Wiggle Those Popsicle Toes

Christmas toes.

Its time to go get the first of your yuletide pedicures, and in all honesty, regardless of what fashion dictates, I think the most festive (and downright sexiest) toe color is red.

Whether you're in boots and they're hidden, or whether they're proudly popping out of your metallic Stuart Weitzmans, holiday toes are perfect in red!


My favorite polish is always OPI. They have the best colors, they hold true and don't flake or peel.

Their new collection is called Espana, and true to its Spanish inspiration, the reds are fab!
My faves are Manicurist of Seville and Bullish on OPI.
Great fun reds.

So why not rock a little Gypsy King action and go take care of your toes.
Get festive but skip the tacky designs - plain red toes are where its at!

Check out this video of the OPI photo shoot. Its cool!

Valley Ho Ho Ho!

So this week Kelly, Will and I took our show on the road to the amazing Valley Ho for a lingerie shoot.

The Valley Ho is one of my absolute most favorite hotels. Its a super edgy, sexy, cool, art deco kind of place, deep in the heart of fabulous Scottsdale.

I'm often there getting people ready for events, and always plan on staying there, but haven't quite gotten around to it yet.

The rooms at the Valley Ho are so totally different from any other hotel I know.

Cool art work

Cool furnishings

Wild wallpapers

A fully stocked martini bar in every room - how genius is that???)

and my favorite thing - a free standing bath in the middle of the room, not stuck behind the prudish doors of a bathroom.

This giant round bath has lights in the bottom, and can fit the entire gang, if that's your thing. (not me...!)
We actually had the bath filled with bubbles for some of the shots. Can't show you them though...

How perfect for a big lingerie shoot???? Especially blasting Cake, Strangers In The Night? The models had the most killer custom made bullet bras. Madonna would have crawled through broken glass for them. Me? I just curled up and died from wanting one...

So here is Will, getting some hair done. The look was a hybrid of early 1960's Liz Taylor fused with a little burlesque goddess Dita Von Teese. In other words achingly hot!!!

Makeup!

Check out Kelly getting the shot,under the table, caught up in all the hair paraphernalia! Anything for the perfect shot...

Make up Artist food. The kit is never complete without almonds and protein bars.

oooohhhh!


I might have to take this last shot back down, but until then...


Happy Thanksgiving!!!

XO

C

Thanksgiving Makeup

So I've had so many people asking me about how to do their makeup for Thanksgiving with the fam, or more specifically with the fam-in-law.

The most interesting thread here being the difficult to outright evil mother-in-law.
So prevalent - who knew???

I've been coaching a couple of friends through this particular trauma, and my main words of advice are: she may have the venom, but you have youth on your side.
Want to deliver the ultimate smackdown? Look absolutely fabulous. Completely and utterly gorgeous. Ha! That's where its at!

Now in most cases when its Thanksgiving with the fam, you don't want to look overdone, or like you've gone to too much trouble. So the name of the game is effortless beauty. And here's how you're going to do it:

First up and always its the skin care equation. You need to keep your skin looking hydrated and glowing. I recommend steaming your skin morning of or night before, with a great serum on, like Rhonda Allison's amazing Pumpkin E Serum.
Make sure you are well exfoliated too. I love enzyme masks for gently removing dead skin and leaving your skin looking robust and gorgeous.
Tons of water (especially if you are traveling), vitamins, good food and oodles of moisturizer leading into the big day.

Jen knows a thing or two about great skin, and she's always toting the smart water, so you should too..

Can't live without it!

On the day, spritz some of MAC's amazing Fix+ with Rose Water onto your face. The rose water is so soothing and calming to the skin.





I absolutely swear by Makeup Forever's HD primer. It's going to provide the perfect base for your foundation to adhere to, and has stability like no other, which translates to your foundation not moving during the day.


Keep your foundation light and sheer. Remember, we want to look effortless and lovely, not overly made up.

Keep the colors you are using soft, beautiful, and skin tone friendly. A very soft glow of blush, just kissing your cheeks, a tiny dab of highlighter on the cheekbone.

I adore a smudge of burgundy on the eye - again a very soft touch. Try MAC eyeshadow in Sketch, (pictured) or Twinks (a little more shimmery).
If you have blue or green eyes these shadows will enhance them like no other!



