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, Candy Darling and Saratoga.

Last but not least is the D. Lovely Lip Gloss Duo Set ($45, above), which includes four smaller versions of the successful Duo Lip Gloss in a variety of mix and match shades: Misbehave/All Night Long, Pillow Talk/Sandpiper, Orgasm/Chihuahua, and Greek Holiday/Stolen Kisses.

The Holiday 2009 gift sets and palettes are available at www.narscosmetics.com though the Plein Etè Mini Multiple Set is a Sephora exclusive.

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The set includes an assortment of four classic products resurrected from the archives by François Nars specifically for the women of New York and re-named after iconic names in the city. It will be available for sale at the NARS counter during the PA (that’s personal appearance!)

A team of NARS makeup artists will also be offering customers in-store consultations with the NARS Loves New York Set and the Fall collection. Here are all the deets:

WHERE: Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Avenue at East 50th Street

WHEN: Thursday, October 8th, 1:30-3:00pm

To make an appointment, call the NARS counter at 212-753-4000, extension 2643.

If you make it to the event next week, please leave a comment and tell us how it was!

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The inspiration behind the collection came from Madame Butterfly. “I wanted to capture the real look of Japan, create layers and bits of origami,” said Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman. The whimsical creations based in sculpted layers balanced the soft, bare faces that were accentuated with long lashes.

Very simple, romantic and beautiful skin contoured with varying formulas. “We contoured the skin with matte and shimmery textures and added feathers to the eyes to provide dimension to the face,” explained Shobrook. A matte face was illuminated with a bit of shimmer. Feather lashes, custom created by NARS from the feathers on the Marchesa dresses, gave excitement to an otherwise simple look.

What do you think of the Marchesa Spring 2010 look?

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Celebrity makeup artist Jake Bailey did Katy Perry’s makeup last night at the VMAs and her dress – an outrageous metal spiked mesh mini by The Blonds – was the inspiration.

Of it, Jake said, “The dress reminded me of a Gianni Versace book I have called “Rock and Royalty” and the powerful iconic images in it. I wanted the eyes to evoke that type of decadent glamour and of course complement the sparkle of the dress with a little sparkle on the eyes.”

To get the look, Jake used NARS Oil Free foundation as Katy’s base and a pink shimmer Blush for some glow. He kept the lips matte so the emphasis was on her eyes, but they definitely were not without color! For the red carpet, Katy wore a matte coral and for her performance and after party, she wore a matte red.

The eye look was done with black and gunmetal shadows, silver glitter and liquid liner. A great trick to wearing glitter like this is to blend a little cream shadow onto the area where you want to place the glitter. You should do this once your eye makeup is finished. So as a last step, gently apply the glitter using your fingertip… just a little at a time in order to avoid a mess. Once finished use scotch tape to remove any excess glitter that may have fallen on the face. Press the tape gently into the skin and it picks it right up.

Katy’s lashes were ultra long and gorgeous thanks to COVERGIRL LashBlast Length Mascara.

What do you think of Katy Perry’s VMA look?

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“It always seems that inspiration ends up coming from the dress. Last night Amy wore a gorgeous full length Carolina Herrera gown with a charcoal and white pattern speckled with gold beading. So I borrowed from that exquisite color palette. We went for a steel and copper smoky lid, gorgeous full lashes, a peachy cheek and a golden amber lip.”

Face

I first started by prepping her skin with a refreshing spray of Jurlique Rose Water Balancing Mist. And then moisturized her skin with La Mer’s Moisturizing Lotion.

Next I based her skin sparingly with the new Cle de Peau Cream Foundation. Then I warmed up her cheeks with the gorgeous new COVERGIRL Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush in Plush Peach.

Eyes

For her eye, I based the lid with a combination of Shu Uemura’s Cream Eye Shadow in P Taupe, and Vincent Longo’s silky orange liquid eyeshadow.

Over that I blended the new NARS shadow in Brumes.

Under her eye I smudged COVERGIRL Exact Eyelights Eyeliner in Radiant Sapphire in the outer corner and on the inner corner I dabbed a smidge of Shu Uemura pressed eye shadow in NME gold 350.

On her lashes I coated them with COVERGIRL Exact Eyelights Mascara in Black Sapphire.

Lips

To finish off the look I tinted her lips with COVERGIRL Outlast Lipstain in Cinnamon Smile with a dab of YSL golden gloss over top.

I love that Molly used a great mix of high and low products for Amy’s look though I’m not crazy about this lip with her skintone.  What do you think?

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“For this collection, I wanted to create something fragile and strong, and seductive but not aggressive,” said François Nars, Founder and Creative Director of NARS Cosmetics. The combination of strength and refinement has become a hallmark of the brand, and is particularly fitting this season as the brand celebrates its 15th anniversary.

Here’s what I’m looking forward to:

NARS Fast Ride Lipstick – $24
This seemingly dark purple may intimidate, but swipe it across the lips and its true shade is revealed: a sheer mulberry. A color that falls somewhere between an intense plum wine stain, and a moody, deep violet.

NARS Tokaido Express – $16
This new hue is a cult classic in the making. Named after Japan’s most heavily frequented high-speed rail route, this lacquer is an opulent blackened amethyst doused with ultra-fine gold dust particles.

NARS Silk Road Duo Eyeshadow- $32
This new shade mirrors the hues from traditional damask fabrics. Classic meets edgy in this new duo – an icy pink is paired with a warm rose gold with golden flecks.

