Everything about this season’s beauty is scarily intimidating. From 80’s clown masks to 90’s minimalism, these looks can be hard to recreate without looking, uh, how shall we put this? UGLY. So here are the right, and wrong ways to paint your face this fall.
80’s Full Face
To pull this look of, do it in a modern way. What’s modern? A dewy/fresh face; no over powdering allowed! Another hint: although contoured cheeks are a must, they have to be done naturally. A.k.a not bright red. Lastly, if you insist on using lipliner either use it tres, tres sparingly, or fill in the whole lip. I am highly disappointed with the looks created by Francois Nars, creator of NARS cosmetics for Marc Jacobs after a 10 year hiatus.
4 looks created by Nars, for Marc Jacobs Fall 09. WRONG
Emanuel Ungaro got the 80’s “in a modern way” look just RIGHT! Hello two-toned lips!
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
1. shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Pink Collection, $23
2. Urban Decay eyeliners, $18
3. Nars blush/bronzer duo, $37
4. Lorac Breakthrough Performance Lipstick SPF 15, $22
Oh Natural
The bare-faced look is an ode to the Kate Moss 90’s minimalist look. This doesn’t mean “no makeup”, it means “lots of makeup to look like no makeup”. There were many very good examples this season, and a couple horrendous ones. Enter Jill Sander and Miu Miu. Sure these girls still look gorgeous, but they are perfectly structured and groomed models! If an average woman tried to wear this, she would look prepubescent, or worse granny-ish! Actually I retract my statement that the models look good in any makeup, the one from Miu Miu looks partially deceased. Chloe hit the right notes with a brown smoky eye and smooth foundation.
Chloe doing it RIGHT
Jill Sander and Miu Miu doing it WRONG.
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
1.Yves Saint Laurent TOUCHE ÉCLATRadiant Touch, $42
2.Stila Smudge Pots, $20
3. Make Up Forever Face and Body Foundation, $38
4.Yves Saint Laurent OMBRES 5 LUMIÈRES5 Colour Harmony For Eyes – 1 Sahara, $56
Red Lip
The red lip is a classic that has endured decades and yet still looks exceptionally chic at every age. Yves St. Laurent, Lacroix, and D&G perfected this timeless look. Unfortunately for humanity at large, McQueen did his models up like clowns; the only thing missing is a bright red nose.
RIGHT at YSL, Lacroix, and D&G.
WRONG at Alexander McQueen.
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
1.MAKE UP FOR EVER Lipstick, $23
2. Calvin Klein Electric Edge Liquid Liner, $18
3.Benefit Cosmetics Benetint, $28
4.MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner Pencil, $17
They can be the epitome of cool, or the definition of god-awful: whether you like it or not, pompadours are back. Everyone from Milly to Oscar de la Renta was showing them elegantly. However, Prada displayed exactly what not to do; a truly horrible up-do was complimented by an equally gargantuan amount of frizzy mouse hair.
RIGHT at Milly and Oscar de la Renta
WRONG at Prada
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
1.Phyto Phytovolume Actif Maximizing Volume Spray – Fine Limp Hair
2. Jonathan Product Dirt Texturizing Paste, $14-25
3. Sephora Brand Snag Free Hair Elastics, $10
4.Sephora Brand Wide Tooth Comb, $4
“Beauty, to me is being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick ass red lipstick!”- Gwyneth Paltrow
That Extra Half Inch... 