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

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!

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

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.

 

Glow on, girls!

Fourth of July Makeup

 

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

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?

No-makeup Makeup

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.

Fall Makeup Trends - Part 2

One of my favorite makeup looks this fall is the balanced face. Equal definition on lips and eyes looks sophisticated, sexy and polished.

Trend #2: Balanced Definition

Goes well with: Elegant day wear (think Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss); or skinny jeans tucked into knee length boots.

Our take:

• Start with a flawless complexion. Apply Dream Tint with the Blending Brush.
• Blush the cheeks softly with In Touch Cream Blush.
• Next, apply PurePressed Base with the Handi Brush and mist face gently with Hydration Spray.
• Now for the eyes. Choose a PurePressed Eye Shadow Triple: apply the lightest shade to the lid, the medium shade to the crease and the darkest shade to the outer corner. Lift the eye a bit by winging up ever so slightly.
• Line the eyes with a coordinating shade of Pencil. Since I am horribly eyeliner-challenged, I always use the Detail Brush, picking up color from the Pencil and applying it to the lash line with the brush. I get a smoother application and it gently blends and smudges it all at once.
• Finish the eyes with PureLash Extender&Conditioner and several coats of Longest Lash Mascara in Black Ice
• To create a softly defined lips: Line and fill in the lips with Lip Definer and top with a coordinating shade of PureGloss.

Here are some shade combinations to try:

1. Silver Lining PurePressed Eye Shadow Triple with Black/Grey Pencil; In Touch Cream Blush in Connection; Terra Cotta Lip Definer with Iced Mocha PureGloss.
2. Khaki KrazePurePressed Eye Shadow Triple with Black/Brown Pencil; In Touch Cream Blush in Chemistry; Sienna Lip Definer and Hazelnut PureGloss.
3. Cloud Nine PurePressed Eye Shadow Triple with Black/Grey Pencil; In Touch Cream Blush in Charisma; Rose Lip Definer and Rasberry PureGloss.

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.

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