Toasting the New Year and its 15th anniversary, NARS is celebrating with red-hot holiday-packaged gifts this season. Here are a few highlights:

NARS introduces two 15th Anniversary Palettes ($75 each) to celebrate 15 years of color innovation.
First up is Everlasting Love contains intense eye hues to create the perfect smoky eye while Wild at Heart featuring bold lip shades for a deeply pigmented pout.
The Plein ete Mini Multiple Set ($45) is n exclusive set of mini Multiples boasting three best-selling shades.
The Drop Dead Gorgeous Mini Nail Kit ($30) is a dreamy stocking stuffer; the mini collection includes four festive shades: Arabesque, Chinatown, …read more

Halloween is tomorrow and no matter what’s on your agenda – party or parade – the killer style and flawless faces seen on AMC’s ‘Mad Men’ would be the perfect costume (simple, feminine and beautiful!)

To get the look, try snagging a vintage dress from your closet or the closet of your mom or grandmother. Accessorize it conservatively with classic pearls, diamond studs, matching mid-height heels and a chic clutch.
For the makeup, start with a powder foundation (I like the one from Michael Marcus Cosmetics ($40) as it creates a close – to – flawless complexion.)
Next, apply a thin line of …read more

While the shows in Bryant Park have ended for the season, the circus of fashion continues in Milan this week. Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring/Summer 2010 Ready to Wear was dubbed “Heritage”, and showcased the designers’ Sicilian roots and signature sartorial tailoring laced with a dose of tango.
On the runway, each model donned a bold red lip created using Dolce&Gabbana The Make Up.

“This season our inspiration stemmed from the passionate Latin woman melded with our Sicilian upbringing,” said Domenico Dolce. Stefano Gabbana added, “The cultures are very similar and we wanted the beauty look to be reflective of this passion and …read more

Makeup artist Mai Quynh for mark consistently creates some of my very favorite celeb red carpet looks, many of which I’ve featured here on Makeup Minute in the past few months. So, I found myself wanting to know a little more about her!  Read on for an exclusive MM Q&A:

MM: How did you get your start as a makeup artist?
MQ: After high school, I decided to go to makeup school. Once I finished makeup school, I got a job working at MAC and stayed there for about 3 years. On my days off, I worked as an assistant …read more

Naomi Watts, star of the new movie “Mother and Child,” was spotted last night on the red carpet at the movie’s screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.
mark celebrity makeup artist Mai Quynh was gracious enough to share how she created Naomi’s gorgeous red carpet look. Check out the step by step below and leave a comment to share your thoughts on Naomi’s look!

Face
“I started by applying mark Face Expert Flawless Touch Makeup in Natural with a foundation brush to her skin. I then blended mark Get Bright Hook Up Highlighter in Light under her eyes and mark Good …read more

So, we’ve already talked nails with Deborah Lippman, but the Lela Rose Spring 2010 makeup look was just as lovely. Created by Sarah Lucero for Stila/Beauty.com, the theme of the morning was watercolors and overall, the makeup, hair and nails evoked a beachy, Malibu-feeling.

Backstage, models’ complexions were evened out with Stila’s Sheer Color Moisturizer SPF 15, while Pomegranate Crush Lip Stain was used as blush.  On the eyes, Camelia Convertible Color, the Fandango duo shadow and the Cobalt Smudge Pot left a gorgeous wash of color.
The finishing touches were Camelia Convertible Color on the lips and a few coats of …read more

I don’t know about you but Project Runway Season 4 was hands down my favorite. I  loved hilarious Jack Mackenroth and smoking hot Rami Kashou but most of all, I loved the uber-talented (and uber-sassy) Christian Siriano, the season’s winner.
Siriano was the first Project Runway designer to really hit it big – since winning, he’s dressed countless celebs (including fashion icon Victoria Beckham), shown in the tents at New York Fashion Week and created a line of footwear for Payless. So, what’s next for this pint-sized powerhouse?
That’s right – makeup!  Siriano has collaborated with Victoria’s Secret to create a beautiful line …read more

Guilty confession time.
Despite my beauty blogging ‘career’, there are loads of products that I just never lay a hand on.  Lipliner falls into that category, as does liquid liner.  Foundation primer, I must admit, is also iffy.
While it’s difficult to think about adding that extra layer between my skin and foundation in the heat and humidity in summer, a great primer (Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, pictured left, has wonderful reviews on Sephora.com, for the record!) can help fill in lines, meaning that foundation applies more smoothly.
Primers also add staying power, especially in warmer weather (despite my concerns above.)
What do …read more

As a city built on water, Venice was a source of great intrigue for the legendary Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel. She saw the city as simultaneously dramatic and fragile – qualities she herself possessed.
In honor of Coco Chanel’s affection for the city, Peter Philips, Global Creative Director for Chanel Makeup, took inspiration from the city of Venice for the Fall 2009 color collection.  Think rich sienna and deep rose tones, along with dusky greys and greens that when combined, create a lovely and modern look.

The Fall 2009 collection from Chanel offers up some true standouts including the limited edition Luminous Cream …read more

If I let my lip gloss desires run amok, I’d have a purse full of options with me at all times.  But of course, that’s really impractical, so I have to thank goodness for Flirt!
This affordable line of cosmetics has quite a few star products but what I’m loving RIGHT THIS MINUTE is the new Candy Stripes Glossy Lip Palette.

In a sleek clear and black compact, Flirt! packs 5 shiny and moisturizing shades of  gloss.  Candy Stripes is available in two colorways – Pink Stripes (above) and Peach Stripes but both are versatile enough for any skintone.
These babies normally retail for …read more