Pony Up With Christian Siriano

In keeping with my love for Christian Siriano this week, I thought I'd post the how-to for the funky ponytails at his recent show.

The Look:
This is a low, sleek ponytail adorned with a textured bouquet of waves; a play of smooth versus rough. Hair is sleek and groomed on each side of the head and through the ponytail, with a slightly rough, matte finish on top and elegant, textured waves pinned above the pony. The finished look is chic and contemporary with a bit of attitude.

Get the Look/Step-by-Step:

• Step 1: Create a deep side part. Draw a horseshoe-shaped section of hair along the top of the head, from each brow-line. Isolate this section of hair and pin in place with a single-pronged hair clip.

• Step 2: Pull the bottom half of hair into a ponytail and secure with a bungee elastic. Divide ponytail into sections with fingers and spray with Aveda Air Control™ Hair Spray for workable hold.

• Step 3: Use a flat iron to straighten the ponytail section by section, creating a smooth, sleek finish.

• Step 4: Unclip the top section of hair and comb it back and over the ponytail. Sprinkle Aveda Pure Abundance™ Hair Potion and massage into hair to create volume and matte, rough texture.

• Step 5: Working with the same top section, divide hair into smaller pieces and spray with Aveda Air Control™ Hair Spray. Wrap each piece of hair around a ceramic Curl Rod, creating spirals, until the entire top section of hair has been curled.

• Step 6: Brush through spirals, loosening curls into soft waves. Loosely backcomb waves to create fullness, volume and texture, and shorten the length of hair.

• Step 7: Pin the sides and ends of wavy hair against the head, close to the base of the ponytail. Hair is sculpted into a voluminous, undulating chignon adorning the ponytail.

• Step 8: Work Aveda Light Elements™ Texturizing Creme into palms. Smooth hair along the sides of the head and above the ears to create a sleekness and shine.

• Step 9: Finish the look with Aveda Air Control™ Hair Spray for shine and hold.

Aveda Products Used:
Aveda Light Elements™ Texturizing Creme
Aveda Pure Abundance™ Hair Potion
Aveda Air Control™ Hair Spray


Antoinette Beenders Quotes:

Q: What was your inspiration for this look? How did you collaborate with the designer to create the look?
“Christian and I worked together to create a hair look that reflects the inspiration behind his collection: waves and the ocean, with shimmering silks, silvers, and blues. I call this look the “wave” because of the back-combed wave that floats atop the ponytail. Since Christian is a young designer, the hair look is elegant yet very modern.”

Q: How could a woman achieve this look on her own?
“This is an elegant, alternative version of the ponytail—beautiful for evening. Using a fine comb, separate the front/top of hair and part it into a horseshoe shaped section on the top of the head. Tie the rest of hair into a low ponytail. Rake the front/top of hair back with Aveda Light Elements™ Texturizing Creme, and curl with a curling rod. Brush through curls and backcomb slightly, then pin teased hair to the base of the ponytail, creating loose, textured waves. Finish look with Aveda Air Control™ Hair Spray.”

Summer Shimmer

A warm, sunny day is no place for a face full of makeup. To compensate for my lack of coverage, I like to add shimmer. For instance, Stila's Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer helps hide a multitude of skin sins. The light reflecting particles conceal imperfections, and the SPF 15 helps prevent future damage; however, I don't think that SPF 15 is high enough in the summer, so I mix in an SPF 55 sunscreen.

I also say "buh, bye" to my matte bronzer, and use a sheer bronzer with a touch of shimmer. I like Cargo Bronzer in Light--it has Mica to add a soft shimmer, and Kaolin to absorb excess oil to decrease shine.

When using so much shimmer, I like to leave my lips more natural by using Stila's Shine Lip Color in Sarah. It's a sheer peach glaze with SPF 20 to help prevent chapped lips.

All items mentioned above can be purchased at Apothica. All Orders over $49 Receive Free Priority Shipping from Apothica.com

Benefit Velvet Eyeshadow

Get free shipping for a limited time when you buy Benefit's new velvet eyeshadow. These velvet eyeshadows glide on light as a feather and the gorgeous shades look fabulous on everyone! Glide on bare lids for a dose of sheer, velvety color or layer over creaseless cream shadows for even richer color. Available in 9 different colors.

Tips and tricks--
For base shadow: Use fluff shadow brush to blend from lash line to brow bone. Softly diffuse color upward with gentle strokes.
For contouring: Blend a deeper shade into the crease of lid from outer corner, sweeping to inner corner.
For highlighting:
Softly blend a light shade over brow bone and pat on center of lid above the iris to help make eyes look bigger & brighter.

Get FREE US Standard Shipping with purchase of velvet eyeshadow. Enter VELVET09 at checkout. Offer valid until 5.19.09. Don't forget to add product to your shopping bag before checkout.

The Big Chill

I live in a studio, and one of the best perks is that it's convenient for me to put my gels and creams in the refrigerator. There is something so refreshing about slathering my face and body in cool creams on a warm day, not to mention the great results I get with puffiness when I apply eye gel. I don't have one product that works the best, they all feel great straight from the fridge. If you haven't tried this before I highly recommend it; especially as we near summer. Just make sure your roommate doesn't mistakenly think it's food...

