Bringing the Red Carpet Home with P&G Beauty

As we come to the conclusion of award season, P&G Beauty challenged me to take the looks from the red carpet and bring them to real life! What I really wanted to do was find ways to incorporate the trends we saw on the red carpet into cohesive looks.  One aspect that I noticed was how much hairstyle and lip color could alter the overall look–some starlets looked glamorous with hair down and softer lips, while others went with bolder lips with their hair up.

There is something so old Hollywood about a simple up-do paired with a bolder–like a red–lip, which is always a classic staple of any red carpet event.  I loved how Beyonce glowed at the Grammy’s with a simple red lip, brightened eyes, and lush lashes. On the other end, many stars let their locks flow freely with soft waves, ringlets, and curls, and often, this style is paired with a softer lip; sometimes it’s a beige, but this year, there was a lot of rose-lipped stars.  You can see it on such stars as Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried. (I also thought it would be fun to channel Jessica Alba’s side-swept part, since it’s something I haven’t done in ages!)

Look 1

Eyes: Define the brow by filling in with a color that matches your natural brow hair–I used COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers Eye Shadow in Brown Smolder filled in with an angled brow brush. Next, sweep on a warm gold (or cool silver) all over the lid–I used COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers 3 Kit Eye Shadow in Golden Sunset–and then defined the outer corner and crease very lightly with a matte dark brown (COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers Eye Shadow in Brown Smolder). I lined the lower lash line with a matte brown (COVERGIRL LiquilineBlast Eyeliner Pencil in Brown Blaze). Apply false eyelashes or layer on mascara, preferably one with defined bristles to minimize clumping and enhance definition; I used COVERGIRL Clump Crusher Mascara by LashBlast.

Face: I began by applying my moisturizer, letting it sink in, and then applying liquid foundation. To set and mattify, I used CoverGirl + Olay Pressed Powder in Medium. Then, I swept on a subtle rosy hue on cheeks (COVERGIRL Cheekers Blush in Brick Rose) with a slight shimmer finish to highlight as well.

Lips: To keep the look soft, feminine, and elegant, I opted for a light, rosy pink lip by using COVERGIRL LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Radiant Rose.

Hair: Start by washing hair (I used Herbal Essences Shine Collection Shampoo and Conditioner), then spray on a heat protectant and blow dry locks until fully dry. I used four pumps of Aussie Miraculously Smooth Smoothing Serum (designed to reduce frizz) between my fingertips and then ran my fingertips through my hair to smooth everything out.

Check out look two!

Look 2

Eyes: Define the brow by filling in with a color that matches your natural brow hair–I used COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers Eye Shadow in Brown Smolder filled in with an angled brow brush. Next, sweep on a warm gold (or cool silver) all over the lid–I used COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers 3 Kit Eye Shadow in Golden Sunset–and then defined the outer corner and crease very lightly with a matte dark brown (COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers Eye Shadow in Brown Smolder). I lined the lower lash line with a matte brown (COVERGIRL LiquilineBlast Eyeliner Pencil in Brown Blaze). Apply false eyelashes or layer on mascara, preferably one with defined bristles to minimize clumping and enhance definition; I used COVERGIRL Clump Crusher Mascara by LashBlast.

Face: I started by applying my moisturizer, letting it sink in, and then applying liquid foundation. To set and mattify, I used CoverGirl + Olay Pressed Powder in Medium. Then, I swept on a subtle rosy hue on cheeks (COVERGIRL Cheekers Blush in Brick Rose) with a slight shimmer finish to highlight as well.

Lips: I wanted a more dramatic lip to work with the sleek bun I went for, so I used a glossy, plummy stain in COVERGIRL LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Plum Twist.

Hair: Start by washing hair (I used Herbal Essences Shine Collection Shampoo and Conditioner), then spray on a heat protectant and blow dry locks until fully dry. Next, apply two pumps of a frizz-reducing product (I used Aussie Miraculously Smooth Smoothing Serum) to dry hair, and pull into a tight ponytail about half-way on the head. I then twisted the ponytail and wrapped it around the base to create a bun. I used a dozen black bobby-pins to secure the bun in place, then spritzed the whole ‘do with hair spray (I used Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Hair Spray).