Fall Forward: Cyber Lady

Now, I do know this look isn't for everyone. It is however meant to inspire. How have you stepped outside of your makeup box this week? Share with me in the comments below!

SKIN
-MAC Skin Enhancer in Adjust
-Bobbi Brown Ultra Moisturizing Foundation SPF 15
-MAC Skinfinish Natural Mineral powder
-Bare Escentuals Warmth brozner
-MAC Well Dressed Blush
-Bobbi Brown Rose Shimmer Brick

EYES
-Painterly/Groundwork MAC paint pots
-MAC shadows: Modelette, Shroom, Saddle.
-MAC Coffee Eye Pencil
-MAC Studio Fix lash mascara in bold black lash
-MAC Brow powder in Showstopper

And for the grand finale...

LIPS
-Painterly Paint Pot
-MAC Nightmoth Lip Liner
-MAC Cyber Lipstick
-Mac Seedy Pearl eyeshadow popped onto the center of the lip

For artistry questions and ideas for colors, please contact me in the comments below, via email at bloominsaturation@gmail.com or via Facebook at Bloom in Saturation

Enjoy!

How To: Basic Contouring and Highlighting

Here is a photo I have put together for you to act as a guide when you are getting started into basic highlighting, contouring, color and placement.

Black Arrows= Contouring with a bronzer or darker powder
White Arrows= Highlighting with a glimpse product whether a beauty powder or eyeshadow
Purple Arrow= proper placement of blush for a good lift

The left side (your left) of the face indicates where you should be placing your bronzers to contour. All along the top of the forehead, following into a 3 shape on the sides of the the face. Next, contour the sides of the nose and the top of the chin. This will emphasize your facial features and warm up your complexion without looking unnatural because this is where the sun naturally hits you.

The right side shows proper placement of highlights/contours on the eye as well as proper placement for blush. Highlight the inner corner of the eyes, the brow bone, the top of the cheekbone, down the bridge of the nose, then down the center of the forehead, top of lips and chin. Place a warm shadow on the eye lid followed by a slightly darker color in the crease. This is ALL about emphasizing the shape of your face, not the colors you are using. This is meant to be a no-makeup makeup idea as a prep to your look.

Blush can be worn in many different ways. If you want a natural flushed look, this is the way to do it. Take a medium fluffy blush brush with your favorite blush and do small sweeping motions back and forth up the cheekbone where you are barely touching the skin. This will give a natural glow and color.

Do you contour everyday? or just when you are getting ready for a night on the town? Was this photo and short description helpful? You can send me your questions at Bloominsaturation@gmail.com, the comments below or via Facebook at Bloom in Saturation

What are your favorite contouring products and tools?

Fall Forward: A Softer Side

My last two posts were geared towards a darker more artistic approach to Fall Makeup. This post, is ALL about a soft feminine touch that will stand out against dull sky's and rainy days.

FACE
-Any tinted moisturizer
-A Mineral skin finish powder
-Warmth Bronzer Bare Escentuals
-Pink Swoon blush MAC
-Seedy Pearl highlight on face MAC Eyeshadow

EYES
-Any eye primer
-Seedy Pearl MAC shadow all over lid and used as highlighter
-Warmth Bronzer in the crease of lid as well as under bottom lashes
-Coffee MAC Eye Pencil in waterline as well as on top of lid
-Studo Fix lash MAC Mascara in Bold Black Lash

LIPS
-Keeping it simple with one application of MAC's Kissable Lipcolour in Vanity Fair

Is this simple Fall look more your style? or have you been wanting to try something more dramatic?

Fall Forward: Candy Apple

A Snow White look, if you will. A completely different type of red, bold lip. Have you ever been too afraid to try a red lipstick? This one is classic and is the best first step to trying a red.

LIPS
-Beet Lip Liner MAC
-Russian Red lipstick

EYES
-Eye primer
-Orb shadow MAC
-Saddle Shadow MAC
-Sketch shadow MAC
-Black gel eyeliner Bobbi Brown
-Coffee eye liner MAC

FACE
-Ultra Moisturizing foundation Bobbi brown
-Satin Skinfinish MAC
-Warmth bronzer Bare Escentals
-Escape Blush Bare Escentuals
-Shroom eyeshadow (as face highlighter) MAC

Photo tutorial for the eyes coming next! So far, which Fall lip are you liking most? Vamp? or Candy Apple?

