Loving… Gatsby-inspired everything!

Tags

beauty, great gatsby, hair, makeup, nail art, vintage

Not long now before the darling Ms. Buchanan (aka Carey Mulligan) oozes the glamour of the ’20s with her cropped ‘do and swishing flapper frocks on the silver screen — all of which I can’t wait to see!

But until then, here’s some Great Gatsby inspiration to get your heart racing (or should I say ‘roaring’).

Image: Pinterest

When it comes to nails from the Jazz age, it’s all about digits that represent a touch of art deco. Metallic finishes with gilded gold ascents and rich, jewel tones are what you can expect (and adore).

Forget the fake tan: the roaring 20s were all about porcelain complexions teamed with dark, moody lips and precise brow application. Despite Carey Mulligan channeling a peaches-and-cream skin tone and pale rosy kissers, this tutorial will strike a more winter-appropriate chord with all you makeup mavens out there.

Prepare for the comeback of twenties-inspired bobs and Marcel waves. You can’t get more Gatsby than that. eal everything in with your favourite top coat, throw on a sparkling headband, and you’re ready to hit a Gatsby party.

Click here for more Gatsby goodness via Pinterest.

❤ Kristina xo

PS. In a beauty fix and need some advice? Or maybe you just want to chat about all things pretty? Drop me a line: kristina@fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au. Or, if you’re in the mood for some eye candy, come and see what I’ve been Pinning over at www.pinterest.com/freshdiscover. Better yet – join me on Facebook for more beauty fun www.facebook.com/freshfragrances. And for a plain old good time, come and follow Fresh on Instagram – @freshdiscoverbeauty – & Twitter@fresh_fragrances.

Cannes Film Festival 2013 Makeup How-To: Cara Delevingne

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beauty tips, cannes film festival, cara delevingne, eyebrows, foundation, Lipstick, makeup, makeup tutorial, mascara

I’m simply besotted by British model Cara Delevingne at last week’s Cannes Film Festival 2013 red carpet. The runway starlet embraced the evening’s vintage theme with a daring black lace Burberry number teamed with dazzling jewels and flawless make-up.

Not many people can pull of lips, tips, brows and a smoky eye, but this beauty pulled it off with ultimate style. Hats off to you, Cara!

Learn how to get her awe-inspiring look below:

GET THE LOOK

STEP ONE: Get a radiant canvas by prepping your skin with Glamglow’s Tingling & Exfoliating Mud Mask (celebrities go crazy for this stuff, especially before red carpet appearances!).

STEP TWO: Mix equal parts of Yves St Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat Illuminating Foundation with NARS Illuminator in Copacabana and then apply to your face using a makeup sponge or Kevyn Aucoin Super Soft Buff Powder Brush. Blend outwards towards the hairline. Dab some concealer under your eye area to disguise dark circles if needed.

STEP THREE: Add a touch of soft, just-pinched colour to your cheeks with Jane Iredale PurePressed Blush. Apply lightly onto the upper part of your cheekbones and dab outwards and upwards until fully blended.

STEP FOUR: Achieve the model’s smouldering smokey eye make-up with a hint of iridescent silver sparkle at the inner corners of the eyes thanks to RMK’s Ingenious Powder Eye. This will help bring out the brightness in your peepers. Complement this by lining the eyes with a gel liner and then add a few dustings of Pixi Smoky Eye Wand on the outer corners of the eye. 

STEP FIVE: Apply mascara to the upper and lower lashes with a lengthening formula like Sisley Phyto Mascara Ultra Stretch.

STEP SIX: Get Cara’s famous eyebrows by brushing them upwards with a tinted brow gel such as GloMinerals GloBrow Gel.

STEP SEVEN: Finish with a dark, sensuous red lip with Lancome La Laque Fever Lipshine in #104 Simply Red and pucker up.

Don’t forget to leave your tresses loosely teased and tumbled for a take on the more sophisticated blow-wave.

Now you’re ready to shut the whole red carpet down!

