New Year = New You 2011 - Makeup for every hair color!

It’s a new year and it’s time for some changes!  Out with the old and in with the new!  New workout routines, new eating habits, new personal and work goals, new boyfriends or husbands and…new hair color!

If you are tired of your 2010 look and have decided to finally take your hairstylist's advice and change up your hair color – Bravo!  The Pros are all about having our outer beauty reflect our inner beauty and we embrace new hair color annually too!

As professional artists, we get asked tons of questions about makeup and most are about which are the proper colors for blondes, brunettes, redheads, raven-haired beauties and silver foxes!

The truth is that all color works and it more depends on your skin tone than the color of your hair!  Everyone can wear a smoky eye and a red lip – everyone! You just need to find the right colors for your skin tone!

Wearing makeup color is a personal choice and rules really don’t apply here however, in the interest of our readers, we thought we would compile a sort of guide that you can use if you are having trouble embracing makeup color with your new hair color!

Remember – these are just our opinions, you should always swatch or test colors and take a trip to the counter before you invest!

Blondes:

No matter if your blonde color is warm or cool tone, most blondes look amazing in sheer shades of peach, pink, gold and champagne.  Think “California Beach Girl” when applying makeup for day and don’t be afraid to rock it up a bit at night.  Blonde beauties look chic in a smoky dark eye and pale pink lips!  Since it seems that blonde is one of the most requested hair colors that stylists are asked to create, don’t fade into the crowd with your new “do” – choose makeup that has a slight iridescence to it and your eyes will sparkle!

The products we recommend are:

Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow - try in Toast, Champagne, Eggplant, Espresso, Navy, Banana, Rose Gold, Heather or Shell.

Bobbi Brown Blush - Coral or Pink Sugar – pops of color on the cheeks, especially if you have a tan.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick – Bronze

Bobbi Brown Lipgloss – try in Buff, Nude, Tangerine or Hot Pink.

Red Heads:

Red heads only make up 2% of the population so stand out with your makeup color too!  The Pros always stop and stare when we see a beautiful head of vibrant red locks, but if the girl is wearing boring, bland neutral tones on her face, the Pros always let out a big sigh of sadness! Live a little and be bold!  Green eye shadow looks amazing with red hair and if you are going to wear an earth tone, bump it up and think shades of orange like a sunset instead of taupe!

The products we recommend are:

L’Oreal Paris Hip Bright Shadow Duos - beautiful intensity.

L’Oreal Paris Blush - come in both warm or cool tones, but keep them on the lighter side.

L’Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick – if you are going for a bold eye then you may want to pair it with a lighter lip.  The Pro’s rule of thumb…match your cheek and lip color (pink cheek = pink lip, but not exact match – just same color family).

Brunettes:

Almost every celebrity goes from blonde to brunette at some point in their career…Scarlett, Cameron, Lindsay, Reese and they all bump up their eyes, cheeks and lip color when they do!  If you are sporting a new brunette hue this year, it is time to retire the frosty pink lipstick and choose a shade that is deeper or bolder.  Berry or wine tones looks amazing, but if you just can’t part with a lighter tone lip color, then choose a more golden-pink, brown-pink or a darker mocha color. Eye shadow color can be almost anything, but you might want to play with colors that compliment your eyes to make them really pop (break out that color wheel)!

The products we recommend are:

MAC + Mickey Contractor Eye Collection – Athma: Eye Shadow X4 – this quad has all the colors you could possibly need!  Essential favorites that will allow you to rock a deep, bold eye or something more quiet depending on your mood.  MAC makes incredibly pigmented shades so purchase more “color” that you can use to accentuate and pump up the essential colors in this palette.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish – use as a bronzer to contour or warm up skintone depending on your overall look!  The Pros love Gold Deposit or try the new Wonder Woman Mineralize Skinfinish in Golden Lariat or Pink Power.

MAC Lips – Spitfire, Stuck on You, Dark Side, Loyal, High Tea, Crème d’ Nude, Velvet Teddy.

Raven-Haired Beauties:

For deep, very dark, black-toned hair, the Pros love either a dark, smoky eye and a light lip or the opposite…a strong red lip and very light eyes with a slight winged out liner!  This is not the time to go monochromatic or neon because you will be mistaken for a teenager searching for her inner “emo!”  Cheeks should remain pale using light matte colors in soft shades.  Now, you can totally go for a red lip and dark eyes, but we recommend saving that look for the nightclub not the boardroom!

The products we recommend are:

NYX Cosmetics Pen Liner – easy to apply and makes a "winged" outer corner achievable!

NYX Cosmetics Eye Shadow Palette – I Dream of Jamaica – a great smoky eye or use for just an overall wash of color.

NYX Cosmetics Powder Blush – Angel or Natural

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream – Milan or Tokyo.

Silver Foxes:

Why stop your hair from greying? This color can look incredible and gorgeous on all women older or younger – yes I said younger!  Some women are finding that they are turning grey early and can no longer fight it (or afford to fight it) and so they are embracing it!  Deep eye colors look stunning with silver hair, but retire the coral lips and opt for pinks, rose or nude tones.  You may also want to ask about lighting your eyebrows.  Super dark brows are too harsh for this hair hue!

The products we recommend are:

Dior 5 Colour Eyeshadow – Incognito or Earth Reflection 609.

Dior Blush – A Touch of Blush.

Dior Addict Lipcolor – Pink Embroidery, Infamous Pink or Rose Lingerie 323.

