Image via Coutorture.com

The face of Erin Fetherston for Spring 2010 focused clearly on the eyes and was created by makeup artist Lucia Pica for MAC. I was lucky enough to be backstage at Milk Studios during the test (which is when the first model’s look is created as a template for the other artists) and Lucia shared her techniques in detail. Check out the YouTube video below and let me know what you think!

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First and foremost, before organizing your makeup, make sure that you’re holding on to items that you really love. I know that we’re all prone to hoarding gorgeous colors or special packaging – and that’s okay. But if you don’t love it or it’s not useful to you, it’s a waste.  Try passing along what you don’t use to a friend, selling it on eBay (must be new) swapping it on Makeup Alley or donating it to a battered woman’s shelter (again, they usually accept new products only.)

Now that you’ve narrowed down your makeup to products that you use and/or products that you love, (hopefully there’s some overlap in those categories!), pull out all of the basics that you use every day, be it black eyeliner, translucent powder, your favorite lip gloss, etc. Put those in a makeup bag and store in a cool, dry and convenient place. If you can afford to have duplicates for your purse/car or office, even better.

Now, I have a lot of products that I like to keep on hand for everyday, so I use MAC’s Carry All Case for storage on my vanity, in addition to a sweet Paul & Joe printed makeup bag for the very basics.

If you have the luxury of a vanity or a dresser with some extra space, you may want to consider leaving some of your products out for ease of use (and let’s face it, it’s fun and girly to see them on display!), I dig the Large Acrylic Makeup Organizer from The Container Store:

The compartments let you stay organized and the plastic is super easy to clean in the case of any spills.

Hopefully, you’re not quite at the need-an-intervention stage like me, but if you’re truly at the point of excess, pick up one of these nifty Stor-n-Slide Underbed Boxes.

They’re enormous but allow you to keep things hidden from view, in space that would probably go to waste otherwise.

Do tell, what are your makeup storage solutions?

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Image courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

My fave Grand Duo is Love Rock, a gold hued violet paired with a blue toned pink. It’s beautiful on many skin tones, especially if you lean cool.  Try applying  any of the Grand Duos with MAC’s 188 or 187 brush for a diffused glow that seems to come from within.

If pinky hues aren’t for you, there are six other shades available in Grand Duos. These babies are limited editions, so if your interest is piqued, visit www.maccosmetics.com to shop!

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Here’s some pictures from the event and of the products. There will also be an amazing video coming out in February that beauty editors got to see that really captured the essence of this collection. Hello Kitty is a little bit innocent…and a little bit naughty.

From Left to right: Julia from All About the Pretty, Erika from Makeup Bag, me and Lianne from The Makeup Girl

This was the very innocent girl with her Hello Kitty doll. She is wearing colors from the palette below.

This would be the very naughty and playful kitty (you’ll know what I mean when the video goes live.) The palette of colors she is wearing is below:

There is also an accessories line and the couture collection will be launching later on (date still unknown.) The tote you see at the beginning of this post was by far the most popular among all of the beauty bloggers there. We all oohed and aahed when it was talked about.

My thoughts on this collection is that it is very bright and playful. And in this economy, who couldn’t use something fun and imaginative in their lives? Many of the beauty blogs have the official images from the collection posted to their blogs, but I thought it would be more fun to show you the collection through my eyes.

So what do you think? Will it be a hit?

Photo Credit: Tote from MAC Cosmetics, all other images are (c) Shannon Nelson and cannot be reused without expressed written permission.

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This collection includes lipsticks, lipglass, nail lacquer, highlight power and trio eyeshadow palettes in Royal Tour and Wisteria. Below are just a few samples of the products from the collection.