❤ Kristina xo

PS. In a beauty fix and need some advice? Or maybe you just want to chat about all things pretty? Drop me a line: kristina@fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au. Or, if you’re in the mood for some eye candy, come and see what I’ve been Pinning over at www.pinterest.com/freshdiscover. Better yet – join me on Facebook for more beauty fun www.facebook.com/freshfragrances. And for a plain old good time, come and follow Fresh on Instagram – @freshdiscoverbeauty – & Twitter@fresh_fragrances.

Cannes Film Festival Makeup How-To: Lana Del Rey

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cannes film festival, celebrity, get the look, lana del rey, makeup, makeup how-to, makeup tutorial, red carpet

I’m obsessing over Lana Del Rey’s nude-brown lips, which are offset perfectly by a matching smoky brown eye and chic, filled-in brows. And check out those Gatsby-inspried finger waves! Seriously sexy, I say.

Lana debuted this sultry style at last week’s Cannes Film Festival Opening Ceremony red carpet, stunning the crowd with an embroidered detailed gown that dragged behind her. Hats off to you, Miss Del Rey!

GET THE LOOK – MAKEUP

STEP ONE: We’re going to begin with eye makeup first. This means you can get away with a bit of trial and error and wipe everything off if anything goes wrong or dust away the residue from your cheeks without messing up your base. Start by priming your entire eyelid and along your lower lashline.

STEP TWO: Put a light slightly shimmery white color all over the lid, such as Korres Sunflower & Evening Primrose Eye Shadow in #10 White.

STEP THREE: Take a black liquid liner pen (I love Giorgio Armani Maestro Liquid Eye Liner) and line the upper lashline with a sharp cat eye and continue it on the lower lashline until the eye is fully lined. Create a dramatic flick on the end that extends out and upwards. For any mistakes, use a bit of makeup remover on a q-tip to clean up the line.

STEP FOUR: Place a chocolate brown eyeshadow, like Chanel’s Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in #86 Ebloui, in your crease as a transition colour. Blend outwards until it connects with the winged liner. You can also draw a white eye pencil in your waterline to make your eyes appear bigger and brighter.

STEP FIVE: Make sure skin is prepped with a moisturiser or illuminating primer before applying your foundation. Once that’s done, spread Laura Mericer Moisture Supreme Foundation (or a similarly hydrating formula) onto your face with a makeup sponge to recreate Lana’s fresh, glowy base. To get an airbrushed finish, blend makeup all over, including the eye area, starting in the middle and working your way out.

STEP SIX: Look for a lightweight concealer in a colour one shade lighter than your skin. Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Finish Concealer is lightweight and creamy and will blend into the skin crease-free. Cover the darkest part of under-eye circles—usually right below the inner and outer corners. If other little skin flaws aren’t quite covered by your foundation, dab on a tiny bit of concealer there too.

PRO TIP: Apply your under-eye brightener in an inverted triangle under the eye to lift and light up your face.

STEP SEVEN: Contour your face with a cream blush for a subtly dewy finish. Smile and lightly apply the blush stick to the apples of the cheeks and blend the colour backward. If you feel you have applied too much, use a clean makeup sponge to pat over the top to pick up some of the colour until you get your desired result.

STEP EIGHT: To imitate Lana’s perfectly groomed arches, pluck out any strays and brush the hairs into their natural shape. Then select a matte shadow (reach for Benefit Brow Zings Brow Shaping Kit) in a shade that matches your brow colour and use light, brisk motions to brush the colour over your hairs. Blend well. Use an eyebrow brush to gently brush your brows back into place once you’re done with the shadow.

STEP NINE: Line the lips with True Lips Lip Liner Smudger Pencil in #17 (almost exact to Lana’s lip colour). Take the liner and put two dots in the two highest parts of the cupids bow on your lip. On the bottom lip, put a horizontal dash in the center of the lip, as close to the edge as possible. Then connect the three marks together with short strokes of the pencil against the edges of your lips. Take it slow so you get a precise shape. Don’t forget the corners of your mouth!

STEP TEN: Finish with a lick of Christian Dior Rouge Dior Voluptuous Care Lipcolor in No. 428 Pisanelle Pink to get Lana’s red carpet-worthy pout in a flash.