Make sure your mascara is smooth and defined, and not clumpy. And if you're using eyeliner it MUST be soft and smudgy - no hard lines!!

A soft, lovely mouth is so alluring. Avoid the bolder colors - they are too hard to wear, and breakdown looking not so fab. Dark shades can make your lips look thin and angry, and our goal is soft and youthful...

So, exfoliate them, make sure your lips are smooth and hydrated, and try something soft and delicious like the Pink Ribbon Collection from Bobbi Brown. (these are part of a breast cancer research campaign, so you're saving the boobies while wowing the kisser).

Lastly, go easy on the alcohol. It'll dry your skin out, make it flushed, and will take away your strategic advantage.

And as a final note, no matter what nonsense she pulls, smile, be gracious and lovely, and don't let on that you're getting frazzled. Maintain grace and dignity & you will own the day!

Work it sistas!!!

xo

C

Eyeshadow Tips

This past weekend at the races when I was tearing around full speed in the golf cart (sayonara hairdo! - Trashed it!!!) my fabulous hostess told me she has no idea what to do with her eye makeup, and wasn't really sure where to start.

I hear that so often from readers, twitter peeps and facebookers. So while I was watching the cars rip through turn four and come tearing past me up the straightaway into the banks of turn one, in those moments where I could actually catch my breath, I gave it some thought.


And here are some tips I came up with to get you started:


1. Apply foundation to your eyelids (just a thin veil will do it)
Use your foundation to create a blank canvas to work from.


2. Powder the eyelids well. This is really crucial. Most women complain that their eye makeup moves during the day, and is either mostly gone, or sitting in creases by the afternoon.
My favorite powder is HD Powder by MakeUp Forever. It is super sheer and fine, sets the foundation and then disappears into the skin.
Use a triangle sponge, and make sure you get right up into the lashline to set and dry your foundation and concealer. Otherwise your eye liner isn't going to stay anywhere near where you want it!3. Use an eyeshadow primer. This is going to give the shadows something to bind with, and gives extra staying power. You only need a tiny amount, and it takes seconds to apply.




4. Choose shadow colors that work well together. For your basic eyeshadow wardrobe avoid big colors, go easy on greys, maybe stay away from blacks til you have your technique down.
Without falling down the rabbit hole of brown eyeshadows (yawn!) utilize colors that are skin tone friendly.

5. Use quality eyeshadow brushes! I, of course, recommend the CorinnaB line. The important thing here is to have brushes that enable you to control the placement of the color, and not have it flicking around all over the place.
Make sure you tap off the excess color before you start putting it on your lid.

6. Utilize a fan brush. Particles of shadow will drop under the eye area, and you need to be sweeping them away with a fan brush before they start soaking in and making your under eye look bruised & messy.




7. Blend, blend, blend! Take a clean brush and really blend through the colors you have applied. The graduation from one color to the next should be seamless. No one really wants to know how many shades you're using, regardless of the look you're going after.


8. Master your eyeliner! I often see a lovely eyemakeup ruined by hard black liner ringing the eyes. If your liner is too severe all anyone is going to see when they look at you is hard dark lines. If you are using a pencil, draw a softer line and then smudge it out with a taklon liner or a smudger brush dipped into a similar color powder eyeshadow to soften and seal it.


Taklon liner
Smudger


9. Change it up from day to night. Even if you just learn (and perfect!) two looks, get yourself a day look and an evening look. Sometimes evening can just be making your daytime look a little smokier, a little softer, a little more sultry.

10. Take control of your mascara! Curl your lashes, and then use a quality mascara that isn't old and dried out. Most mascaras need changing every 8 - 10 weeks, as they start to dry out. Don't pump your mascara wand - it puts air into the mascara and dries it out quickly.
If it's getting flakey or clumpy, its time to ace it out and get a new one.
My personal faves? Diorshow Blackout and Julie Hewett (it has rose oil in it, which is super conditioning. I wear it every day.)



For those of you who are new to the blog, there are tons of eye makeup tutorials on here. Just scroll through the archives.
There are also video tutorials on my youtube channel, CorinnaBMakeup, and loads more coming!

