I was scanning magazine covers this past week when I got to wondering: why do they retouch pictures so heavily? It always looks weird to me. I mean, come on, Diane Keaton for LOREAL looks like one of the Olsen twins for God's sake! I know that large pores and tiny lines around the eyes are never as intense in real life as they appear in close up pictures. Making them a tad softer lets you focus on the eyes and lips of a gal. I get that. What I don't get is taking everything away. All of the lines, all of the shadows and all of the pores.
It takes the art out of beautifully lighting a photo. Poor photographers must get so frustrated. The recent Newsweek photo of Sarah Palin is a great example. We are so used to seeing women looking so perfect that allowing an untouched photo on a cover of a national magazine stirs cries of conspiracy. For the record, I agree. Newsweek is insane if they didn't have at least one meeting over the 'roughness' of that photo. They clearly knew it would put her in a very unflattering light.
I have seen some fashion campaign pix doing little or no clean up lately. I love that. You feel like these gals are just beautiful creatures, not over photo-shopped robots. There's my two cents!
Enjoy Pretty,
Brett
VANITYMARK Cosmetics
I work so face-to-face with my gals that you can imagine I have to have fresh breath all the time. I was shopping in Target recently and was about to reach for Eclipse gum, my old standby. Suddenly, something new caught my eye: ICE BREAKERS Ice Cubes. They're dang yummy! Little squares with tiny chips of breath fresheners that release with each chew. I've given it to friends and they are quick fans.
Check it out... new is news!
Enjoy Pretty,
Brett
VANITYMARK Cosmetics
Do you want to take your everyday make-up and give it a little jolt? Well, here's my tip. Get a gorgeous colored mascara, like Dior's Diorshow Mascara in shade 'Azure Blue'.
Start by curling your lashes and applying your favorite black mascara as usual. Next, take your new Dior mascara and apply it to just the tips. Pow! Instant pop!
It's a great way to add interest to the eyes without doing something too style heavy. It's so subtle, it peaks out when you're in certain light or when you bat your eyelashes. Trust me, it's a great way to, on the DL, change up your look beautifully!
Enjoy Pretty,
Brett
VANITYMARK Cosmetics
Want a quick way to instantly 'Autumn-ize' your lips? Use gold lip gloss. You can take your favorite lipstick shade and give a warm, seasonal glow to it in a snap. Try YSL's Golden Gloss in shade 'Simply Gold'.
My tip is to apply your favorite lip pencil to the entire lip and then sex it up with a nice coat of wet, glossy gold. It mixes well with lip tints and over other glosses, too. Simply Gold is simply gorgeous!
Enjoy Pretty,
Brett
VANITYMARK Cosmetics
For any gal out there with oily skin, here's a very cool product: Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash. It's a hidden treasure. I'm always on the lookout for something that will be strong enough to cut excess oil without drying the skin too much. I like that Purpose's facial wash is clear which is a good sign of it's sheerness.
The key to keeping oily skin in tip top shape is to keep everything that touches it as sheer and 'non sticky' as possible. Cleansers should wash away cleanly. You never want to use anything creamy or in bar form. The wax needed to hold a bar intact will be the culprit in clogging pores.
I advise washing your face twice. First, lather up to remove your excess make up and surface oils. Your second wash will go a touch deeper to clean out your pores.
You can find Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash in your favorite drugstore, so go ahead and Easy Breezy!
Enjoy Pretty,
Brett
VANITYMARK Cosmetics
Here's a quick-tip I use on my clients for early morning shoots. To brighten and de-puff eyes, I take a spoon and pop it in the fridge. Leave in there for at least 5 minutes until it gets nice and chilled. Take it out and dome it over yours eyes for 2-3 minutes to calm and tighten the eye area.
Giving your eyes a cold zap boosts circulation and helps calm even the most tired peepers. When the spoons are a little less frosty you can actually press the flat of the spoon under your eyes for a more intense zing. It's great after a long day, too. Refresh, reinvigorate, and have a great TGIF!
Enjoy Pretty,
Brett
VANITYMARK Cosmetics
You gals that read my blog know that I'm a huge fan of Benefit Cosmetics. Having my own line of products makes me very aware of how much time and energy it takes to bring something new to the market. I stumbled on this terrific cheek stain and fell in love.
For those gals that felt Benefit's Hint Tint was a bit too vivid, Benefit's Posie Tint is sure to be your fave new product! This is a sweet pink lip and cheek stain that gives the impression that you're truly blushing.