Don’t forget to slick on some false lashes and smile for the papparazzi!

Do you love this look? Would you try it? Yes or no?

❤ Kristina xo

PS. In a beauty fix and need some advice? Or maybe you just want to chat about all things pretty? Drop me a line: kristina@fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au. Or, if you’re in the mood for some eye candy, come and see what I’ve been Pinning over at www.pinterest.com/freshdiscover. Better yet – join me on Facebook for more beauty fun www.facebook.com/freshfragrances. And for a plain old good time, come and follow Fresh on Instagram – @freshdiscoverbeauty – & Twitter@fresh_fragrances.

Your Autumn/Winter perfume wardrobe, sorted!

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autumn, chanel, Christian Dior, clinique, designer, Dolce & Gabbana, fragrance, perfume, scent, smell, tom ford, winter

There’s something about the change in weather that always summons a change in my signature fragrance, particularly during autumn and winter. It just seems a little wrong to be spritzing sweet, tropical scents (hello CK One Summer) over my skin, especially when the temps are anything but sunny. But that doesn’t mean my new season perfumes need to be drab and dreary. Au contraire, my collection of archival eaux for the colder seasons are always spicy, sensual and enticing.

Below I’ve listed the alluring designer essences which are my current favourites. Expect warm, rich, musky, woody and oriental notes to perfectly complement frosty days and nights. Trust me when I say, they’ll leave you smelling as divine as you look!

CHANEL COCO NOIR EAU DE PARFUM, $232

The third and newest perfume in the Coco collection, this is as warming as the original two (Coco and Coco Mademoiselle) but comes with a luxury base of rich rose, jasmine and patchouli for something all together more sexy, sultry and grown up. It’s magnetic, mysterious and intensely brilliant. A cult buy for the lady who loves to exude a bit of seductive mystery.

CHRISTIAN DIOR J’ADORE EAU DE PARFUM, $153

This fragrance imbues a medley of floral, fruity and musk notes which denote the contrasting sweet/sexy side to every foxy lady worth her salt.  One spritz of this mandarin, ivy, woodsy and blackberry tonic will leave you feeling (and smelling) like a Hollywood-born femme fatale.

TOM FORD WHITE PATCHOULI EAU DE PARFUM, $164

A woodsy-floral fragrance that smells just like it translates. Encompasses a bold mélange of bergamot, peony, coriander, night jasmine with base notes of patchouli, blonde woods, incense and ambrette seed, making it a sensual scent which is a total winter winner.

CLINIQUE AROMATICS ELIXIR PARFUM SPRAY, $68

Fresh and woody, oakmoss, white jasmine, chamomile and patchouliber are all fused together in one elegantly sexy aroma. Touches the senses and spirit in a subtle, pleasing way and speaks volumes about what it truly means to be a woman.

DOLCE & GABBANA THE ONE EAU DE PARFUM, $117

Who’s that girl? If that’s the question you want to hear as soon as you enter the room, D&G’s super-alluring scent, The One, is for you. Contains a seductive and intense facet of the oriental flower with a velvety, powdery interior. Bergamot, mandarin, lychee, peach sparkle in the top with madonna lily, muguet and jasmine in the heart, finished off with etyver, vanilla and sweetened ambery-musk in the base. A fragrance with a strong personality, and a contrasting golden sweetness (sound familiar?).

What’s your favourite winter/autumn scent?

❤ Kristina xo

Ps. In a beauty fix and need some advice? Or maybe you just want to chat about all things pretty? Drop me a line: kristina@fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au. Or, if you’re in the mood for some eye candy, come and see what I’ve been Pinning over at www.pinterest.com/freshdiscover. Better yet – join me on Facebook for more beauty fun www.facebook.com/freshfragrances. And for a plain old good time, come and follow Fresh on Instagram – @freshdiscoverbeauty – & Twitter@fresh_fragrances.