I hope this helps!

xo

C

(oh, and J? you are an absolute blast to hang out with! Y'all ROCK sista!!!)

Check Out My Concealed Weapon...

I get a steady stream of emails, tweets and messages from girlies all over the globe asking about how to conceal under eye circles, and what products I really use.

My absolute favorite of all is a pro product available to everyone through Sephora.

Its the unbelievably amazing MakeUp Forever HD Invisible Cover Concealer.

It looks like something James Bond should whip out of his inside pocket and talk to China on, but is actually technologically the most advanced, high performance concealer on the market.

The main issues women have with concealers are that the grey blue under eye color shows through, and that the texture of the product sits on the surface of the skin.

The HD Concealer color choices are based on color theory, as opposed to that maniac concept of "picking a color one shade lighter than your skin tone" nonsense.
Color theory in this case means that you are using a shade that cancels out the problem color. So they have these beautiful peachy-pinky shades that actually cancel out the blue/grey that we're all trying to hide in the first place.
(Going one shade lighter than your skin tone is still going to let the blue show through...)

There is all kinds of magic in the formulation too that works with product texture.

One of the main attributes of the MakeUp Forever HD line is that these products are designed to be virtually invisible to the human eye (and to HD cameras). You blend this product with your finger (patting it gently) until it disappears.

It has hydrating properties in it that stop it from drying out, cracking and creasing, which are the normal under eye concealer side effects. After 6 hours your under eye area will still be 74% more hydrated than you would be without the product on. This is important ladies, as the first signs of aging and tiredness show up under the eyes!

It also diffuses the light and instantly brightens the eye area.

It comes in 14 shades, because you and I dont fall into the light/medium/dark category. We are a tad more complex and spectacular than that!

(BTW, I got this pic from www.studiomariepierre.com)

It comes in a wind up pen form, with a cool silicone applicator. (I think its silicone anyway. Super soft & gentle)

Just figure its a revolutionary HD compatible concealer that brightens, camouflages, moisturizes, firms, stays invisible and helps reveal the Goddess that you really are.

Love that!

xo

C

Such Fragrant Loveliness

I so totally live by such a firm set of rules, but you know what they say about rules - they're meant to be broken!

At this time of year I only ever wear deep, sultry, sexy wintery fragrances. Never anything light and breezy and floral.
Actually I'm not really the breezy, floral type at any point in the year.

However.

Last week I was rifling through my makeup drawers looking for an elusive lip gloss, when I found one of those sample perfume vials they give you in the department stores.
I have no idea how old this one is, or how long it had been hiding there, but I put some on anyway, and was so completely surprised and, quite frankly, delighted!

Its a delicious little flowery blend from Gucci called, coincidentally, Flora.
And I love it!
The sample I have is only an eau de toilette, but it seems to linger all day, in a sweet and lovely way. It doesn't over power you when you put it on, and is very fresh and feminine.

I googled the bottle for you. Its kinda cool really don't you think?

Anyway, I just thought I'd clue you in on it.

Now I have to go deal with the rule I broke (a thousand times over, no less) about eating carbs & not working out.

It appears I have to do some dramatically significant exerciseto get ready for some upcoming on-camera pieces that I'll tell you about soon.
(Assuming this whole "trimming back down" thing happens.....)

xo!

C

P.S I only just found this centering the text button on the blog a few days ago. The novelty will wear off soon, and I'll be back to all the text on the left...

Friday Nite Happiness!

I ripped this one directly out of InStyle magazine - no creativity here on my part!
But doesn't it just look like a fabuloso evening???

They recommended starting with home made neopolitan pizzas. To accompany them a light refreshing drink called an Orange & Lillet Cocktail.

So here we go:

Orange & Lillet Cocktail


2 cups chilled white Lillet
2 cups chilled vodka (I recommend Grey Goose)
1 cup orange liqueur
1 cup chilled orange juice (not pulpy kind)
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 bottle chilled Prosecco
orange slices for garnish

In a large pitcher or carafe combine Lillet, vodka. liqueur, and orange and lemon juices.
Chill til ready to serve
Before serving add Prosecco

Pour into ice filled glasses & garnish with orange slices.







Lillet is an aperatif from Bordeaux made of 85% wine and 15% oranges.

