(Mostly because Halloween starts in about a half hour.)

Sephora

First of all, I’m loving the new Sephora Halloween Kit -it’s only $19, and gives all sorts of fabulously Halloween-appropriate looks, all in one box.

The kit has anything you may need to create the look of a doll, fairy, and angel, including: False Eyelashes, Round a Pot in Beach Ball, Glitter Spray in Silver, Slim Eyeliner in Black, Slim Eyeliner in White, and Luminous Glow.

Why is this great? Well, if you are still looking for tips right now, you probably still have no idea what you are going to be tomorrow. You may as well keep your options open! Now lets hope there’s a store close enough for you to do a last-minute mad dash…

Post from: eBeautyDaily

A few months ago, I met Lauren Luke at her Sephora launch event, and LOVE her. So, when I saw she had updated her YouTube with some fabulous new tips for Halloween makeup, I had to share them here!

For those who don’t know, Lauren is the beauty-blog-queen of of the UK. Her YouTube channel has over 300,000 subscribers…just to watch her play with makeup. (Geez. Why didn’t I think of that?)

Her ideas are great, though. Check out some below.

Gothic Vampire Look

Lauren used the Twilight Ash eyeshadow from her My Smokey Classics makeup kit to help create this vampy look.

Angel Eyes

(She uses some of my fave MAC products in this one!)

Post from: eBeautyDaily

Sxc.hu

A little guidance is always a good thing! Here are some fab tips from celeb makeup artist Brett Freedman:

Perfect Cat Eyes

Give a silver dusting to the whole lid from lash line to brow line and into the tear duct. Add a sweep of a purple-gray hue to the crease of the eyelid to add depth. Then use a felt tip liquid eyeliner (Brett loves Sephora’s version) and lightly dot on the lid, staying as close as possible to the lash line. Go back over and this time press the felt tip firmly into skin and ‘connect the dots’ to smooth the line, fanning it up and out toward the temples on the ends. Finish off your makeup look with pretty pink cheeks and lips!

Bombshell Makeup

Start with a foundation that’s a shade lighter than you usually use (try Revlon’s Custom Creations foundation). This sets the stage for the crisp, retro look. Shade the crease of your eye with a soft beige-y taupe shadow. With a sponge-tipped applicator, apply a matte, bone colored shadow (or pale face powder) all over lids and add a silvery shimmer along the brow bone to highlight. The black liquid liner is very important. Run from tear duct to outer corner very close to the lash line. Extend liner up and out. Corner false lashes finish this alluring eye look. Fill out lips with a true blue-red lip liner and fill in with a deep red lipstick. Use very minimal blush in a soft pink. Ice the cake with Marilyn’s iconic mole aka your black liquid liner!

Pop Art Eyes

You’ll need two sets of false eyelashes for this monochromatic mod look – one very full, dark pair for the top and a second sparser, spikier pair for the bottom (try Andrea Perma-Lash). Sculpt lid out from the tear duct to outer corner with matte gray shadow – be very exaggerated and rounded and arc it like a rainbow. Take a near-white silver shimmer eye shadow and apply boldly to lid and brow bone. Use a liquid liner on top and bottom, extending on the outer corners horizontally (toward the mid ear, not the temple). Apply false lashes to top and bottom lash lines. Steer clear of blush and go for a very pale, fleshy lipstick or gloss.

Gold Dewy Makeup

Start with an all over tan and shimmery glow (Vanitymark’s Shimmerskin is great!). Gold and peach tones are your friends. Give you cheeks a sweep of warm apricot blush and work it up around eyes. Get an eye shadow quad in browns – use the palest shade to highlight under the brow bone and layer the shades from lightest to darkest. The darker the shade, the closer it should be to the lash line. Use a deep brown eyeliner pencil on the inner shelf of the eye for extra pop. Apply small, corner lashes to the top outer lash line to amp up lashes. Apply a peachy/golden gloss to lips. For the finishing touch, take a loose, sheer gold powder and dust over eye make up and along the tops of the cheekbones.

Smoky Eyes

It’s all about the eyes. Too much is never enough. There will be little other make up so it’s best to get your pow from really working your black eyeliner. Apply base as usual. Use a very neutral lip – clear gloss is best. Blush should be a fleshy, barely there pink. Using a soft black eyeliner, fill in your lid and under eye in quick strokes. Don’t worry about getting it smooth and perfect because (in true rocker style) you’re gonna smudge and blend with your finger. Curl your lashes and apply multiple layers of blue-black mascara (try L’Oreal Voluminous). Once mascara dries, take a small dab of clear lip gloss and rub into lid and lash line. This will give the liner a wet, naughty look. Rock on!

Post from: eBeautyDaily

We know that, sure, but that doesn’t mean we always take the steps necessary to maintain it.

I spend a lot of time hanging with my friends – who also happen to be beauty writers – and shockingly enough, skin issues come up. We all know we should take care of our skin, but all of us have individual processes for going about it. No one is wrong, it’s just a very personal process.

