Carmindy’s Get Positively Beautiful ($21.99) provides more than just beauty tips and how-tos, and it is this different approach that makes the book remarkable. I know when I was in high school, and even on my worst days, I suffered from low self esteem when it came to my looks. “Carmindy Vision” is all about retraining yourself to believe that you *are* beautiful. She offers insights on how to discover and find your best and favorite features, and these are the features you should focus on. Instead of dwelling on [what you think is] a too-large nose, think about your high cheekbones and lush mouth. The book can be summed up with this line she writes, “I believe looking good starts with feeling good.”

Of course, the book is filled with great beauty tips and tricks, as well as some step-by-step walk-throughs of how to get the most out of your makeup application. She also includes shopping lists for all types of products ranging from foundation to eye liner, and she offers budget options as well as more high-end products. I’m by no means new to makeup, but I appreciate Carmindy’s take on beauty and achieving real beauty. I enjoyed the shopping lists (I love reading what others rank the top of the top) and the photography and layout of the book were both well done. Overall, this is worth checking out! I know on Amazon it’s only $14.95, and believe me, that’s a steal when it comes to a hardcover filled with all-color pages!

Read this? What’d you think?

No matter how you plan to spend your New Year’s Eve, here are some beauty and makeup tips and ideas to keep your makeup looking its best throughout the evening, plus, how to look pretty in the AM.  (Despite being in block quotes, all these tips are written by me, head honcho of Temptalia, just FYI!)

LAYER YOUR FACE TO INCREASE STAYING POWER.

Whenever I have an event or intend to wear my makeup for a long period of time and really want it to look fresh and perfect despite the wear-time, I always make sure to layer my makeup.  To me, this is about using a primer, like MAC’s Prep + Prime Face, over your moisturizer.  It helps set a good base for your foundation, powder, etc.  After the primer dries, I use liquid foundation–my favorite being MAC Studio Fix Fluid–but you can use cream, powder, whatever you want.  I just find liquid tends to last longer on my skin tone.  I then set the liquid foundation with a loose powder to reduce any oil build-up later and keep the foundation from settling into fine lines or melting later.  Bring blotting sheets, blot powder, or a pressed powder for touch-ups later on, just in case.

PUCKER UP YOUR POUT & PERFECT IT.

Let’s face it, for most of us, our lip color will not last all night.  We will all be lucky if it lasts a few hours of chit chatting with our best friends.  This is why it is essential to do your lip color right from the get-go, so you can minimize the need for touch-ups later on.  I like to apply a light layer of foundation or concealer over my lips, because this helps set it all up to take in the color later on.  Next, I fill in both lips with lip liner (one that will match the lipstick I plan onusing).  Use a lip brush to apply your lipstick of choice, then dust with a light layer of loose powder.  Apply a second layer of lipstick, and then top with your gloss of choice.  I do prefer to just toss a pretty close match of gloss (to the overall lip look) so I can just do gloss touch-ups rather than have to reapply the lipstick, too.  But regardless of what you use or what you want to do, be sure to take a long your lipstick and lipgloss for later.  I definitely recommend not using your most favorite limited edition lipstick, because the last thing you want to do is lose it during the festivities!

PACK AN OVERNIGHT KIT.

Staying out all night is no reason to forego your PM skincare routine.  I know, I know, who wants to lug around a bunch of skincare products with you?  So here’s an idea — just pack a few makeup remover wipes in a air-tight ziplock bag.  They should stay moist enough to use whatever the hour, and even if they don’t, you can simply add a little water to moisten them again.  A sample jar or package of moisturizer/cleanser would also be a great choice to minimize the weight and bulk of an overnight kit, especially for those who plan only to use a clutch for the evening!  If you’re at someone’s house without a remover, try using olive oil–it’s great at removing makeup (and most people have it somewhere in their kitchen!).

BE PREPARED FOR THE AM.

If you plan on being at your girlfriend’s, boyfriend’s, or party date’s place in the AM, you might want to have something to use in the AM.  Think about your usual partying antics–are you the type that spends the whole night dancing and drinking?  The last thing you want to do is feel or look haggard the morning after!  So if you party hard, prepare yourself for the morning after!  Pack some aspirin/painkillers, toss in an undereye concealer (Benefit’s Just In Case set–perfect) and a pressed powder.  The undereye concealer will help conceal just how much fun you had last night, while the pressed powder will help brighten and even out your skin post-NYE.  A nice white or off-white liner used on the lower lash line/inner corner will help open up tired or puffy eyes, too.

Have a great New Year’s Eve!

Light Smoky Eye makes it easy to wear during the day and into the night as the party revs up. Don’t worry about looking too done during the day, because this smoky eye is quite subtle.

Gold & Copper make an excellent combination that’s festive, appropriate for the event, and it’s not too bold or too subtle. You can always darken the crease and smoke the outer lid color(s) out to amp up the drama.

Run to Get Beiges de Chanel, because it will answer every single neutral eye woe you could possibly have. Smooth, buttery eyeshadows that belong to the neutral color family makes this quad an excellent choice to create a subtle eye for New Year’s Eve.

