear? Glow all day with these simple tips.

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?

Makeup colors that flatter everyone!

There was this great article from Yahoo and Real Simple showing four clothing colors that are universally flattering.

These colors are gorgeous, and you can see from the pictures below that they flatter quite different skin tones. If they look good on your body, how much better will they look on your face? It was easy to find these shades throughout our line; here are some of my favorites, try them out and have some fun:

Eggplant - Mauve Silk Eye Gloss; Cloud Nine PurePressed EyeShadow Triple

True Red - Carrie PureMoist LipColour; Crimson Lip Definer.

Teal - Azure PurePressed Eye Shadow Triple; Aquamarine 24-Karat Gold Dust 

Mellow Rose - Antique Rose PurePressed Eye Shadow; Soft Peach PureGloss

Friday night eye makeup

 

Here's a great tip that comes to us from one of our sales consultants, just in time for Friday night ;-)

She says, "mix Eye Gloss with Cream to Powder Eyeliner to create a hot iced look. You can just mix them with your Camouflage Brush on the back of your hand. Just a little of this and a little of that."

Here's how: squeeze a little dab of your favorite shade of Eye Gloss onto the back of your hand; then scrape up a small amount of a coordinating color of Cream To Powder Eye Liner. For example, you could use Grey Silk Eye Gloss with the light or medium shade of Black Plus Cream To Powder Eye Liner. Blend them together on the back of your hand, and then apply using the Camouflage Brush for the eyelid, or the Eye Liner/Brow Brush to use as an eyeliner. It looks amazing, and the color will last all night!