Photo Credit: MAC Cosmetics

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“Two keys to glamorizing any look: Black eyeliner and shimmer. For a sexy look apply Smolder Eye kohl all around the eye and smoke the line with 219 Pencil Brush. For a sophisticated look use Blacktrack Fluidline with a 209 Eyeliner Brush along the upper lash line only. Add shimmer at the inner corners of the eyes, as a brow highlight, along the cheekbones or the lip. For the sexy look try Iridescent Powder in Silver Dusk or Bronze. For a sophisticated look try Hush Cream Colour Base.”

All products can be found at a local MAC Cosmetics counter near you or at www.maccosmetics.com

*Photo Credit: MAC Cosmetics

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I am loving not only the casing of this collection from MAC, but the colors as well!

MONOGRAM LIPSTICK: This luxury formula is smooth and rich. Silky lipstick that glides on with ease for medium buildable to full coverage with satiny shine. Lips feel soft and look rich and lustrous. When paired with the Monogram Lipgloss, the look is high shine and multi-dimensional. Flourish: Frosty mid-tone red; All Mine: Creamy mid-tone blue pink; Marque: Soft light neutral pink; Status Symbol: Warm midtone reddish brown with pearl.

MONOGRAM LIPGLOSS: High shine, super sheer lipgloss provides comfort and cushion. Lips feel soft and look lustrous. Brilliant gold sparkle flecks give a lustrous effect. A patent leather slick of shine; beautiful alone or paired with Monogram Lipstick. Posh Life: Mid-tone bright pink with gold pearl; Identity: Pale baby pink with gold pearl; Distinguished: Sheer yellow beige with gold pearl; Monodramatic: Bronzy brown with gold pearl.

SHEERSPARK PRESSED POWDER: A new shimmer powder for both eye and cheek. Commemorate: Frosted pale gold with gold pearl; Keepsake: Frosted pale pink with gold pearl; Personal Touch: Frosted light peach with pink pearl; Old English: Frosted light bronze with gold pearl.

There is also a fragrance and clutch associated with this collection–it becomes available on November 26th at MAC, Sak’s, Nordstrom’s and Henri Bendel’s. Internationally available in December.

*Photo Credit: MAC Cosmetics

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Charlotte’s look for Behnaz’s show was romantic, paintly and garden nymph-inspired. She used no foundation on the face, only lip conditioner on the lips (for a sweet, healthy look), and broken silver (Cyber Metal X) and brown on the eyes.

The makeup complimented Ashley’s ethereal look for hair. The overall look reminded me of fairytales and fairy-like beings playfully flying among the flowers in the forest. The look was beautiful and one that I thought was completely viable as a true look for spring.

Above are some great images from backstage–and yes that many people work on a model at once! It is chaos my friends!

Many thanks to photographer Peter Lueders who I met backstage and graciously emailed me his work to use! Please check out his website www.peterlueders.com

For my post on the hair for backstage and more pictures of Ashley Javier (also pictured above) please check out A Girl’s Gotta Spa!

*Photo Credit: Charlotte Tilbury is (c) Shannon Nelson; Backstage pictures (c) Peter Lueders

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The focus for this show was on the brows, however not your typical bold brow like last season, but one uniquely different. They were a defined penciled brow with pops of color. Wavy Blue and Magenta were used to shade the brows drawing attention above the eyes. Each brow was draw with a thin black line. Skin was glowing and natural, as was the lip.

The look was meant to look youthful and fun, as if all belonging to the same tribe. There was also a nod to Alice Cooper on a few models drawing his trademark black markings above and below the eye.

I asked Val where she was when she was inspired to bring color to the eyebrows for this look. She told me it was actually when she was with the designer and saw some of the staining on the clothes.

What do you think? Will blue and pink shaded brows catch on this Spring?

Photo Credit: (c) Shannon Nelson

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You didn’t know it during Fashion Week SS08, but the N Collection was being used all over the runway. This collection just became available in stores a few days ago and I can bet it’s going to be a sell out. The colors are amazing.

As for the “Charged Water” in the collection, I may just have to try that out myself and give it a review on A Girl’s Gotta Spa!

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