But once you find your “road”, taking care of the skin is just like taking care of the body – it becomes part of a lifestyle.

We chatted with renowned skincare expert Ling Chan, and she agreed: It is important to dedicate time to your customized plan to help achieve great skin. As for what that plan should be, Ling gave some awesome advice to get us started.

1. Get an expert monthly facial to clean the pores of impurities. Heavy makeup and our bodies natural 28 day cycle leads to clogged pores. In order to maintain a healthy complexion and get the most benefits from your products, it is important to go in for a pore cleaning every month to six weeks.

2. Having discipline when it comes to your at-home regimen and weekly maintenance. If you do not go in for regular facials this is even more important to maintain your skin’s health. (I always fail at this. It’s a bad, bad, beauty editor that every few days forgets she owns toner.)

3. Making healthy lifestyle choices when it comes to:

a. Proper Bedtime (11pm is recommended as this aligns with the body’s natural sleep cycle).

b. Limit Alcohol intake. Alcohol can negatively impact the skin and may contribute to broken capillaries, acne, and interruptions in your skin care regimen (ex: not washing face before bedtime).

c. Do not smoke cigarettes. Smoking negatively impacts the skin by constricting blood flow to the skin, decreasing healing time, tone, and contributes to premature or increased aging of the skin.

4. Hydration is the root of anti-aging.

a. When dealing with skin conditions, the first and most important step is to take care of your dehydration. Many skin conditions are a result of surface dehydration, which in turn disrupts the body’s natural production and release of oil. When your skin becomes dehydrated, it immediately affects and promotes all skin conditions such as acne, large pores and blackheads, redness, sensitivity, oily skin, premature aging and fine lines. Preventing dehydration is an important step in slowing the process of aging.

5. Exfoliation is important to remove dead skin cells, dirt and debris to promote a healthy looking complexion. Ling recommends to gently exfoliate nightly to ‘remove the day’. In a facial it is necessary to exfoliate to perform extractions and enhance results.

a. Overuse of cleansers that contain Glycolic Acids, Alpha Hydroxy Acids and irritating ingredients, along with exfoliating too frequently with very abrasive scrubs can eventually damage the skin and contribute to redness, sensitivity and inflammation. When the surface of the skin becomes dehydrated, the oil glands will overproduce oil to compensate for the lack of moisture which in turn can lead to large pores, blackheads and breakouts. That seems rather counter-productive, now, doesn’t it?

Post from: eBeautyDaily

Why not start a week early?

Black Opal

Kebra Emanuel-Autry, Head Make-up Artist for the 2009 Miss Black USA Pageant, says she is in love with Black Opal. “I am so excited that they are this year’s sponsor for the Miss Black USA Pageant. Their products are great– and not just for fashion shows but also for the everyday woman with a “no fuss” approach to beauty!”

Kebra swears by makeup brushes, and says they “are a must for creating a seamless well-blended finish” – but that many woman don’t know how to choose a brush, or when/how to use it.  She provided a bit of a cheat sheet for us:

Powder Brush

This is the easiest one to recognize, it’s the  full, soft-haired brush used for applying loose powder. Kebra says to try yours with Black Opal’s Invisible Oil Blocking Powder to alleviate shine.

Under Eye Brush

This is the small, soft-haired brush normally used for smoothing the under-eye area where powder can collect in fine lines or wrinkles. This works well with Black Opal’s Fade and Conceal, which is a 2-in-1 concealer, to highlight your under eye area and cover any blemishes or darkness.

Blush Brush

Makeup drawer must-have: It’s a medium-sized, soft-haired brush used when applying bronzer or blush. Swirl yours over one of Black Opal’s Mosaic Bronzing Powders compacts to add luminosity and richness to your skin.

Lip Brush

You already know this one. but this short, fairly stiff brush is a gem for the precise application of lipstick and lip gloss. You can try this with Black Opal’s Dual-Ended Lip Gloss.

Post from: eBeautyDaily

Image: Sxc.hu

We have high hopes of hitting the beach – I have not one but TWO hot new swimsuits with me – but as of now, storm clouds are a-brewing.

If by some miracle, the sun comes out tomorrow, I shall still have ridiculously fair skin – and need to be well-prepared. I consulted with Dr. Ronald Moy, newly elected as president of the American Academy of Dermatology, and he gave me some awesome advice for surviving the sun – and maintaining my great skin while I’m at it!

Here’s some guidelines for your next sunny day – if you manage to find one!

1. Wear protective clothing and a broad-brimmed hat.
2. Avoid the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
3. Apply sunscreen before getting into your car. Long-wavelength UVA rays from the sun can penetrate car windshields and damage the skin.
4. Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 when you spend any time in the sun. The sunscreen should block both UVA and UVB rays.

