New Years Eve Makeup Tips

Ready for New Year's Eve??

Got the outfit, hairdo and makeup planned?

When that ball drops at midnight you want to be looking devastatingly fabulous, so here are some key tips to getting (and keeping!) the glam

Primer use a really good primer to create an even base for your foundation and to help your foundation both stay smooth and last.

Color Correct ~ don't just slap concealer under your eyes, wake them up with a color corrector to cancel out the dark rings and leave them looking revitalized and fresh.

Fluid Foundation ~ rather than a heavy, thick base, opt for a fresh, dewy complexion with a sheer, fluid foundation. Makeup Forever Face and Body is exceptional.

Limit Powder to the areas that need it. So long as you're not leaving your complexion looking gooey, keep a fresh face by not over powdering.

Power Brow ~ tell your story with a firm, sculpted brow. Start with a pencil to help define the shape and keep it crisp, then fill in the brow with a shadow. Set your brow and keep it in place with a brow wax.



Simple Eye ~ with a strong brow, keep your eye simple. Shimmer shadows in soft tones or a winged liner look super sharp.

Lashes or Bust ~ use tons of really good mascara to really build volume, then finish it all off with a cool strip lash. Find false lashes that angle outward rather than straight ahead to give you a sleeker, more alluring look.



Jewel Toned Lip ~ balance that firm brow out with the season's bold jewel toned lip. Line the lip to get a crisp shape, apply your lipstick with a brush to really firmly press it in to the lip, blot, and reapply.
Make your lip the focus of your look!

Winter Skin Rescue Product ~ Wild Rose Beauty Balm

The harsh effects of winter weather can really take their toll on your skin.
Whether you are braving the icy winds or extreme cold, or whether you are hunkering down in a warm house or by the fire, your skin can get stripped of its moisture and become anything from dehydrated to chapped and raw.

My favorite winter skin rescue is by Neals' Yard, and is a 99% organic treatment product called 

Wild Rose Beauty Balm.

This wonder product can be used in 3 different ways.

*You can gently exfoliate the skin with it by using it in conjunction with the muslin cloth that comes with it.

*You can use it as a hydration balancing mask by applying it to the skin and then using a the hot, wet muslin cloth to cover your face.

*You can use it as a nourishing rescue balm to super hydrate and return radiance to your complexion.

The ingredient list is super impressive:

Rosehip Oil which is one of the richest sources of the antioxidant Vitamin C, helping to firm, smooth, reduce wrinkle formation and keeping skin looking radiant and healthy

Shea Butter which is easily absorbed, deeply moisturizing, incredibly soothing and nourishing.

Jojoba Oil and Beeswax which combined make a conditioning, moisturizing mask, allowing essential oils to penetrate the skin.

Borage and Hemp Seed Oils which are rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids that nourish and sooth the skin.

Geranium and Rosemary Essential Oils to sooth, balance and decongest the skin.

Frankincense and Patchouli Essential Oils to sooth and tone the skin.

Palmarosa Oil which is an effective, naturally oil balancing and purifying oil

You can order Neal's Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm on amazon.com

How To Write A Thank You Card

I had a speaking engagement recently during which I alluded to the importance of writing thank you cards. 
A sea of confused faces looked back at me. 
I was somewhat shocked when I realized that people really didn't know what I was talking about. They told me that thank you's these days, if they happen at all, arrive via email, or even worse via text.

Thank You Cards From Made By Girl

Receiving a hand written card tells you that the person sending it took time out of their day to acknowledge you. 
Whether it was for a gift, an introduction in business, a lunch or a dinner party ~ whatever the event, your thoughts/kindness/generosity/hospitality/friendship were appreciated. It takes effort (albeit minimal effort) to choose a card, pick up a decent pen, and compose a few thoughts.
And those thoughts are really lovely to receive, and can make a great impression.

Thank you card from Made By Girl

In this particular case I was speaking to a group about putting your best foot forward in business, but being that its now the the day after Christmas, there is no more perfect time to talk about the art of showing your gratitude.

How To Write A Thank You Card

1.) Start by keeping a variety of thank you cards on hand.
Simple monogrammed cards are fabulous, as are regular thank you cards. Check out websites such as Made By Girl for stylish, modern cards

Note Card from Made By Girl

2.) Thank the person for the gift/introduction/event.

3.) *If its a gift, say something about how it will be used.
     *If it was a business introduction, connection, or some other form of business benefit to you, in a sentence or two acknowledge how or why you appreciate it, or how it may impact you.
    e.g. "I needed to make some connections in publishing and Bill is going to introduce me to X"
     *If it was an event, say something about how fun it was (even          if it wasn't), how much you liked the food/drinks (even if you        didn't), or what a great blend of guests they put together (even        if it was hellish). The point is they made effort, and then                included you, so show gratitude.

Thank You Card From Made By Girl

4.) Reference something about them or something happening in their life. This indicates that you pay attention to what they say, and that you are invested in them as a person. 
Perhaps more important than the actual thank you itself.

5.) Close with once again thanking them and indicating that you hope to  see them/talk to them again soon.