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick For Body. Finally!

When I heard that my favorite highlighter, Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick, was available for a the body, I almost passed out with excitement. Yay! The lightweight, silky powder can be used on arms, legs, decollete, or anywhere you want to glow. I currently use the regular highlighter on my shinbones to make my legs look longer and thinner, and I swear it works. The body brick is oversized and features three shimmering bars of color. At $75 it's pricey, so I'm going to use the body brick for both face and body.

Leona Lewis in Bleeding Love video

Leona Lewis is always stunningly beautiful, but never more so than in her "Bleeding Love" video. Her makeup artist, Jane Bradley, shares the cosmetics used on set.

Products used:
-Foundation: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in #9
-Concealer: Becca Compact Concealer
-Powder: Clinique Blended Face Powder in Transparency 2
-Blush: Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Calypso Coral
-Eye Shadow: Ruby & Millie in Green 270P, NARS Single Eye Shadow in Night Porter, M.A.C. Eye Shadow in Bitter, M.A.C. Eye Shadow in Black Tied
-Eye Liner: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black, Givenchy Magic Khôl Eye Liner Pencil in #12
-Brows: Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow in Mahogany
-Mascara: Max Factor Masterpiece MAX Mascara in Black
-Lips: M.A.C. Lip Pencil in Oak, M.A.C. Tinted Lipglass in Chai
-Highlights / Countour: Daniel Sandler Watercolour in Truth

Cream Base to Intensify Eye Color

L.A.-based makeup artist Monika Blunder creates red carpet looks for hot celebrities. Her tip for sparkling eyes it to "intensify the color by using Nars cream eye shadow as a base and follow it with Nars dry shadow. Applying layers also helps maintain a longer-lasting look. I applied it on Amy Ryan for the Oscars and it held up all night!"

This is a trick that I use for going out at night and I love it; however, I use the MAC Cream Colour Base. My favorite shade to use is Luna, a bright white with shimmer. It brightens the color of the powder shadow and doesn't crease at all. I apply the cream base with my ring finger, and then apply shadow on top with a brush, being sure to pat it in so the cream sets.

Cargo Wants You To Brighten Up!

Cargo is making beauty easier with their EyeLighter; they've taken the classic tips for for an 'instant eye lift' and created a unique and easy-to-use double ended highlighting pen for with matte highlight shadow on one end and shimmering highlight shadow on the other. To brighten and lift eyes, apply the light shimmer shadow to the inner corners of the eyes. Apply the light matte shadow to the outer corners of the eyes, under the brows and to the lower lash line. Can also be used to create fuller looking lips--just apply shimmer above the cupids bow.

Features:
-Designed to highlight and brighten eyes with ease
-Contains conditioning ingredients and is long wearing with a velvet texture
-Applicator tips are washable

-Vitamin E is a known anti-oxidant that helps to sooth and condition the delicate skin around the eye area and it is especially good for sensitive eyes
-Gives a smooth and slightly creamy texture to the shadow for blendability and easy application
-Available in three shade options: White, Gold & Pink

Hotel Amenities Put To Good Use

I was staying in Park City last week and our room had the cutest mini Bath and Body Works hair care items. I'm very picky about my shampoo and conditioner, so I never use the complimentary amenities for their actual purpose. However, I always take the nicer brands home with me, and use the conditioner as a shave cream. I've used this trick for years, and it saves money and moisturizes my legs!

Jennifer Aniston's Premiere Look

Jennifer Aniston looked chic and sophisticated at the He's Just Not That Into You premiere last week. People magazine talked to makeup artist Angela Levin to see exactly how her look was created.

-Cover lids with Shu Uemura Cream Eye Shadow in Beige.
-Apply Chanel Soft Touch Eye Shadow in Le Bronze to outer half of lids and Tina Earnshaw's Bitter Sweet shadow in crease.
-Highlight brow bone with Chanel Soft Touch Eye Shadow in Platine.
-Line with Chanel Intense Eye Pencil in Ambre and finish with Chanel Intimitable Mascara in Noir.

Out With The Old, In With The New

Style.com just posted guidelines for the shelf-life of cosmetics that I think is extremely helpful. I've been known to keep foundation and sponges for waaaay too long. Seriously, though, I think it's fine if you keep your items longer than posted below, but that's just me.

Powders and shadows: Two years
Cream shadows: 12-18 months
Foundation: One year
Lipstick/lipliner: One year
Mascara/eyeliner: Three months
Makeup brushes: Clean weekly using a mild detergent
Makeup sponges: Replace weekly, or when sponge becomes completely covered

Big Night Out

If I'm going to an event, or just in the mood to get dressed up, I like to try new looks. For inspiration I'll come through years of past makeup photos from Allure magazine. Each look includes a simple how-to guide with printable directions and color suggestions.

For hair inspiration, I look through Bumble and Bumble's Style Book. Photos are separated by hair length, and each image includes a how-to along with recommended products to get the look.

Photo: Michael Thompson

Angelina Jolie at the 2009 SAG Awards

Seriously, who doesn't want to look like Angelina Jolie? I know I do! And how better to start than by copying her luminous look from last month's SAG Awards? Celebrity makeup artist Mary Burton gave Jolie a retro '60s vibe with high-drama eyes.

How to do it:

-Apply Lancome Artliner in Noir above lash line.

-Dust lid with YSL Ombre Solo Double Effect Eye Shadow in #3 Blue Silk.

-Sweep on Lancome Courbe Virtuose Mascara in Black.

-Finish with Lancome Color Fever Gloss in Rose.

Salma Hayek's Golden Globes Look

Salma Hayek looks phenomenal at the 2009 Golden Globes. Her secret? Nars Cosmetics. The LA Times chatted with her makeup artist, Matthew Vanleeuwen. He said “She chose a very neutral colored dress and I wanted to make sure her makeup look would pop. I made her eyes the focus and added a lot of rich, jewel skin tones and fresh color to her cheeks and lips. Her look was very classic and chic, with some modern textures.”

'Eyes:

• Apply the China Blue single eye shadow to top and bottom lash line [Vanleeuwen’s tip: “I love using navy colors because they make the whites of the eyes pop.”]

• Next, use the Corfu cream eye shadow as a base, all over eyelid.

• Use the golden champagne side of the Alhambra Duo Eye shadow on lid.

• Then, use the Bengali Single Eye shadow all along the lash line, rubbing it into the lash line, deepening the outer corner of the eye, creating shading.

• Curl the eyelashes and apply two coats of Black Orchid mascara on lashes.

• Go back over top lash line with the Night Clubbing eye shadow and use what is left on the brush under the eye to define it [Vanleeuwen’s tip: “This shade is perfect to create a smoky eye –- it gives a rich sparkle at the lash line with undertones of green and gold.”]Complexion:

• Use the Brightening Serum to make skin glow and apply the Makeup Primer

• Apply the Firming Foundation and set with the Loose Powder.

Lips:

• Use the Marnie lipliner pencil and Tutti Fruity lipstick.

• Next, mix the Boogie Nights and Greek Holiday lipglosses and apply them over the lipstick.

Blush:

• Apply the Desire blush to the apple of cheeks [Vanleeuwen’s tip: “I use a powder brush to apply blush. I find that a bigger brush makes a much softer wash of color.”]

• Next, use the Laguna Bronzer with short, back and forth strokes from the back of cheekbone forward, to blend.'

Longer Lashes for (Slightly) Less

In my never-ending hunt for amazing lashes, I've tried close to a dozen products claiming to grow lashes longer. A few of them worked (at $150 for a 6 week supply), but most of them didn't. Then I received a sample of DermaLash by DermaQuest. Though still pricey at $85, it lasts over 3 months and has made a huge difference in my eyelashes. I even had someone ask if I got lash extensions! I apply this nightly on my lashes like a would a liquid eyeliner. It took about 6 weeks, but I woke up one morning and realized that my lashes were significantly longer. Now I use it once every few days to make the tube last longer--I never knew my lashes could even get this long!

Vampire Make Up Trend? I'm in!

In keeping with my slight (huge) Twilight obsession, I've decided that the pale, otherworldly vampire look is in. To create this look I'm using T. LeClerc's Loose Powder in Parme No. 7, a lavender shade. The purple tint of the loose powder neutralizes redness and whitens pale complexions. Though the powder is sheer and you can't tell that you're wearing mauve powder, it's a dramatic look and best for already pale skin tones. Apply last with a fluffy brush for an airbrushed finish.

Weather-'Poof' Your Hair

Kiehl's Creme with Silk Groom has become a staple in my hair styling routine. (I use the term 'hair styling' loosely, as I blow dry my hair maybe 3 times a year.) I have frizzy, poofy, wavy hair that is oily at the roots and dry at the ends. It's basically 'nightmare' hair. However, it does become a bit more managable when I use this cream. It's fairly heavy, so I don't recommend it if you have thinner hair. I slather it on from mid-shaft to ends, and it really weighs the hair down and eliminates a lot of frizz. It helps my hair have more defined curls, as opposed to the stringy mess I have without it. It works in dry heat and rain, which is nice, so I don't have to switch products with the season.

Also, if you buy it (or anything) at kiehls.com, you get three generous sized samples.

Lancome 'Fatale' Mascara

My current mascara obsession is Lancome's Fatale mascara. It's definitely for those of you who want a thickening mascara. At night, I put on 4 layers; it looks like I have fake eyelashes on. The only drawback is that if you want until it's completely dry before you put on another coat, it has a tendency to flake off. I curl my lashes, and then smile when I'm applying mascara--I think it helps brush the wand in the most natural direction, while still curling my lashes. If you need help with lengthening and thickening lashes, apply a coat of Lancome's L'Extreme, followed by a coat of Fatale. Perfection, but recommended for evening's only.