Update Your Look For November

Its easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to your look.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, what better time to infuse a little something new into your makeup routine?

So lets check out a couple of cool tips for November.

First up, add a little berry toned eyeshadow.
I have been using and loving to pieces the Reign Collection from Smashbox.


The soft velvety pink and the deep berry of the Majesty palette are perfect tones for most skins. They add a warmth and dimension to the eye, and if you have blue or green eyes, you will really see that color come to life and look super vibrant!




Another great way to soften up the eye is to step away from the traditional liner concept, and do a soft earthy smudge instead.




Using the Monarchy palette from Smashbox and a smudger brush like the CorinnaB smudger, get a small amount of the center circle of the dark brown, work it into the back of your hand, or a kleenex, then smudge through the lash lines. This will give you a much softer look.

Lastly, go for a softer brow. Instead of the harsher, more defined arch to the brow, let your eyebrow grow in a little, and have a slightly more natural look.

I'm going to put last week's video back up so you can get another look at how to pull this one off.







Have a gorgeous day!

xo

C

Bringing Me Joy In November

Do you ever just stop and think about what brings you true joy?
What makes you smile, warms your heart or just makes you feel really, really good when you look at it?

I decided to invite you to my November, with a few things that truly bring me joy this month...

Starbucks Non Fat Cinnamon Dolce Latte.
Welcome back!
I love you in November...

Rhonda Allison Grape Seed Oil.
Every night I use this to keep my skin divinely hydrated.
The fountain of youth in a pump pack bottle.
Can't live without it!

My new Drag Strip Girl hoodie will be with me at every shoot.
I so love their clothes - cool designer cuts plus I love the logo. Even if you're not a race fan, their shirts and hoodies are edgy and cool.
There's only a limited number of these hoodies, so get in quick! www.DragStripGirlDesigns.com

I am obsessed with Julie Hewett Lip Lush in Tish.
Worn alone, over Bibo (pictured) or over any other lip color it gives the perfect golden sheen.
Golden lip gloss? Endless hours of happiness!

November sunsets over my lake are so beautiful! They fly by me too quickly. They begin by turning the palm trees gold and green

They wait a mere moment...

then plunge the mountains into a crazy cool, fabulous purple that I wish I could breathe in...
And then it's night.

Chris Cornell's acoustic cover of Led Zeppelin's Thank You.
I am playing it over and over.
And I give thanks.

Red things bring me November joy.
A handbag of red roses...

Soulful deep red candles burn throughout my home.
Tubereuse, such a deliciously deep, heady, sensual scent

All I want for Christmas, ALL I want, is this cat mask from Agent Provocateur.
What a life I could lead in that mask...

OK, so I want the boots too. I want them so bad it hurts!
And I don't want to wait for Christmas.
I want them in November...




And there are a million joyful secrets in my soul
for which
this lovely November
I give thanks


XO

C

Monday Foot Love.

Dear Christian,
Honestly there are no words spectacular enough to describe how just looking at these boots makes me feel.
I would wear these everywhere.
I love you.

Love from C

Thank you Michael Kors.
I am sooo feeling it!
This sandal is perfection.
With a lean pencil skirt.
With a killer cool jean.
With half the fun dresses in my closet.
Were you thinking of me when you created this gorgeousness?
Regardless, I thank you.

xo

C

The One And Only Posh

How crazy cool would it be to be Vicky B???

I was looking back through the Emporio Armani campaign from the summer, and started wondering what it must be like, to be Victoria Beckham.

If I were Posh, I too would spend my days leaning against walls in sleek undies, with this kind of killer hair and makeup.

So fierce and so fabulous!!!

Is she just hot or what???

I'm thinking I might start doing this every morning too...

Posh not only has the wardrobe to die for, neverending clothes and shoes and bags, constant travels, the luxe life, but she also gets to completely stretch the boundaries of extreme fabulous with this dude, David Beckham.

I wonder if their Sunday mornings look like this?

I'm thinking that rope wouldn't be too comfy to lounge around on...

Everyone I know who knows Victoria B says that shes hilarious and fun and awesome and cool.


And when she feels crappy and tired or if she's having a bad day, she still goes home to this:

The David.

Life can't be too bad for Vicky B, always Posh Spice to me.

Love her.

xo

C