Dr. Moy recommends the following types of sunscreens (the first two being more effective):

Avobenzone (Parsol 1789)

Neutrogena Helioplex

One that contains Titanium Oxide or Zinc

5. An over-the-counter antioxidant pill with vitamins also works to protect skin from the sun.
6. Dr. Moy strongly recommends going to the dermatologist for annual exams to guard against skin cancer.
7. Even if you tan easily, the sun can contribute to skin cancer in two ways. First, the sunlight damages the genes that control cell growth, and second sunlight damages the body’s immune system so that early cancers grow unchecked by normal immune defense.
8. Do not stay outdoors unprotected on cloudy days since the ultraviolet light penetrates easily through the clouds.
9. Exfoliate regularly to remove damaged cells.
10. To lighten dark freckles, he uses an over-the-counter bleaching agent that contains 2% hydroquinone.

Post from: eBeautyDaily

Here are some tips from Jody Cohen, the mastermind behind Cosmoholic Cosmetics.

1. Use a mineral bronzer. Mineral bronzers will give you a natural bronzed glow without looking too shimmery. I recommend using ‘Warm Bronze’ by Laura Mercier (Bonus: it contains SPF 15.)

2. Use a shimmer lip gloss that you can wear over any color. This will add a pop to your lips, get you ready for summer and will turns heads. I recommend using ‘Gold Digger’ by Cosmoholic Cosmetics.

3. Whether you are heading to the beach or wearing a little black dress out at night, having your body glow is super important. I love using ‘baked body frosting’ by Laura Geller to get an all over body glow!

4. Tinted moisturizer is a must have for summer. Most contain a SPF and it’s light and subtle… perfect for summer.

Image: Sxc.hu

Post from: eBeautyDaily

As  I’m sure anyone whose ever been a teenager can well attest, acne is a major pain in the bum.

As it gets warmer, our tendency to sweat grows, and that also makes our pores clog with oil more: And thus, more breakouts.

How can we cut down our risk? There’s a bunch of stuff we can do!

Cleanse your face!

This may sound obvious, but if you don’t want clogged pores, make sure to cleanse twice a day. Also use the right cleanser for your face – if you have sensitive skin, make sure you use a regime made for that.

Use Toner

For the longest time, I had no idea what toner’s purpose was, but now I get it: Toner not only gets the last bits of dirt and makeup off your face, it also helps clean off the cleanser itself! This makes it easier for moisturizer to stick to it in the next step.

Hydrate!

Drink lots of water…believe it or not, it’s great for your skin

And speaking of hydration…

Make sure use moisturizer – it’s essential, even for oily skin!

Image: Sxc.hu

Post from: eBeautyDaily

Justin Tranter, creator of rock n roll jewelry line, Fetty, said it’s not as hard as we think. In fact, it can be done in FOUR MINUTES!

“A smoky eye is a rock ‘n’ roll makeup must,” Justin says, and with a little practice it shouldn’t take that long to do.

Justin’s Tip: Line the inner rim of your lower lid and the along the lash line of your top lid with a black cream or gel liner and a small angle brush.

Justin says he uses MAC Fluidline in Black Track. Then use a black shadow to darken your eye lid crease, and then dust the shadow under your bottom lashes to work the smoke everywhere!

Use MAC Carbon shadow for this. Apply as much black mascara as you possible can – and you are done!

Thanks, Justin!

Image: Sxc.hu

Post from: eBeautyDaily

STEP 1: Use a non-acetone/natural nail polish remover such as ORLY’s Gentle Formula Nail Polish Remover to remove any existing lacquer from nails. File nails with a glass file as this expertly and gently shapes while preparing the nail for polish.

STEP 2: Soak feet in a tub of hot, soapy water and add ORLY’s Refreshing Citrus Foot Soak – soak feet for at least 10 minutes. Using ORLY’s Pearl Silk Sugarcane Foot & Leg Scrub, scrub feet lightly to remove rough areas and/or calluses. Wipe feet dry with a soft cotton towel, but make sure to leave cuticles moist.

STEP 3: Apply a generous amount of ORLY’s Island Balm Ultimate Strength Foot Crème a few inches above the ankles and massage into feet – concentrating on heels and any other problem areas.

STEP 4: Use ORLY’s Cuticle Therapy Creme on cuticles to condition and moisturize. Gently push the cuticles back with a cotton-wrapped cuticle pusher or orange stick and be sure to wipe excess oil or cream off the nails with non-acetone nail polish remover.

STEP 5: Use 3 Free formulas (meaning free of DBP and all traces of Toluene and Formaldehyde) to protect nails from harmful, damaging chemicals. Base coats and top coats are crucial in ensuring long-lasting results. Start with ORLY’s Bonder as a base coat to prep the nails for polish, after the base coat has dried, apply two thin coats of the lacquer and finish with ORLY’s Sec ‘N Dry top coat. A few days later, apply ORLY’s Glosser to nails to add shine and longevity to the color.

HIPP TIP: Keep a bottle of ORLY’s Cuticle Oil + with you at all times – especially in the car. Women tend to notice their nail condition/cuticle dryness when their hands are on the wheel. Healthy, moisturized cuticles immediately make nails look more beautiful!

Post from: eBeautyDaily