My tip: dab it on cheeks BEFORE applying your foundation for a lit from within appearance. Oh, and add a dab to your lips to tie the this healthy glow together!
Enjoy Pretty,
Brett
VANITYMARK Cosmetics
Here's a quick tip to warm up a pale foundation -- add a touch of gel bronzer to it and mix. Just mix a bit of both on the top of your hand, or you can add a little squirt of gel to the whole bottle of foundation and shake. The goal is to give that pale base a nice lift of color. It's a great oil free way to get a little extra glow!
Enjoy Pretty,
Brett
VANITYMARK Cosmetics
When the sun goes down on summer, it may be hard to give up that warm glow. How do you keep that young, healthy radiance without looking 'season inappropriate'? My advice is to try and give your face an all over glow with a tone that's a touch more subtle than bronze.
My fave, that I suggest to the gals in my chair, is an all over peach powder. Used like a bronzer, it gives you a nice boost of skin tone without the over-tan, baked look that can stand out a bit too much in the colder months. Try Laura Mecier's Face Tint loose powder in shade 'Apricot'. Use a large, fluffy brush and apply all over your face and neck. Watch the autumn glow beam!
Enjoy Pretty,
Brett
VANITYMARK Cosmetics
We all want to wash away dead skin cells and debris. I've found that with most exfoliants you have the problem of added oils or buffers. You want to smooth your skin, but not by adding a layer of humectant. When a product does that it gives you the feel of softer, smoother skin, but it's just smoke and mirrors.
I like Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant. It's made with rice bran and rice extracts. My tip is to add it to your face cleansing routine for a clean, oil free bonus.
Enjoy Pretty,
Brett
VANITYMARK Cosmetics
Tuesday Taylor. Hey, maybe I should have waited to write this on a Tuesday! How many of you gals remember this fab fashion doll from the 70's? She's Barbie size and was on the market for about 2 years.
I remember having 'Suntan' Tuesday Taylor. She was like Barbie's naughty sister. She didn't have a perma-smile and she was so swanky in her fab 70's garb. Her hair would change color if you twisted the top of her head around -- she was blonde or brunette. Very cool! I always kept her a brunette probably because Barbie was always so famously blonde. I love how fashion forward her make-up was. She had vivid eyes with pale lips. Though she was a New York City kinda girl, she always had a Malibu tan.
If you recall Ms. Taylor, I hope I gave you a little 'blast from the past'. If you don't remember her or weren't even a toddler in the 70's, then I'm glad to educate you in all that is Tuesday Taylor!
Enjoy Pretty,
Brett
VANITYMARK Cosmetics
Every gal wants fuller, fabulous lashes. Yes, you can layer mascara and primers on, but what if you need just a bit more oomph? The answer is right down the street at your local drugstore. Individual lashes are a great, subtle way to give eyes that extra pop. Here's a quick how to:
BUY SHORT SIZE: This tip is huge. You want to fill out your lash line, not add a bunch of too long pieces. I use this size on my actresses. The short length is generally just longer than most gals natural lashes.
BUY BROWN: You'll be applying mascara over the lashes so you'll be darkening them. Brown gives a nice, natural softness to the lashline. Again, you want adding the lashes to be as seamless and natural as possible.
APPLY MASCARA FIRST: Do a quick coat or two of mascara to give the lashes something to 'rest' on. This will also give you an idea of where you need the extra 'oomph'.
USE DARK LASH GLUE: It actually helps blend the base of the lash to the lash line. Clear is fine, but the smooth texture of the glue once dry makes it more difficult to cover with a touch of eyeliner. If the glue is dark then that won't be an issue.
APPLY WITH TWEEZERS: Yes, it's tricky. I liken applying lashes to learning to ride a bike: it's tough to start, but once you've done it a few times it's easy breezy. Use flat edge tweezers and grab the lash close to it's base.
START ON THE OUTSIDE: You'll only need 5 or 6 per side. Start on the outer corner and work your way in towards the center.
ALLOW TO DRY COMPLETELY: This is a big tip! It is VERY important that the glue be completely dry before the next step. Work on your brows or lips for a couple minutes to pass the time.
GENTLY CURL: Yes, you read that right. I ALWAYS give a light pump of curl once the lash glue has dried. Don't do a big, hard curl. The false lashes with curl/bend much easier and it will make them stand out too much. You just want to give the lashes (both natural and add-ons) a bit of a lift and alignment. Start very close to the lash line as possible and just give a nice lift.