NARS Brumes Duo Eyeshadow- $32
These new hues perfectly capture the moody shades of a cool twilight sky. Brumes pairs a velvety matte charcoal with a sparkling, blue state for a smoky eye that is both confident and serene.

NARS Indian Summer Duo Eyeshadow- $32
A typical Indian summer comes as a surprise, balmy sunshine meets brisk fall. Swipe the summery, frosted champagne shimmer up to the brow, and line the upper lid with the autumnal deep, matte mustard for a striking look, appropriate for every season.

NARS Mekong Single Eyeshadow- $22
This is the perfect addition to the NARS woman’s adventurous palette. The intense, blackened espresso hue scattered with rose gold is a study in contrasts. Applied liberty across the lid it exudes a sexy attitude, or applied lightly, a simple, fashion-forward sophistication.

What do you think? Anything you’re eyeing to add to your collection?

To shop NARS Fall, visit this link.

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• “For the record: I wear makeup. All. The. Time. But I do it in a way that looks natural. My skin is blotchy, and I’m Mediterranean-I’ve got dark circles. So I need foundation and concealer. One thing I swear by is Armani Silk foundation. It offers coverage, but it breathes, so people never think I’m wearing makeup. For under my eyes, I use Touche Eclat by Yves Saint Laurent, which I love because it’s moisturizing and creamy and blends into my skin without getting cakey. I also wear a bronzer-Cargo and Nars have great sun-kissed colors-just to give a little depth to my cheeks.”
• Play up your best feature! “I would say that my favorite part of my face is my eyes. I have very long lashes, but they’re not thick, so when I apply mascara-I love L’Oreal Voluminous-suddenly my eyes are transformed. It’s cool. I’ve also learned a few eye makeup tricks. For example, highlight your brow bone to give your eyes a more wide-open look. Also, as you’re applying mascara, twirl the brush-from the root [to the ends]-so the color covers the whole lash for a fuller look.”
• Find a good role model, “To me, natural beauty means having a real sense of confidence. I just think that there is something so incredibly sexy about a woman who takes care of herself and doesn’t try to bend to be something she’s not, like Robin Wright Penn, Meryl Streep, and Diane Lane. And Kate Winslet-I mean, my God! She’s gotten even more beautiful with age!”

For more from Emmanuelle, pick up the latest issue of Women’s Health!

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Brett Freedman, Makeup Artist & Founder of Vanitymark Cosmetics

Next up in our series of Makeup Minute How To’s are tips on making foundation last.  Foundation is an essential for women who want coverage but getting your makeup to last the duration of the day can be a challenge.

Celebrity makeup artist Brett Freedman (who keeps stars like Reba McIntyre and Jenna Fischer looking gorgeous) gave us his top three tips for foundation with staying power:

1. My first trick to getting a foundation that holds up is to find a long wear formulation. I LOVE Revlon’s ColorStay Active Light Foundation. It’s super sheer, comes in an amazing color range and has SPF 25.  That’s  not even the best part. The stuff STAYS. Oh, it won’t come off till you take it off. It’s so lightweight it lets the skin breath. Very important in the warmer months.

2. Switch to an oil free moisturizer. Apply while face is still damp. Denser moisturizers can sometimes  ‘break down’ foundation. Lock in moisture right after cleansing and allow your moisturizer to dry completely. You’ll use less foundation and it will really absorb and adhere to skin. This trick is all about timing. Origins Plantidote Mega-Mushroom Face Lotion (an oil free moisturizer) is one of my faves!

3. Set with loose powder and a big fluffy brush. A compact is good for touch ups but for a solid, diffused finish to just applied foundation there is nothing better than loose powder. Finely milled powder works best to really get in there and ’set’ every little area. A big fluffy brush insures even distribution. NARS Loose Powder has an amazing feel and ultra soft on the skin. 

For more info on Brett or to check out his line, Vanitymark, visit www.vanitymark.com .

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Tricia Sawyer Eye Slept ($21)

This creamy brightener can be worn on it’s own for dark circles that fall on the lighter side or as a boost to your everyday concealer for extra coverage. Simply dab on lightly with your pinky finger or a concealer brush (NARS makes a phenomenal one!) and this baby stays put. I like to layer it under my Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Maximum Coverage for days when I’m feeling extra pooped and no amount of coffee will help.

Don’t blink at the price as a little goes a long way.  You can snag your own pot of Eye Slept at www.triciasawyer.com!

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Shannon did great things with Makeup Minute over the past few years and I know all her readers will miss her. And I’m also sure Liberty Kontranowski, the new blogger, realizes that she has big shoes to fill and is up to the challenge. Liberty isn’t a stranger to the b5media Beauty & Style Channel, she has blogged at Teen Style Lounge and Snarkstress.

Liberty will be starting a Makeup Minute within a week or so. In the mean time, I’m going to fill in for the next few days until she gets started. I’m Kori Ellis, the Channel Editor for the Beauty & Style Channel and Splendicity.com.

Are you looking for a sweet Valentine’s Day gift in the form of makeup?

Whether for yourself or someone else, The Love Set from NARS is a hot choice. Inside the black box, you will find their top-selling Orgasm Blush, Pillow Talk Lip Gloss in azalea-pink, and a Sex Machine Velvet Lip Pencil.

A $73 value, Sephora has the set right now for just $49. I’m a big fan of NARS blush and this pretty pink gift set is definitely worth it!

Photo credit: Sephora

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