The Ol’ Colored Liner Trick for no fuss, no muss eyes. One of my favorite ways to look festive or add something fun to my makeup is playing around with colored eyeliner. It lets you add color without going overboard. Sometimes when I know I’ll be wearing makeup all day and night, I’d actually rather wear less makeup than more, so a neutral eye with a pop of colored liner is always a good choice.

Clean, Sophisticated Neutrals is never a bad way to go for an event look. This is one of my favorite looks I have ever done, because I think it complimented my skin tone and eye shape really well–and I think it can work for just about everybody. The black liner on the upper and lower lash lines also increases the drama without going overboard.

Go Big Red with Just Gold Liner to accent eyes without drawing attention away from your pucker.

Matte Eyes & Berry Lips make for an easy combination that looks sophisticated and fun!

Berry Bold with a near matte berry lip with lots of shimmer and sparkle will give you one sexy pucker that’s sure to be noticed before the clock strikes midnight!

Vamp the Night Away with an unforgivably dark and dramatic lip color, like Jampacked and Bing mattene from the fall. Vampy lips were all the rage this past fall, so I am sure you have one or two shades that would fit the bill.

Just a Cat Eye, Please to get you through the night. It’s easy to maintain, lasts all night, and it gives you way more attention to perfect your cherry-red lips!

Wear Jewel-tones in Teal & Blue to really add drama to the eyes. Both colorful and dark, it offers something less traditional than a gray/black smoky eye.

Pinks & Browns are quite complimentary for most skin tones, and it’s a great way to add color to an ensemble. It’s color-rich, but it isn’t really a jumbling of crazy in-your-face bright shades.

Match Gold and Green together as a great way to bring a classic holiday color (gold) to a more modern level.

Bright Purples is a nice way to go feminine and colorful all at once. The purples are bright enough to attract attention, but they aren’t so primary that it looks garish.

The Black Smoky Eye is always something to consider doing when you have a really fun event to go to. It’s definitely not something you’d wear to a wedding by any means, but to a New Year’s Eve party? Quite possibly! This is one of the easiest looks I’ve ever done, but I’ve always received a lot of compliments on it when I wear it. I also love this black-gold alternative, too.

Renée Rouleau’s Top 5 Winter Skin Tips

Instead of over-moisturizing, increase your exfoliation. When the heat is on in the house and the air is cold outside, your skin will be depleted of its natural moisture, leaving your skin feeling tight and dry. People tend to load on the extra moisturizer to compensate for the dryness. This will not always solve the problem of dry skin. If your skin is dry, tight and flakey, it means that you have dry skin cell build-up on the surface of the skin. So rather than putting on extra cream to re-hydrate dead, dry skin cells (it doesn’t make sense!) try increasing your exfoliation with a gentle facial scrub to remove the dry skin cells so that when your cream goes on, it hydrates the new cells rather than the dry cells.

Avoid greasy hand creams if you’re prone to breakouts. You may suffer from a condition we call ‘hand cream acne’ if you sleep with your hands on your face at night! We are more likely to use hand cream during the dry winter months than during the summer which leads us to using heavy hand cream to alleviate the dryness. Most often, this cream is applied right before you go to bed. If you sleep on your side with your hands on your face, the cream may be getting into the skin and clogging the pores. If you find that this may be happening to you, sleep with cotton gloves or change over your hand lotion.

Change up your routine. Your skin acts differently from summer to winter and the best strategy for healthy, beautiful, problem-free skin is to adjust your home care routine to suit your skin’s needs each season. In winter, the skin produces less oil, so for many skin types, oil must be added back into the skin to maintain its balance. Look for moisturizers containing Safflower Oil, Avocado Oil and Shea Butter. Switch from a gel cleanser to a cream-based cleanser and eye creams are a must in the winter. Spring and summer products will likely expire or reduce their effectiveness for the following year, so it’s a good time to purge your products.

Don’t neglect your neck. The friction caused from turtle necks and wool fibers can rub on the neck causing it to be dry and irritated. Use a hydrating cream mask on your neck once a week to replenish essential moisture. Make sure to exfoliate in upward motions with a mild facial scrub.

Properly care for your skin at the gym. After working out at the gym, make sure to wash your face, use an alcohol-free toner and a nourishing moisturizer. At the end of the work out, the salts created from perspiration can have a drying effect on the skin, combined with the cold, dry air outside and the heat in your car. So removing the salts and locking moisture back in the skin will greatly reduce dry skin.

Anastasia (yes, of the brow brand!) has listed several tips on getting glamorous eyes, ranging from how to open up your peepers to the perfect brow.  Visit ExpertEyes to read them, and you can also enter to win a spa weekend in Beverly Hills.

My favorite tip is her advice on getting a good brow shape:

Achieving a well-shaped brow isn’t easy, especially on your own. That’s why I recommend you to have your brows done professionally (at least once) to get insights on your specific facial structure — and on how to maintain your look at home. Once you have a basic know-how, you can work on your precision and your patience. Just keep a few things in mind.