Get The Look: Weekend party makeup

Tags

cosmetics, get the look, makeup, makeup how-to, makeup tutorial, runway, runway beauty, winged liner

TGIF! It’s almost the weekend which means it’s time to set aside your office-appropriate makeup in favour of a more bold and glamorous look. The star of the show? A blue winged liner! Yes, you heard correctly. This runway trend can easily be fused with your weekend (or dancefloor) attire. Here’s how:

1) For sheer, dewy coverage mix equal parts illuminator with a tinted moisturiser and apply with your hands. The heat from your fingertips will help the formula soak into the skin seamlessly.

2) Draw a fine line of electric blue eyeliner onto the top lid.

3) Shade in silver eye pencil on the inner corners of the eyes.

4) Apply blue mascara on the lash tips only: try applying with a fan brush.

5) Define the brows with powder or a pencil.

6) Lightly highlight down the center of nose & above the cupid’s bow.

6) Brush some soft rose blush across the cheek bones.

7) Finish with a lip balm.

Too easy!

SHOP THE LOOK

1. Clarins Blush Prodige Illuminating Cheek Color in # 01 Lovely Rose, $49, 2. NARS Illuminator – Laguna, $45, 3. Becca Luminous Skin Colour Tinted Moisturiser SPF 25+, $64, 4. Estee Lauder Shimmering Powder – Pearl, $47, 5. Jane Iredale Super Shape Me Eyebrow Kit, $93, 6. Korres Soft Eyeliner Pencil in # 5S Silver, $10, 7. Yves St Laurent Dessin Du Regard Waterproof Long Lasting Eye Pencil in No. 9 Azure Blue, $39, 8. L’Occitane Shea Butter Organic Moisturizing Lip Balm, $20, 9. Yves St Laurent Dessin Du Regard Waterproof Long Lasting Eye Pencil in No. 9 Azure Blue, $39

Would you wear a blue winged liner?

❤ Kristina xo

PS. In a beauty fix and need some advice? Or maybe you just want to chat about all things pretty? Drop me a line: kristina@fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au. Or, if you’re in the mood for some eye candy, come and see what I’ve been Pinning over at www.pinterest.com/freshdiscover. Better yet – join me on Facebook for more beauty fun www.facebook.com/freshfragrances. And for a plain old good time, come and follow Fresh on Instagram – @freshdiscoverbeauty – & Twitter@fresh_fragrances.

Masterclass: Get Cara Delevingne’s fun ‘n’ flirty beauty look

Tags

beauty, bronzer, cara delevigne, eyebrows, eyeliner, get the look, how-to, Lipstick, makeup, tutorial

Cara Delevingne is hands down my biggest girl crush at the moment. From all the wild and wacky poses she pulls to the hilarious slogan t-shirts she rocks and those perfectly groomed arches — it’s fair to say that this British supe du jour is a beauty to behold!

And considering this gal has well and truly exploded onto the fashion and beauty landscape, leaving a trail of chaos and eyebrow envy in her wake, I think it’s only fair that I bring all you Cara lovers out there ye olde’ makeup tutorial which features one of my favourite looks from the young supermodel.

GET THE LOOK

1. Prep the skin with a hydrating moisturiser and let it really sink into your visage before you start to apply your makeup, so as to smooth out your base.

2. To achieve Cara’s matte golden glow, smooth on a coin-sized amount of Calvin Klein Runway Radiance Illuminating Cream. The light-diffusing, long wear formula will act as a primer by locking your makeup into place and will also provide just the right amount of coverage.

3. Add a layer of Youngblood Liquid Mineral Foundation over the top of your illuminating cream. The glow-getting, moisturising formula will make your features come to life while the sheer finish will accentuate your best bits. Apply with a foundation brush to avoid any heaviness. If you’re using a stippling brush, dab the brush into the foundation and tap it all over your face a circular motion for even application. You might want to also dab lightly around your nose and under your eyes with a sponge afterwards to conceal every corner and crevice.

4. Apply a correcting concealer to any blemishes or dark circles by dabbing the product into your skin (never swipe it across!).

5. Add the finishing touches to your complexion with a swipe of translucent finishing powder to set your handiwork into place and also create a matte finish.

