Fall Hair Trends: The Faux Bob

When I was researching trends for Fall this year, I saw a lot of faux bobs during Fashion Week and it is one of my favorites styles for this season. There are two ways to wear it,"runway style" The Couture Faux Bob or "ready to wear style" The Faux Bob. 

Get the Look:

The Faux Bob: Loosely curl the hair with a 1 1/2 or 1 3/4 inch curling iron (depending on how long your hair is, the longer the hair bigger the barrel) , then loosely backcomb all of the hair. Next, take medium-sized sections and roll the hair up and under, pinning it section by section at the nape. Make sure to keep the top layers of the hair soft and airy to make the bob look more believable. 

The Couture Faux Bob: Curl the hair with 1/2 or 1 inch curling iron, section out the hair from your temple to temple and clip that section out of the way. Next backcomb the hair that isn't sectioned out, join both sections together and with a brush or your finger (I like using my fingers) soften the curls that was sectioned out. Finally, take medium-sized sections and roll the hair up and under, pinning it section by section at the nape. Make sure to keep the top layers of the hair soft to make the bob look more believable.
  

xoxo,

Welsy

Fall Trends: Oxblood

Finally fall has arrived, bring on the pumpkin spiced lattes, sweaters and leggings and deep lip colors! 

Image: Source

Image: Source

Image: Source

Well, The Wall Street Journal predicted it and from everywhere from the VMA’s, the Emmy’s and fall fashion week, oxblood is in out in full force, no bull! This trend translates from clothing to accessories to of course cosmetics. This trend is anything but carnal, despite its brutish name. Although I do love the effect on my lips after a few glasses of red wine, here is what you will need for every day application:

1.     A deep red, burgundy or Bordeaux lip color. My favorites include: This timeless red by MAC, a nice deeper shade (Bobbi Brown's Crimson) for your vampire-esque moods or a more affordable option (Try Sparkling Wine for the Oxblood effect). Try to pick a longwearing formula, for day to evening wear.

2.     I can think of nothing less attractive then a beautiful red lip turning into a feathery bleeding mess (no pun intended). In order to prevent this, try using a liner like this one by Chanel (We love Rouge Noir for the Oxblood effect). Always fill in your lip with a liner after your lipstick is applied, this prevents a dramatic line left after you eat, or your lipstick wears away. I love the nineties, but a bold lip liner is not one thing I want to remember. Another tip to prevent smudging and enhance wear, is using a lip brush. This ensures precision and increases the wear. I like a retractable brush or a brush with a cap. Try either of these. 

3.     The matte lip look is very in this season, however if you’re like me, a nice gloss is a must. I like this one (Triple X-Clear Shine) by Nars, because it’s clear, looks great over anything and isn’t sticky.

4.     A clean smooth lip is vital to any lip color looking its best, especially a dark red. Try exfoliating your lips before application. Use your toothbrush to lightly clean off dead skin, or a specific lip exfoliator, such as this. Lip primers also help the wear and appearance of your bold lip. Use the lip primer before color is applied.

Pro tip:  to further prevent bleeding of color take a small face brush and trace the outline of your lips with your foundation, this acts an eraser for any mistakes.

Now let's see some Oxblood lips, ladies!

xoxo,

Gracia

Fall Inspired Palette

Today's makeup palette is inspired by fall.  The colors used are copper, gold, amber, and red.  Set off your comfy cableknit sweater & leggings with this makeup look and you'll be sure to turn some heads!:

Products used: 

1.  Mary Kay Timewise Matte-wear Foundation in Beige 4, & Beige 3 (under the eyes and on bridge of the nose)

2.  Napoleon Perdis - NP for Target eyeshadow duo in "St. Barts" (I wet an angled brush and rimmed the lower lashline in the peachy gold)

3.  Mary Kay mineral blush in Golden Copper on apples of the cheeks- well blended using a powder brush

4.  Mary Kay mineral eyeshadow in Truffle on the lids and used a wet angled eyeliner brush to turn the color into an eyeliner, upper and lower.  

5.  Mary Kay lash primer (cannot live without this product)

6.  Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara in black - 2 coats to upper and lower lashes

7.  Mary Kay cream lipstick in Amber Suede

8.  Mary Kay Nourishine Plus lip gloss in Rockin' Red

9.  Set the whole look with Sonia Kashuk Brightening Powder (just sweep a tiny bit over the face focusing on the T-Zone

xoxo, 

Natalie

Cold Weather Quick Fix

Happy Monday!  

Is it cold enough outside for you? Apparently we skipped Fall and went straight to Winter between Saturday and Sunday.  

As such, today's post is going to be about one of my favorite beauty products to lock in your skin's moisture during these cold, dreary days.  

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

This product was a phenomenon to me until recently.  Many of my favorite makeup artists and beauty bloggers were swearing by this product; most of them swore it to be a kit necessity.  In the beauty world, there is often quite a bit of clutter, so to have this product highlighted in such a way made me curious.  Finally, a couple weeks ago, I gave it a try.  Nonetheless, it has traveled between my purse and my kit ever since.  

Classified as a skin protectant, this product has the consistency of Aquaphor, but in my opinion is much, much better.  

Scented with herbs like thyme and rosemary, it wakes up the senses gently (like breathing in the steam of a fresh cup of tea).  

Not only does this product work great on lips to moisturize, it can also be dabbed on the cheekbones or patches of dry skin for instant hydration and glow.  

My FAVORITE thing about this product is the way it can be used as a mixing medium for color cosmetics.  I dispensed a drop of the 8 hour cream on the back of my hand, then using my finger like an eyeshadow brush, I picked up a little of my favorite powder blush. I swirled the blush into the 8 hour cream and voila!  Cream blush!  I then tapped the concoction onto the apples of my cheeks and blended for an ultra natural, gorgeous, and easy pop of color.  The best part is the way your skin will absorb the cream and the pigment, leaving behind no trace of makeup lines and other annoying beauty blunders.  

Hope you'll give it a try!  The 8 Hour Cream is available at Red Door, online, and occasionally at TJ MAXX (shhhh!!)  

xoxo,

Natalie 

Celebrities, Curves, Eating Disorders & Finding Yourself

Happy October!

People Magazine recently published a story online about Christina Aguilera (removed today for misquotes), who is reportedly defending her curves and telling her record label to shove it.  Despite the label's disapproval of the pop star's weight gain, which has been highlighted by her wardrobe choices this season on the hit show, "The Voice", Aguilera seems to recapture the badass spirit of her youth in a way that is refreshing, poised, and even dignified!  (if it's possible to be dignified while giving your record label the finger...)  

Here is a photo of Christina Aguilera and Kristen Stewart wearing the same Valentino dress:  

We asked men to comment on who they thought was more attractive.  100% said Christina.  

Finding this intriguing, we showed additional photos of thin models from the Fall issue of Harper's Bazaar and Vogue to men and asked them if they found the girls attractive.  They said no.  

Because we at Avenue 42 have dealt with the same social pressures to be thin and have envied model figures to the point of developing eating disorders, we're proud to see women like Christina making it ok to have curves.  And because we know women are influenced more by OTHER WOMEN than by men, we love the fact that Christina has found her Voice by giving others' a stage on which to find theirs.  

We can identify with that experience :-)   Empowering other women is what empowers us.  For more information, visit OperationBeautiful.

Have a great week, everyone!!! xoxo