Shades of Fall 2010

Fall in the Midwest is beautiful with the leaves changing colors and the breeze that brings a new season to life. The Midwest perfectly showcases the tone of fall. Changing seasons also means evolving fashion trends and makeup colors. Fall 2010 is all about understated drama. Shades of burgundy, plum, wine, jewel and metallic tones are at the focus of makeup trends for fall.

Lips:
I have seen a lot of burgundy lips on the runways; however in every day life, I am not such a fan of super dark lipstick. Nude or red lips are always fresh, but burgundy is tricky to pull of without looking dated or Gothic. Trying it out on your own lips is the only way to see what works for you.

Eyes:
Winged, or "cat-eye," eye liner is huge on the runway, and I am a fan of this trend. In fact, I often have worn and still wear my liquid liner in a winged version. The liner I wear though is a less dramatic "cat-eye" portrayal than what is on the catwalks this season. If you have not tried this trend (or classic? you decide), try winging your eye liner when you have some time to perfect your version.

I recommend using a liquid liner that is fairly easy to swipe on and one that dries fairly quickly to prevent smudging. You can start at any point on your upper lash line. However, many makeup artists have a systematic way to apply this type of liner, whether the starting point is the inner portion, the middle or the outer portion of the eye. The key is for each eye to look alike and also keep each line is solid and precise. Find an application style that suits you best.

Cheeks:
Light blush and/or simple contouring is a perfect pairing with dark or red lips. If going with a lighter or nude lip, I suggest a touch of bronzer, even if paired with a light coating of blush. Contrary to what many makeup artists say is appropriate, I use bronzer all year long and as eye shadow, blush, and also, very carefully, for contouring. A little bronzer goes a long way, and I love how refreshing and warm it is. I use Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips in Sunset Strip. Just because it is colder outside does not mean that the sun disappears so bronzer still makes sense to me (if applied appropriately, of course). Makeup routines are personal so find what works best for you.

I plan to post more YouTube videos very soon, especially for tutorials so stay tuned at www.youtube.com/user/CatBstyle.

Thank you for reading. Have a fabulous day every day.

Makeup Basics

Whether you are a makeup beginner or a professional makeup artist, there are makeup basics that each of us should have in our cosmetics arsenal.

1.) Moisturizer- protects your skin and helps makeup apply easier and more evenly
2.) Concealer in the same shade as your skin or one shade lighter if you use under foundation- covers imperfections, such as under-eye circles and blemishes
3.) Foundation/ Powder- use for a flawless and more formal makeup application
4.) Bronzer- helps you achieve a sexy, healthy, radiant glow
5.) Eye shadow colors in powders, pigments and creams that work for you
6.) Lip conditioner and gloss- these enhance your beautiful smile
7.) Eye liner & mascara- help brighten your eyes, which makes you look more awake
8.) Applicators/ brushes that are easy to work with, preferably eco- and animal- friendly (ECOTOOLS- available at Walgreens)
9.) Visine or Clear Blue (eye drops)- for use in eyes and with eye shadow as a mixing medium
10.) Makeup remover
11.) Cotton swabs and cotton balls- use for makeup application and removal
12.) Shine blotting sheets- helps keep your face looking fresh

(c) 2008 CB All rights reserved.

YouTube's New Channel

I created a YouTube channel and will soon put videos up (in addition to here). Yay!!! If you have any requests, ideas, comments and/or questions, please let me know. I love 'hearing' from you and would love to post what you want to see!

There are many talented makeup artists online already if you want additional ideas, tutorials and product reviews. I highly recommend MakeupGeektv. This artist is amazing (and beautiful)! I think her name is Marlena, and she gives great advice and easy-to-follow steps for makeup looks almost any woman can wear.

Hope to see you on YouTube soon! :)