6. For a next-level glow, add a dash of GloMinerals GloHighlighter along your cheekbones or right above them if you want to sculpt out your cheeks. Just blend well so you don’t look like you have a weirdly shiny line across your face. You can also add some down the center of your nose to visually slim it slightly, on your browbone, in the inner corners of your eyes to make your peepers look bigger and right in the dip of your cupid’s bow to accentuate your lips.

7. Achieve a warm glow by brushing Laura Mercier Mineral Powder Bronzer along the jawline from the ears to the corners of the lips. Make sure to blend with soft brush strokes upwards and inwards. You can also use the bronzer to create a wash of warmth over your eyelids before you apply your liquid liner. This offers subtle definition as opposed to the punch you get from shadow.

8. Line your upper lash line with a black liquid liner, such as By Terry Ligne Blackstar Intense. Layer it, and then create a dramatic flick outwards (for a more detailed guide on how to do this, click here). Then, lightly line the lower inner rim of the eye with black kohl.

9. Finish with several lashings of Bobbi Brown Intensifying Long Wear Mascara on the upper and lower lashes. Start at the roots and use a zigzag motion all the way toward the ends, this way you’ll fully cover the lashes while keeping them separated.

10. Now time for the best bit – recreating Cara’s bold brows! Using Calvin Klein Duo Brow Palette, lightly coat the brush bristles in the shadow that perfectly matches the colour of your hair. Then, use a lighter touch to ensure the pigment coats your hairs, not your skin, and always make sure you’re brushing in the direction of the hair’s growth. Continue to coat your brows until you create your perfect bold shape. You can also use the tweezers in the set to pluck away any strays.

11. Complete Cara’s iconic look with several strokes of bright, punchy matte lipstick. Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick in Provocative is almost spot on to the shade in the image above. The trick is to apply some foundation on your kissers before you swipe on your lippie so the colour shows up bold and doesn’t rub off easily.

Now all you need to do is strike a crazy Cara-like pose and you’re done!

Just in case you didn’t get enough of Cara…

❤ Kristina xo

Ps. In a beauty fix and need some advice? Or maybe you just want to chat about all things pretty? Drop me a line: kristina@fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au. Or, if you’re in the mood for some eye candy, come and see what I’ve been Pinning over at www.pinterest.com/freshdiscover. Better yet – join me on Facebook for more beauty fun www.facebook.com/freshfragrances. And for a plain old good time, come and follow us on Instagram – @freshdiscoverbeauty – & Twitter@fresh_fragrances.

Nail It: Chevron Nails

Tags

chevron, mani, nail art, nails

I lurrrrrrrve chevron talons! They’re so chic, flirty and fun like a Missoni cushion or printed beach throw-over. Whether you sport a feature nail or get a full flown mani resplendent in these fashion-forward designs, chevron will have never looked so rad.

GET THE LOOK

1. Start with your base colour (white always looks fab!). Paint on several coats to get thorough coverage.

2. Using miniature scissors, cut lots of small, little zig zag strips out of scotch tape. Make sure you wait until your polish is totally dry before you put tape on it.

3. Stick the strip to your hand a few times to get most of the stickiness off before you press it to your nail.

4. Use tweezers to press the strips firmly onto the nail, leaving gaps between each one.

5. Apply one coat of your second colour over the tape. Allow to dry and then apply a second coat.

6. While your polish is still wet, carefully take your tape off to create your chevron silhouettes.

7. Paint on your top coat and you’re done!

Press play to see another way of creating the uber cool chevron mani.

❤ Kristina xo

Ps. In a beauty fix and need some advice? Or maybe you just want to chat about all things pretty? Drop me a line: kristina@fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au. Or, if you’re in the mood for some eye candy, come and see what I’ve been Pinning over at www.pinterest.com/freshdiscover. Better yet – join me on Facebook for more beauty fun www.facebook.com/freshfragrances. And for a plain old good time, come and follow us on Instagram – @freshdiscoverbeauty – & Twitter@fresh_fragrances.