Pro Tips and Tricks:

Whichever hair color you choose to rock in 2011 remember that all good makeup is about blending.  From foundation to lipstick, you must pay close attention to your application techniques.  That is what makes the difference in a makeup that looks like it has been slapped on haphazardly or with elegance and care.

Enjoy your new look and your new year!

FALL BACK!

The Pros agree that our favorite time of the year is between the months of September and November, thus we begin our search for new wardrobe items, both clothing and makeup. 

During our quest, we couldn’t help but notice the touch of feline femininity seen throughout the colors and textures that definitely make Fall 2010 our most favorite season. Bold, striking, and maybe a little high maintenance, the sassy trend is one to sink your claws into.

IMPO sent Makeup Pro, Cathi Singh, out to investigate and report on all the latest Fall trends.  She says, “it’s all about clean skin, long lashes, dramatic shadow, rich velvety colors, and soft luxurious cream blushes and lip colors.”

Your first step to achieving a new Fall look begins with Foundation because healthy skin is always in, but this season the focus is refined and polished, with a less dewy sheen.  Our picks are Chanel Pro Lumiere for a semi-matte silky finish and NARS Sheer Matte foundation.

Nothing screams sex kitten like a fierce cat eye using liquid liner and new user-friendly products give this classic a helpful update. Felt tip liner pens give beginners and Pros alike the benefit of a perfectly smooth line with just a flip of the wrist.

Our favorites are; NARS Stylo Pen, Benefit Magic Ink and Smashbox Liner Pen from the Heartbreak collection.

Pro Tip: When shopping for your felt tip pen, make sure to check the size of the pen tip as it will affect how defined or dramatic it applies onto your eye. Not all pens are created equal. Also, add a modern twist to your cat eye by applying a jewel toned soft pencil around the rim of the liquid liner or smudged over it.

We sipped on pumpkin spice lattes while viewing the Fall 2010 eye shadow collections - bronzes, coppers, smoldering browns, grays, and blacks.  Green tones are usually a part of every fall/winter season, but this is the year of the humid, khaki green. The military jacket, moss colored, shade with a hint of gold for that chic finish.

Pro picks; Guerlain Terracotta Fard Indien Mineral Eye Shadow in Jungle Dust is a deep green with gold shimmer that has a built in sponge tip applicator. Perfect for the get up and go lifestyle. Also check out their shadow quad called Bronze Dore 481, which has a beautiful olive green and complimenting colors.

Indulgent, dessert like chocolate browns are also a must for Fall and the Pros are head over heels for llamasqua’s Cream Eye Shadow in Destroy, which has a satin finish with a rich terracotta pigment. Delve and Inhale are two more decadent and delicious colors to add to the autumn palette.

 

Urban Decay gets a huge gold star for their Naked Palette. It’s stocked with the gamut of bronzy browns and a deep pigmented black, as well as two eye pencils to finish off the frisky feline set.

For the ultimate in luxurious shadow, Dior has created the Minaudiere Clutch for the smoky eye enthusiasts. Amenities include classic Dior hounds tooth pattern, gold accents, and two warm glossy lip colors. This clutch is exclusive to Dior's Holiday Collection 2010 not yet available in stores.

To line your eyes, try Stila’s Smudge Stick Waterproof Liner in Moray, which is an intense olive green with blendable texture. For understated color, mix bluish green colored pencils with charcoal shadows.

Lashes are all about length this season, so the Pros suggest Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Smoky Lash Waterproof Extra Black Mascara with an elastomer high-density brush, which makes reaching lash roots easy and creates incredible separation.

Just like fashion, brows have trends too and this season, brows are taking a back seat to prominent eye or lip color due to the rising trend of lightening, highlighting and erasing brow hair. If you don’t want to dye your brows, try a lighter application with your brow pencil, or even a shade or two lighter with a powder.

Understated and soft cheeks that have just a kiss of color are a must this season and at the top of our Fall 2010 list is Senna’s Cheeky Cream Blush in Petal.  We also love Senna’s new color Hue from their latest collection, which is a sheer matte blush.

Lady GaGa isn’t the only one embracing an orange lip; this feline look rocked the runways. Tangerine lips worn with bronzer, black eyeliner and mascara will immediately make your look current and fresh.

Not to mention the orange tones warm up the skin and help maintain that tan we are desperately trying to hold on to.  Sisley Hydrating Long Lasting Lipstick in L30 or L11 is our choices when rocking this trend.

  

Burgundy lipstick is another one of our favorite trends this season. Nothing says cozy like a rich berry stained lip, fluffy sweater and good book. In our case the book is usually a fashion mag, but tomato tomahto.

The Pros love Dior Addict Lip Color in Pinstripe Plum, as seen below on French actress, Marion Cotillard in Vogue Magazine.

We also are smitten with MAC Lipstick in Kittenish from the Fabulous Felines Collection exhibit some of the finest burgundy wine shades.  NYFW was laced with wine stained lips this season, like a 1930’s prostitute on the L.A.M.B. runway created with MAC cosmetics.

PRO TIPS AND TRICKS:

Fall 2010 is all about smoldering, sensual lips in jewel toned colors and we love the fact that lipstick is making a major comeback, but the Pros are so over trying to coordinate lip liners and lipstick colors!  We recommend trying Cargo Cosmetics The Reverse Lip Liner, which comes in two shades, Light or Medium/Dark.  This liner is a natural colored pencil that adds definition and fullness to the lip line and locks color in place.  Check out Cargo’s great how-to instructions below: