Q&A: Prom Eye Makeup

Sunshine asks:
Q: I'm 18 and my prom is this Friday, April 18th. I was thinking about getting my makeup done, but I've had a few too many unfortunate experiences with getting it done professionally. So, I decided that I'd do it myself.
My dress is silky black with silver as the secondary color. Any ideas as to what I should do with my eye makeup?

A: Sunshine, what a phenom question. I am loving that you're wearing a silky black slash silver dress on the big night. I'm NERV because your prom is in five minutes and I'm on 15 diff deadlines right now, but this blog was born from procrastination and also? You had me at "prom." I love a prom. I have a few recommendations for you, OBV.

Thierry Mugler Regard Stellaire in Starry Night
I'm living for this quartet of smoky seduction. It includes a white shimmer shade, a rich sparkly charcoal, a neutral beige and a straight up flat black. I'd recommend lining your eyes with the black using a liner brush, use the white up by the brow bone (SPARINGLY) to highlight, and then apply the charcoal to the outer corner and on the lid below the crease for a siren-worthy smoky grey eye.

Now, I realize the link I've sent you to is for Sephora in France because this shadow isn't sold in the US until May. Since you can't wait that long, I recommend Bourjois Paris' Eye Shadow Trio in Les Argents ($19) which is pictured at left.

Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Orchid Mosaic ($38)
This 4-color palette features a shimmery range of 2 pinks, a champagne and a plum. It includes a mirror (don't think about going promming without one) and is encased in Laura's signature purple compact packaging. I'd recommend using the lightest pink all over and shading with the plum in the outer corners and on the lower lid. Line eyes with ck Calvin Klein Ultimate Edge Gel Eyeliner ($16) in African Voilet, a deep plum.

Lastly, I deeply recommend false eyelashes to add a sense of occasion. My faves are Revlon Fantasy Lengths Self-Adhesive Eyelashes. They're sold at drugstores for a mere $7 and last the whole night. Best of all? They're reusable. Wear the flirty length and channel Twiggy.

Have THE most fun at your prom, Sunshine! Pity anyone with the misfortune of standing next to your gorge self in pics. Report back and tell us how it went!

xoxo,
Fabulista

P.S. Stay tuned for promtastic hair recommendations later this week.

Q&A: Follow Up Q Regarding Mascara and Concealer

Q: The other important question I should have asked, besides guessing at the product categories, was what items should I apply, and in what order. Like, do you always wear foudation, blush/cheek, liner, mascara, concealer, lip gloss? And: shadows. Always wear, sometimes wear, etc. Concealer? or just more of the foundation?
Thanks! You're the BEST!
Beauty Wannabe


A: Unless I'm going to the gym or doing a "no makeup day" which includes VERY minimal makeup (just concealer, balm and mascara, BTW), I have a very specific product list. This is my everyday look, the one I rock to work and during the day on weekends. I rarely wear no makeup (unless I have a tan). Here's my everyday list, in the right order. I usually don't wear shadow unless I'm going out or if I have time.
Concealer (I apply at the beginning and a bit more at the end as well)
Tinted Moisturizer (I like Laura Mercier's) or Foundation, depending on how my skin looks
Either a Blush Stick or a Bronzing Stick (sometimes a combo of both)
Pencil Liner on the top lashes only
Non-dramatic, but effective Mascara
Balm or Gloss

We've gone over all components of this list except for mascara and concealer. Here's what I recommend. I've limited the selection to two per category for you although, obviously, there are SEVERAL I adore.

Concealer
One of my favorites is Laura Mercier Secret Concealer. There are others included in the list to which I linked that are also good.

Also great: Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Maximum Coverage Concealer $18. Here's a review I did for it for TotalBeauty.com:

This tiny mirrored compact won't waste precious purse real estate. A yellow-based concealer, it erases dark circles and hydrates just enough to mask fine lines. Lightweight, yet full coverage with a matte finish that yields non-greasy, even-toned skin. Long-wearing but easily blendable product is best used for the undereye area – those with oily skin should avoid it for blemish camouflaging. Other imperfections (acne scars, etc.) run screaming when spackled with a bit of the product applied with a concealer brush.

Mascara
Prescriptives False Eyelashes Plush Mascara $19.50 has wowed me. It's not quite as dramatic as Diorshow, but does the job - I love how black the black is. I use it during the day because I like just a tad more drama at night, usually along the lines of Fiberwig or the aforementioned Diorshow.

L'Oreal Lash Architect $6 (pictured above)
Lash Architect launched while I was in college, I believe, but it's still one of my favorite drug store mascaras. The brush glides well and the formula is enriched with jojoba and Vitamin B5 so that "new mascara bottle" feeling last a bit longer. Is there anything better than that, BTW? New Mascara Day is right up there with New Sheet Day (although obv, the latter happens more often).

Photo credit: drugstore.com

Q&A: Foil a Flakey Face

Anonymous, who I'm pretty sure is my friend Emily, writes:

Q: With the change in weather I feel like my skin is peeling right off my face (and halfway through the day at work I see that it actually is peeling!). What is a good hearty moisturizer I can use, preferably with SPF?

A: While I have the opposite problem, I know how to handle this Q as a mere three years ago, my skin was TOTALLY dry. I guess I should be glad that I've had the opportunity to experience all kinds of apocalyptic skins because it's all the better to advise you with, my dear!

I love Elizabeth Arden First Defense Anti-oxidant Lotion. It's $39 and contains carnosine and wolfberry plant extract, proven anti-oxidants to help build skin's natural resistance against signs of premature aging. It also includes Vitamins C and E to minimize initial free radical formation. My mother uses this daily and anyone who's ever met her knows that she looks a good 15-20 years younger than her real age of 63. I recommend smoothing some onto your face and neck (NEVER forget your neck or you'll be Diane Keaton-ing it through life - have you noticed the woman's neck is ALWAYS covered? She obv wasn't moisturizing her shiz) and then mixing some with your liquid, not powder foundation. Invest in gel or creme blush/bronzers as they'll dry you out even more. I know I say this daily, but SERIOUSLY. Unless you have very oily skin, the only powder you should ever allow on your face is eyeshadow.

In other news, I attended a Project Runway premier party given by New York Magazine in conjunction with Tresemme last night at Hiro. I invited my friend Stephanie as my "plus one" and we both sheepishly admitted to each other while in line to confirm our names on the guest list that we've never watched the show. I mean, I adore Tim Gunn and I religiously watch his other show, Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. I'll just say it, I'm so hooked. The party was fantastic, BTW. I imbibed quite a few glasses of champagne and clapped with the crowd when the portly Chris, though last to get to the tent where the group raced to choose their fabrics, was able to secure "the fabric he wanted". Yay, Chris! I'm rooting for him! I love the grey Grecian dress. It was beautifully designed and well made. And you know how I feel about grey in general.

Photo credit: elizabetharden.com

Q & A: The Urgency of a Hair Emergency

BBJ reader Lix writes:

"Dear Beauty Blogging Junkie-
I went for a color "correction" and the inexperienced stylist put peroxide
in my hair and left me for 50 minutes. It's a miracle that any of my formerly 18" long, luscious, red locks survived at all. I am now left with a greenish/yellow burnt, sad, ragged little mop that vaguely resembles a super short (and on me, ugly) bob.

After my hair started to grow in, I went to a different stylist and asked her to apply a glaze, as I had been advised that this would help decrease breakage.
I also asked her NOT to apply the glaze to my new growth. She applied the
glaze to my new growth anyway (she turned me away from the mirror). Now, my
little mop AND my formerly new roots feel waterproof, like they have a plastic coating on them. How can I remove this glaze? It is going to take three years to grow my hair back to its former state.
What suggestions can you provide?"

Lix, OIY. Like Chaka Khan says, "I feel for you".

There is nothing worse than a hair disaster and you are going THROUGH it, honey. I'd suggest taking the following 4 steps:

1. Lay off the heat tools.
Seriously. I had to at one point and it made ALL the difference in restoring my hair back to some semblance of non-haystack locks. If you'd like a velco rollers recommendash, I adore Maxius Adjust A Curl Velcro Rollers. They are self-holding and adjustable to make any size roller. They also store flat, making them travel friendly. Ser. They adjust from 1.5"-4". Perf for drying your hair semi straight whilst lifting roots. Another gem from Maxius that is saving my LIFESTYLE this summer is their serum, adorably entitled The End. I plan on devoting an entire post to this prod as it has allowed the Fabulista to rock stick straight locks in this miserable, sauna of a June we're enduring. I'm ready to toss out all of my other serums. Apply a bit of this to your ends before rolling them on up in the velcro rollers.

2. Condition the heck out of your hair
Start using products intended for damaged or even relaxed hair. In fact, I'd invest in Kerastase Oleo Relax EVERYTHING. Or at the very least, the Smoothing Hair Masque and the shampoo. It's expensive, but it's the best of restoring damaged hair back to health. I'd also recommend Back to Basics Raspberry Almond Reparative Shampoo and Conditioner. It's less expensive and is the product equivalent of a defibrillator for your strands.

3. To remove the glaze, use a clarifying shampoo.
Glazes aren't permanent, so it will fade and be even nonexistent within 3 weeks or so, but if you plum can't wait that long, I suggest you try Bumble and bumble Sunday Shampoo. Or, if you're on a budget, try Neutrogena Anti-Residue Formula Shampoo once or twice a week.

4. I would recommend you take a pre-natal vitamin daily (not more than that if you don't want to add constipation to your list of problems) to speed up hair growth. I usually buy the generic brand at Target, it works like a charm!

Friends, feel free to provide additional advice for my gal Lix in the comments section!

Lix, best wishes for swift hair growth! Do let us know what happens.