Now Trending: Coral Lips

Tags

lips, Lipstick, trend

Who would have thought that the punchy coral hue would be trending for the cooler climates, what with berry shades taking centre stage. But such is the case, ever since this beachy hot colour dominated the AW13 runways at New York and Milan Fashion Week.

This must-try lip shade will brighten even the most pale of skin tones and while the hue may look vivid, it’s a surprisingly versatile and neutral tone, meaning it can be both warm and cool so it works for everyone.

Plus, you can wear it either way: matte or with a slick of coral gloss over the top for the ultimate statement-making style.

So do your kissers a favour this season: embrace the coral lip and say buh-bye being all pouty and doubt-y. Just don’t forget to keep the rest of your makeup simple.

Shop Now: 1. Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lip Colour in Sari Dore, $49, 2. RMK Irresistible Lips in Translucent Coral Orange, $55, 3. Calvin Klein Fully Delicious Sheer Plumping Lip Gloss in Sparkling Coral Tangerine, $17

❤ Kristina xo

Ps. In a beauty fix and need some advice? Or maybe you just want to chat about all things pretty? Drop me a line: kristina@fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au. Or, if you’re in the mood for some eye candy, come and see what I’ve been Pinning over at www.pinterest.com/freshdiscover. Better yet – join me on Facebook for more beauty fun www.facebook.com/freshfragrances. And for a plain old good time, come and follow us on Instagram – @freshdiscoverbeauty – & Twitter@fresh_fragrances.

Get The Look: Miranda Kerr’s Autumn Makeup

Tags

makeup tutorial autumn winter beauty trends

Okay fabulous folk, Autumn is well and truly here and if the recent L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Week runway looks or international catwalks are anything to go by, creamy velvet-like skin and a strong berry lip will be this season’s hottest beauty trend.

I got the opportunity to go backstage with Rae Morris last week and learnt a trick or two about how to create a flawless makeup base as well as perfect luscious lushes, beautifully groomed brows and a pristine pout. Here are some of the tips I picked up along the way, which will have you looking like Miranda Kerr in no time at all. Fact.

1. Create a flawless base by cleansing, toning and moisturising with ultra hydrating products. Then apply some illuminating primer to your visage to exude lit-from-within radiance.

2. Apply a water-based foundation that will give you a satin-matte complexion such as Giorgio Armani Lasting Silk UV Foundation. Using a foundation brush, apply the product to the sides of the nose and spread the formula outwards towards the hairline in gentle stippling motions until fully blended. Repeat these steps for remained of your face.

3. Conceal any blemishes or spots with a concealer in the exact same colour as your foundation for seamless coverage.

4. Add some radiance to your visage by dabbing RevitaLash Spotlight Highlighting Pencil under your brow bone and onto the top of your cheekbones, blending fully into the skin.

5. Create a luminous matte effect by dusting Laura Mercier Mineral Illuminating Powder across your T-zone (forehead, nose and chin). This will also help to set the foundation so it lasts longer.

6. Place your mascara wand at the base of your lashes, ensuring the bristles are in between the hairs, and wiggle the brush from side-to-side as you pull it out towards the tips. Repeat several times to coat every single hair.

7. Fill in your lips with NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Club Mix. You’ll be left with luxurious shine and a gorgeously defined pout.

8. For bold, Miranda-esque brows, shade in any sparse areas with RMK Powder Eyebrow shadow. Or draw them in using a brow pencil in the exact same colour as your arches in light upwards strokes.

And there you have it! You’re now totally on top of your beauty game for the season ahead.

❤ Kristina xo

Ps. In a beauty fix and need some advice? Or maybe you just want to chat about all things pretty? Drop me a line!kristina@fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au. Or, if you’re in the mood for some eye candy, come and see what I’ve been Pinning over atwww.pinterest.com/freshdiscover. Better yet – join me on Facebook for more beauty fun www.facebook.com/freshfragrances. And for a plain old good time, come and follow us on Instagram – @freshdiscoverbeauty – & Twitter@fresh_fragrances.

Check out our favourite beauty looks from the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2013 Runway so far…

Want to get the latest on all of the LMFF beauty looks? Click here: http://goo.gl/JhI1q