Be prompt sending your card, and know that receiving it may actually be the high point of someone's day.

Hollywood Heroine ~ Julianne Moore For Net A Porter

Check out the fabulous Julianne Moore in Net A Porter.

Photographed for the article by Paola Kudacki,

the redhead talks fashion, Hollywood and style.

Read the full article and shop the looks here

Makeup by Elaine Offers

Hair Serge Normant  

Hollywood Heroine

Glossybox For Net-A-Porter

You may still have time to grab this fabulous stocking stuffer

from Glossybox For Net A Porter

This is a great opportunity to try a mix of sample size and full size beauty essentials,

available in a Limited Edition Beauty Box exclusively made for Net-A-Porter.

The $40 Glossybox contains:

Natura Bisse Diamond White SPF50++ which brightens skin while protecting it from harmful UVA/UVB rays

Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray to soften, soothe and restore skin

Kevyn Aucoin Eye Shadow Duo No.206, a beautiful shimmering nude that compliments a sophisticated dark blue 

Ellis Faas Mascara E401 in black, to lengthen and separate lashes

Philip B Oud Royal Gravity Defying Gel 

RGB's Jojoba Cuticle Oil

Klorane's Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk (the ultimate secret weapon when it comes to creating hairdo's with texture and volume!)

Joya Ames Soeurs Roll On Parfum, an exotic blend of Frankincense, Myrrh, Orange Blossom and Jasmine that perfect for travel or to slip into your handbag.

How To Go From The Office To a Party In 6 Easy Steps

Its the time of the year when there are endless parties to go to, often directly from work.
But after a long day at the office, typically your makeup is looking anything but fabulous,
so here are 6 high speed tips to get you from office makeup to super glam in no time at all.

1. Complexion.

Instead of piling on powder and leaving your skin looking chalky, use either a duo fiber foundation brush or a clean makeup sponge
(or in a pinch clean fingers), and apply a little BB cream to the areas that need it. This will help to even out your skin tone and give your skin a little glow.

2. Under Eyes
Mix a color correcting concealer with a little luminizer and a dot of eye cream and refresh your under eye area. The eye cream will rehydrate tired under eyes, the luminizer will add a little glimmer, bouncing off light, and the concealer will even out the color.







3. Shimmer
Add a little life to your upper cheek bones with a shimmer product.
Avoid anything with large particles, as this can leave you looking glittery. I like Nars The Multiple or Smashbox Halo Highlighting Wand for a creamy sheen.



4. Sharpen Your Brows

Make a statement with a well defined brow. This helps lift tired eyes, at the same time as looking elegant and refined.
Trace a sharper line on the lower edge of the brow, then blend upward and out to soften.




5. Big Lashes
Open your eyes with tons of mascara. Curl your lashes beforehand if needed, and make sure your mascara is clump free.

6. Apply A Bold Lip

There's no time quite like the holiday season to wear a strong red lip.
Find your perfect red, line your lips to give them the perfect shape, and go for it!

Avoid
* too much powder ~ skin looks dead
* too much sparkle ~ it can look ridiculous when paired with a          couple of drinks
*going wild with bronzer ~ bronzer is designed to make you look sunkissed, not to make your skin look like brown glitter. Bad bronzing may just be the ultimate makeup faux pas.

Nomadic Huntress ~ Schon Magazine Winter 2013

I love this editorial in Germany's Schon magazine.

Photographer Robert John Kley

makes winter fashion look both exciting and fierce,

while makeup artist Homa Sofar creates the perfect balance, telling her story with an immaculate complexion, a bold brow and a strong lip.

Nomadic Huntress

Christmas Shopping Coffee Table Books

Looking for an elegant and fashionable

gift for Christmas?

Check out these fabulous coffee table books,

which make both a sartorial statement in your own 

living room, or a stylish gift where it counts.

No one shoots Dior quite like Demarchelier.

Dior Couture may just be the ultimate tome on the fashion house.

Valentino Themes And Variations is a celebration

of the designer's 45 year career.

Based in Rome, Valentino was one of only 2 couture houses outside of Paris to be recognized by the French government.

Chanel, The Vocabulary Of Style explores the key elements

that have defined perhaps the most influential fashion house of all time, photographed by the world's leading photographers.

Balenciaga by Pierre Arizzoli-Clemental was published to mark the inauguration

of the Balenciage museum in Getaria, Spain. Described by Coco Chanel as "the only true couturier among us" Balenciage made his name in the world of haute couture during the 1940s and 1950s. 

This book celebrates some of the most significant pieces from the museum's permanent collection.

Lanvin by Dean Merceron looks at the oldest surviving couture house,tracing a path from Jeanne Lanvin's 56 year career through today's Lanvin with Alber Elbaz at the helm.

Doutzen Kroes For Victoria's Secret

Super sexy dutch model Doutzen Kroes

stars in this new lingerie shoot 

for Victoria's Secret.

Just in case you need any ideas for holiday shopping,

and perfect motivation to put down that fork 

and hit the gym ...