How To: My Vamp Love Lip

Today I put together a How To photo tutorial for the bold Fall lip I did in yesterdays post Fall Forward: My Vamp Love. Here is a step by step of what I did to create the lip and what products I used.

First, I nude the color of my lip with the MAC Painterly Paint Pot. Not only will this create a blank canvas for you to work on so you can create your own lip shape but it will also help hold your color on all day.

See how it also emphasizes your natural lip line? This will make it easier for you to line your lips and create the perfect shape.

Secondly, I start to shape my lip starting at the peak then working toward the outer corners of the mouth. Once I have my perfect line, I use the side of the pencil to start shading in the corners and top of the lip. See how this will allow the lipstick color to pop in the middle as well as create depth? You will also avoid that whole thin-lipliner-around-lipstick look (gross).

Thirdly, I take a flat head brush and apply my lipstick. It apply's just enough color with minimal product. This will ensure that the primer grips onto the color and less product= less product moving around and fraying on you through out the day.

{Here is the result so far...}

Add a purple toned lipgloss right in the center of the bottom lip, blend lips together and voila! You're ready for a Vampy night on the town.

No matter what colors you are using or what kind of a look you are going for, these steps are KEY to every lip you do that involves shaping, drama, and color. Practice a few times with different colors and please send me a photo of your end results! I would love to see them and answer any questions you have.

You can reach me here in the comments section below, at bloominsaturation@gmail.com or via Facebook at Bloom in Saturation

Fall Forward: My Vamp Love.

I love Fall trends more than any other. When it comes to both makeup and fashion. This Fall its time to take chances! Be bold and wear looks that exude confidence. This is the first fall look I want to share with you and I've named it, My Vamp Love.

You will need:

FACE
-A matte foundation. Try MAC's Prolongwear or Studio Fix foundation.
-A powder to set your foundation. Try Bare Escentuals Hydrating Mineral View or MAC's Natural Skinfinsh powder.
-A soft but warm pink blush
-A matte softer bronzer for contouring

EYES
-An eye primer to hold shadows. Try a Paint Pot from MAC, Prep and Prime Eye from BE or a Smashbox eye primer.
-Eyeshadow colors that compliment your eye color the best whether that be golden browns, purples or greens. Just make sure they have a dark, warm, Gem like tone. This look is all about drama, color and placement. {I am wearing: Modelette shadow MAC, Wedge shadow MAC, Shroom shadow MAC, Saddle shadow MAC, Satin Taupe shadow MAC, Coffee eye pencil MAC (a very deep chocolate brown), Studio Fix lash in bold black MAC.}
-A darker brow powder (gauge your powder by your own hair color) for a dramatic brow.

LIPS
-Eye primer to nude the lip and hold the bold color on all day.
-A dark lipliner. I am wearing Nightmoth lip pencil MAC.
-A bold deep red lipstick. I am wearing Diva lipstick MAC.
-And if you prefer, a gloss as well. I am wearing Indigo Pink gloss MAC.

Would you like a tutorial on how to create this look? What can I do for you to help you learn some new Fall trends? You can reach me here in the comments below, via email Bloominsaturation@gmail.com or via Facebook at Bloom in Saturaton

The Small Touches.

These small seemingly insignificant items bring the most joy.
All photo's from B H L D N

{Stripped Straws}

{Studded Vases}

{Crinkled Wheel Fans}

{Slate hearts}

{Silhouette Plates and Cupcakes}

{Silly photo's that are SO me}

What is INSPIRING you?

One Last Tribute to Summer.

Before all he Fall trends start arriving, I wanted to give a shout out to a beautiful summer color. A color I don't wear often enough.


{GREEN}

A soft mint on the inner corners of my eye, a bright green all over the lid and blended up into the crease and a soft matte brown in the crease to create depth without an actual color. A bold mascara, soft matte skin with a soft touch of pink on the cheeks and a nude pink lip. Worn with my large green earrings. Its time to put these cosmetics and possibly even the earrings away for a while. Bring on the Fall trends!


Which Summer trends will you miss the most? and which Fall trends are you looking forward to?

Tips for Storing Makeup and Keeping it Clean.