Think before you tweeze. Not every shape is right for every face, so consider a shape that complements your eyes. Try mapping out your “design” by filling it in with a brow pencil.

Check yourself out. Always tweeze a single row at a time, in the direction the hairs grow. Then take a step back and look in the mirror for a checkup. (If your brows are a bit unruly, comb them flat with a brow brush before tweezing.)

Fill in the blanks. Once your shape is in place, you can start to define it. If your brow hairs are sparse, or you just want more definition, fill in the shape with a brow pencil that matches your brow color, or one that’s a shade lighter. Or experiment with brow shadows for a softer, more natural look.

Stylist David John shares these three quick and easy styles for fabulous holiday hair in minutes!

Stand apart from the sleek stands of seasons past by adding some curls! Run a large barrel curling iron through hair and create a strong side part. Spray each section with hairspray before curling to create a crisper curl. Not only does this protect hair from heat, but also makes for a sexy, retro glam look.

Go for the gusto and treat yourself to a clip-on hair extension! Available in Sally’s Beauty, choose a color that matches your own or have your own hair dyed to match. Clip in the back for added length/fullness. Wear curly, straight, in a sleek high ponytail or chic low bun. Extensions are easy, breezy, versatile and fun!

Glam up your ponytail. Super sexy and playful, simply create a side part and brush hair back with hair spray. Ponytail should be medium to low height and secured. Take small piece of hair and wrap about rubber band to conceal. Fasten with bobby pin or sparkly barrette for an elegant twist.

Legendary stylist and John Frieda® Collection Creative Consultant Harry Josh tells you how to achieve—and hold—fabulously festive holiday hair:

Cocktail Party

Start the night out right with a chic chignon to complement your cocktail dress. “Before stepping out of the shower or towel-drying hair, squeeze out excess water then coat wet hair with a generous amount of Frizz-Ease® Original Serum to prevent hair from frizzing as it dries,” says Josh. “Next, create a defined side part and blow dry hair with a flat paddle brush. Don’t worry about getting hair super straight—this style is supposed to have a little shape and volume. Once hair is dry, pull back into a loose side bun and secure using a clip or bobby pins, not a hair band. Spritz gathered hair with Sheer Blonde® Crystal Clear Hairspray and smooth your palms over the hair’s surface to tame flyaways.”

Dinner Party

Take your hair from chic chignon to show-stopping pony in the time it takes to refill your cocktail with a little touch-up of Frizz-Ease® Thermal Protection Hair Serum. “Shake hair loose and flip it over, quickly bringing it together on the top of your head,” recommends Josh. “Secure hair using a loose band or clip, then place a drop of Frizz-Ease® Thermal Protection Hair Serum in palms and run through your pony for a smooth finish. The serum adds definition and shine to the natural wave created by the chignon. Keep hair frizz-free throughout the night with a spray of Frizz-Ease® Moisture Barrier Firm-Hold Hairspray.”

Late Night Party

Take a break between parties to let your hair down for the night. “Loose waves are a perfect late-night look—holiday hair doesn’t always have to be an updo,” Josh advises. “Wrap individual sections of hair around your finger, starting with the under-layers, and spritz lightly with Luxurious Volume All-Out Hold™ Hairspray to create waves and boost body on the go. The spray provides all-night hold and major volume for no-fuss, fabulous style.”

Yesterday, you all were shocked at how much makeup I brought with me to Hawaii.  Now, let me share with you some lessons I learned about traveling when it comes to lugging your beauty goodies with you!

• Decide ahead of time.  Think about where you’re going, what you think you may be doing, and whether you need lots of makeup or virtually none.  When I go for a few days, I don’t bring much along - I think about one or two looks I want to do, and then I just take those products.  If I can, I’ll use a pigment as a base, but make it one that is versatile and gives me two different “effects” depending what I overlay it with.  Most people aren’t compulsive and need to do their best to not repeat looks, so this can help you save space!
• Carry-on when possible.  Face it, makeup is easily stolen–especially high end makeup.  Whenever you can, it’s a better idea to pack your beauty loot in your carry-on (that goes for any valuables you’d hate to lose!).  I love the carry-on sized suitcases!  They actually hold a fair amount of stuff, and you can toss it in the overhead bin.  Mine is expandable, should I need extra room and have to check it ;)
• Travel and sample containers make life easier!  With the ban on oversized liquids, getting some empty travel-sized bottles and jars can help you maximize your space.  I don’t need a 12 fl. oz container of cleanser for a week long trip!  MAC has several jars and bottles available, and they won’t hurt your wallet.
• Streamline your routine for shorter trips.  So maybe you have a special AM and PM routine - can you streamline it in a way that won’t cause consequences (like a major breakout)?  Maybe your AM cream can double as your PM cream for a few days.  Can your eyebrow highlighter work as a cheek highlighter?

Hold on, I still have four more tips to share!  Continue reading »