END WITH MASCARA: Apply a healthy coat of mascara to blend the natural lashes with your add-ons and WOW!
You are now free to bat and vamp those gorgeous peepers at will!
Enjoy Pretty,
Brett
VANITYMARK Cosmetics
After a fab summer of tanned skin and citrusy colored lips and nails, it's time to get seasonally appropriate. Break out the deeper hues for the fall! I'm a big fan of all of the wine and burgundy shades that you are seeing everywhere. You may ask, how a gal would wear these vivid tones? Well, I'm here to help. First, decide how 'far' you want to go. You definitely don't want to look goth or like one of the cast members of True Blood! My advice is:
* LIPS: Go with a glaze type formulation. I like a wine color that is sheer, almost like a gloss. I wouldn't go the lipstick route since it will be too color saturated and look heavy. Using solely a dark gloss will be too sheer. Line your entire lip with your favorite spice-toned pencil and then pump up your mysterious vibe by applying a nice coat of vino hued lip color. I like Clinique's Almost Lipstick in Black Honey.
* NAILS: If a deeper lip is too dramatic, I suggest amping-up your finger tips. What a great way to add a touch of edge to any look. Choose something that is dark, but with a subtle shimmer to cut the drama a bit. Keep it fresh and super glossy. I like Sephora's Nail Colour in shade 'I'm With Brad'.
Welcome to the dark side, ladies!
Enjoy Pretty,
Brett
VANITYMARK Cosmetics
Okay, I was at lunch yesterday (at Newsroom on Robertson... if you're in LA you def have to try it!) and I was so distracted by the lady sitting at the next table. She had the thickest, icky-est, Lincoln Log lashes I've seen in a long time. In between bites of my Tandoori chicken salad, I was mesmerized. Top and bottom just layered beyond belief with mascara. I could see those suffocating lashes A WHOLE TABLE AWAY!
She seemed very together in every other way, but she just got a little nutty with the lashes. It's probably a bad habit held over from her teen years. It was all I could do not to have a Dr. Phil-like intervention with her. So today, ladies, when you are applying your mascara, take it easy. A couple combed through coats to darken and lengthen. That's it. No more! It's almost Halloween, yes, but let's not try and create 'spider eyes' just yet!
Enjoy Pretty,
Brett
VANITYMARK Cosmetics
How do you clean your brushes? Over the years I've done it all from letting them sit in warm, sudsy water to using those quick spray-on brush cleaners. I used to even bring brushes in the shower with me! Here's my feedback:
* SOAKING BRUSHES: This is great when you want to really break down the product embedded in your brushes. I've found that this will also loosen the glue that holds your brush hairs in place. Not good for the long-term!
* SPRAY CLEANERS: These are great when you're needing to do it quickly. I liken these sprays to dry cleaning. They are a good idea in a pinch, but to really 'get in there', I like good old fashioned soap and water.
Here's my tip for pristine brushes that preserves their beauty. I quickly wash my bathroom sink with hand soap. I then squeeze squiggles of Kiehl's coconut shampoo along the bottom. I use Kiehl's because it's so gentle, healthy for the brush hairs, and leaves a light, summery scent. Then I'll dampen the brush's head and swirl it through the shampoo squiggles. Start with your smaller brushes first, then move to the larger ones. Now set each (with their soapy heads) aside for 3-5 minutes. This will allow the gentle cleansers in the shampoo to break down dirt and oils. Under warm running water, rinse each brush pushing them against the bottom of the sink. Blot off excess water and air dry for 1-2 hours.
Clean brushes in a snap!
Enjoy Pretty,
Brett
VANITYMARK Cosmetics
One of my favorite things about Benefit's is that they are always coming up with fun new products that make the rest of your make up bag look fresh and exciting. Next time you're out looking at pretty, take a sec to try Benefit's "10" blush powder. It has the finest shimmer around in two of the most universally flattering shades (pale pink and bronze).
Use one side alone for your eyes, or swirl a blush brush over both for cheeks. What the shimmer does is give a nice light reflective, dewy finish. I would have to say this product, like most shimmer, is for the evening.
Try it out... and wake up your old stand-by's with a pop of glisten. Thanks Benefit!
Enjoy Pretty,
Brett
VANITYMARK Cosmetics