I can't even begin to tell you how many woman come into the makeup counter to see me for makeup advice and reach into their purse only to pull out a really old, dirty disgusting makeup bag filled with powdery covered cosmetics and brushes that aren't protected and look like their little accessory dog just got done chewing on them. Here are some tips to prolong the life of your brushes, protect your cosmetics from bacteria and to eliminate the "nasty makeup bag" in your purse.

Tip #1: If makeup is discolored, strange-smelling, or older than 1 year you should discard it. Period.

Featured in this article you will find Types of Bacteria Found in Makeup.

Tip #2: Mascara should NOT be used 6 months after being opened.

What do you think is the average time frame a woman uses 1 mascara? A: A year. Gross.

Tip #3: Wash your brushes weekly!

I can not stress this enough. 72% of woman don't wash their brushes *puke. Dirty brushes are breeding grounds for micro-organisms that can cause herpes, ringworm and impetigo (an infectious disease that results in blisters). How many brush cleaners would you like to purchase today?

Tip #4: NEVER store your brushes in a makeup bag you carry in your purse unless they are washed after EVERY use and have their own protective case.

With Tip #3's info, would you really want to throw a dirty brush into your purse day after day where it sits and continues to breed bacteria? Didn't think so. Lots of cosmetic lines offer travel sized brushes with their own hard plastic cover for you to carry it in. Just make sure you are doing a good cleaning once a day. It takes two seconds and is so worth it.

Tip #5: Please, don't share your cosmetics.

In this case, you do have cooties. And I don't want them. It is unwise to share your cosmetics or cosmetic brushes with anyone. You start to transfer oils from one persons face to another as well as to whatever product is being shared. This increases the risk of spreading infections and no one wants that!

Tip #6: Store your cosmetics properly.

Keep makeup in a cool, dry place outside of direct sunlight and make sure to close makeup securely after each use to limit contamination exposure.

Below are some of my favorite makeup bags to store CLEAN brushes in as well as cleaning products to keep your makeup bacteria free.

1- Bare Escentuals Well Cared For brush cleaner $14 -Shampoo once a week with warm water.

2- Mac Brush Cleaner $13 -Use everyday with a paper towel and let brushes air dry.

3- This Metro Train Case from Sephora can help you keep makeup protected and organized. I never thought I would need a case like this but purchased one anyway.. I will never go back. My case has helped me keep all them makeup I own clean, organized and easy to find.

4- For something smaller and easily accessible to your "Best Friend Products" (I own a ridiculous amount of cosmetics and this is what I name my favorites) try these makeup bags:

a. Eastern Opulence Gold Bag from Sephora

b. Quilted Black Case from Sephora

Here are some of my favorite pieces for all our beauty needs...

{This gold compact mirror is stunning}

{A beaded lipstick tube to protect our favorite lipstick}

{This vintage camel makeup bag is timeless}

What beauty questions do you have as far as maintaining your product, brushes, cases, etc... Anything I didn't go over that you have been currently struggling with or have struggled with in the past?

I am on the hunt for a gorgeous vintage mirror that I can use for my "vanity" I will be creating in my new home. If you see any, pass them my way!

Sometimes, You Need to Nerd it Up.

{NERD glasses and Nude Pink Lip}

{This photo is dedicated to my mother}

How-To: Vibrant Fall Lip!

This fall, an orangey red lipstick is a must! Here are a few tips and steps to getting a perfect lip that holds all day.

First, nude your lip with a skin toned eye primer. Painterly from MAC or the Prep and Prime Eye from Bare Escentuals works lovely.

Next step is to line your lips. To get a perfect shape look down into a compact mirror and perfect the shape of the peak of your lips.

Next follow the natural line of your lip. The pencil will gently fall along this line if you don't apply too much pressure. The softer handed the better. Continue these steps for the bottom lip and finish off by shading the outer corners, top and bottom of the lips but leave the center uncolored for when you apply the lipstick. This will give you beautiful shade and depth.

Now its time to grab your lipstick and a flat head brush (or lip brush)

Start shading in your lip. With the brush grab product directly from the lipstick and blend over the entire lip. You'll notice this brush makes it easy for you to glide the lipstick along the lip and create an even stronger line/blend with the liner.

The end result.

One more step for fun?

Grab the nearest light shimmery shadow you own. With the other side of the flat head brush grab a small amount of the shadow and place it in the center of the top and bottom lip. You now have a great shine without gloss!

Now no matter how muted and soft your Fall wardrobe may be, your lips will let the world know you are still taking chances. Enjoy!

Fall Favorites: Metallics, Muted Tones and Vibrant Lipsticks.

With Fall on its way, and me moving to AZ, I am genuinely sad I won't be able to walk around in the crisp UT air, stepping on orange and yellow leaves while sipping a hot coffee and rockin wearing this look below. I am enamored with metallics whether as an accessory, part of my smoky eye, or a main piece of my attire like the beautifully crafted Rachel Zoe blouse featured here. Muted tones such as caramel, black, taupe, cognac have a nostalgic feel this time of year for me. These tones are classic and feminine and you can never go wrong with them. When it comes to the way clothes fall I prefer soft gentle textures layered over harsh blunt lines. Brightening your outfit with gold accessories or a gorgeous watch is a must! And to top it all off keep your makeup natural and simple but don't be afraid to throw on that bright lipstick to add a pop of color to your look. Oh fall. I will miss you.


{Click on photo to enlarge}

1. This gorgeous printed Zara Scarf $19.90
2. A large Cole Haan shoulder bag: Vintage Valise Jenna Shoulder Bag $398
3. Black skinny jeans from H&M: Denim Jeans $29.95
4. An elegant watch to highlight any outfit: Michael Kors 'Blair' Resin & Crystal Bezel Watch $250
5. I am in love with this Sequin DOlman Sleeve blouse from Rachel Zoe $275
6.Metallic Lacquers such as Wallis from Butter London $14
7. Semi Matte Nars Lipstick in Heat Wave $24

Wedding Makeup: Katie Plank Ramsrud

Katie has been a dear friend of mine for quite some time now and I was over the moon excited when she asked me to be her makeup artist for her wedding. Katie is a gorgeous girl who likes her makeup simple. She wanted a classic, elegant, timeless look that was perfect for summer and something to accentuate her features without feeling like she looked completely different on her wedding day. I added a vintage twist by using warm, orangish/golden browns on her eyes with dark brown/black liner and coral cheeks and lips. Here are some snapshots of her special day! Really wish I had some more up close shots to showcase the makeup a little more but as soon as I get some there will be a repost.

*All photo's were shot up Millcreek Canyon in UT by a photographer who works for Log Haven.

All makeup is MAC cosmetics. Here is the look:

Skin

Studiofix Moisturizer #188 Brush
Fast Response eye cream under eyes and on top of blemishes #217 brush
Prolongwear Foundation #30 Brush
Stuido Careblend powder #116 Brush
Give Me Sun! Bronzer contouring and warming the face #109 Brush
A small touch of Soft Brown Eyeshadow added as contour to deepen facial features #109 Brush
Tenderling and Melba blush on apple and high points of cheek bone #116 Brush
Highlight on cheekbones, top of forehead, bridge of nose and above/under lips with small amount of Motif Eyeshadow #224 Brush

Eyes

Painterly Paint Pot (eye primer) #217 Brush
Shroom Eyeshadow as brow/inner corner highlight #224 Brush
Soft Brown Eyeshadow all over entire lid #239 Brush
A touch of Motif Eyeshadow in the center of the lid above the iris of eye #239 Brush
Saddle Eyeshadow in the crease #217
Coffee Eye Pencil on top eyelid deepened and blended with #266 Brush
Graphblack Technikol Eye Pencil in the water line
Falselash Mascara with #34 Lashes (DUO glue used)

Lips

Painterly Paint Pot to nude out lip color and hold lipstick and liner all day #242 Brush
Crosswires Lipstick applied for a softer touch with #217 Brush
Fashion Scoop Cremesheen Gloss to top it off

Fix+ to lift and set makeup before the beautiful bride is off to start her big day. Touch up's after the ceremony before photo's was a must. A touch of powder in the shiny areas and a small touch up on the lips.

Smoky Chandeliers.

Two of my favorite things right now? Smoky (dramatic) eyes with false lashes and chandelier earrings. Perfect for a dramatic day time look and ALWAYS sexy.

Tiny details such as large jewelry or a bold liner can completely change your look. What new style have you recently discovered and fallen in love with? What new makeup technique have you come across that has completely transformed your normal day to day routine??

Better yet, what Fall trends have you already seen hitting the streets and popping up in magazines? Which are your favorites?