Tonight's Makeup Look 1

To create a makeup base see my earlier post on: 'Fabulous Skin'


NARS Mambo (chocolate brown) eyeliner pencil to create eyeshadow base
NARS Caravaggio (azaela pink and iridescent violet) eyeshadow on lids and under eye
NARS Pandora  (black) eyeshadow at base of eyelashes
NARS Sex Machine Velvet Matte (pink mauve) lip pencil
NARS Volumizing Larger Than Life mascara - lots
NARS Malibu (brown pink) multiple on cheeks and lips
NARS Deep Throat (peachy pink) blush on apples of cheek 
colourless lip balm or vaseline pressed lightly on lips

set with NARS Eden pressed powder

... Joan made me do it.

NARS and Animal Testing: "DOES NOT AND NEVER HAS...OF ANY KIND"

"I mistrust people who don't like animals or understand them ... Any wise little cat or dog knows at glance whether your charm is real or manufactured for the occasion - and treats you accordingly."
Joan Crawford - My Way of Life


Joan Crawford is often seen in photographs with her beloved dogs, and likewise François Nars, founder of NARS Cosmetics, has been photographed with his French bulldog, Marcel Nars.  Recently Marcel was the face of the NARS Pro-Prime advertising campaign and even hosted a Q&A on the NARS Cosmetics facebook group!

For those who like to support cosmetic companies that do not conduct animal testing you will be please to know that NARS Cosmetics does not, and has not ever, conducted animal testing.

On the NARS website it is stated under the NARS Customer Care section:
NARS and Animal Testing:
NARS Cosmetics does not and never has conducted any animal testing of any kind. Thank you.

Best Roasted Potatoes p.212 of Happy Days with the Naked Chef

This is so easy and tastes so so good.  Perfect roasted potatoes every time!
The trick is to boil the potatoes first.  The recipe calls for small potatoes but I have instead cut down full-size potatoes after boiling too.  Once the potatoes are soft (and cut down to size if needed) I toss them into a baking pan, pour some oil, add coarse sea salt, lots of rosemary leaves, and then mix it up.  I toss the pan in the oven with whatever I'm already cooking in there <30 minutes before I expect it to be done.  Of course this timing is pretty flexible (20 minutes is also fine).

... Joan made me do it.

Modified Chicken in Milk Recipe p.183 of Happy Days with the Naked Chef

I've made this roast chicken recipe before, true to the directions, and it smells and tastes awesome.  This evening instead of using a whole chicken I took a club pack of 5 chicken breasts and fried them together in the frying pan with butter, oil, salt & pepper.  Meanwhile I tossed into a ceramic stove-to-table baking pot: the milk, 10 unpealed garlic cloves, sage, cinnamon stick, and zested the lemons; adding the zest to the pot.  The oven at this time reached temperature and the chicken was golden, so i tossed them into the pot, covered, and baked for 1 hour; basting when I thought of it (once).  While the chicken cooked I prepared spinach.  This recipe tastes so well with roasted potatoes too.  Quick, easy, successful when modified :-)
Tomorrow I'll pack the chicken breast with rice for lunches.

... Joan made me do it.

Today's Makeup Look 6

NARS Lola Lola (neutral frosted brown) eyeshadow on lids and under eye
NARS All About Eve  (neutral pink beige) shadow to blend in crease
NARS Mambo (chocolate brown) eyeliner pencil
NARS Hopi (honey beige) Velvet Gloss lip pencil
NARS Penny Lane (nude pink) blush
NARS Lulu (eggplant) eyeshadow at base of eyelashes
NARS Volumizing Larger Than Life mascara

set with NARS Eden pressed powder

... Joan made me do it.

Cleaning Makeup Brushes

It's very important to keep makeup brushes clean.  The consequences of not looking after your makeup brushes are costly: destroying your brushes, causing eye infections, causing skin breakouts, and contributing to dirty makeup that is hazardous and needs to be replaced.    By keeping your makeup tools clean your makeup will stay clean; and you can safely keep and use the products longer.

I clean my brushes at least once a week and always use them on clean skin.

Cleaning makeup brushes is quite easy.  You can use your everyday hair shampoo and conditioner to wash the brushes which is arguably a better than using a commercial makeup brush cleaner that may be an irritant to your skin and may contain alcohol which will dry out your brushes.

How to quickly clean your makeup brushes:

1. Lay a clean towel down on a flat surface.
2. Put a glob of shampoo in one hand.
3. With the other hand grab each makeup brush one at a time and dip into a bit of the shampoo and lay them in a line beside the sink.
4. Then turn the tap on low at a luke warm-cool temperature.
5. Use the hand that previously had shampoo in it as a wash puddle: cup water in the palm and gently swirl the soapy makeup brushes in it to clean, rinse under the water, swirl in palm, and rinse until all the soap is out of the brush.  Squeeze the water out of the brush, shape the brush bristles and then lay the makeup brush flat on the towel.  Repeat for each makeup brush.

Important:
      6.  Be careful to keep the water and soap on only the hair and or synthetic bristles of the makeup brush and do not soak the wood handles or you will ruin your makeup brushes.
      7.  Lay your makeup brushes flat to dry in order to keep the wood handles dry and maintain the shape of your makeup brushes.

It works best for me to clean my brushes after washing all my makeup off (NARS Cleansing Oil Review) and before going to sleep so that they are ready in the morning.  I clean my makeup brushes at least once a week but I have read that it is advised to wash your makeup brushes once every 2-3 days.

For more information about makeup brushes see my earlier blog on Makeup Supplies.

... Joan made me do it.

The Original 12 NARS Lipsticks

Curious as to what were the "perfectly edited" twelve lipsticks that François Nars first marketed to Barney's in 1994?
I was. :-)

Original 12 NARS Cosmetics lipsticks:

1. Honolulu Honey - flesh toned beige
2. Blonde Venus - cool natural beige
3. Funny Face - fuschia
4. Heatwave - orange red
5. Scarlet Empress - jewel toned blue-red
6. Trans Siberian - ruby rose
7. Morocco - warm cinnamon with a touch of pink
8. Casablanca - full-bodied coral
9. Red Lizard - full powered red
10. Shanghai Express - warm brick red
11. Jungle Red - bright red
12. Transeurope Express - deep rose

... Joan made me do it.

"Makeup Artists Changing the Face of Fashion Week - CNBC"

I really enjoyed this CNBC article on the status of makeup during New York fashion week.

Some quotes:

"A common person can look like a movie star or runway model. There's no more ivory tower, the makeup artist has helped bring down that wall." Beauty Analyst Karen Grant

"Makeup is an accessory to fashion," said François Nars, makeup artist and founder of Nars Cosmetics. "You buy a bag, you buy shoes, you put on eyeliner, you buy a lipstick, makeup compliments the clothes." François Nars, 2011

http://www.cnbc.com/id/41494989

Cosmetics and Allergies

Re: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com website earlier blogged about.

I want to point out a few observations that I made and to give NARS kudos for being so upfront about their ingredients.

Just Sayin':

Estee Lauder owns/manufactures the following brands: 

Aramis, Aveda, Beautiful, Bobbi Brown, Bumble and Bumble, Clinique, Creme de la Mer, Donna Karan,Estée Lauder, Go Bronze, Idealist Daily, Jo Malone, La Mer, MAC, Michael Kors, Origins, Prescriptives, Rodan and Fields, Tommy Hilfiger, Tuscany, White Linen, YOUTH DEW, MACpro

Of all of those brands only 124 products are listed and they have a whopping 714 ingredients spectrum.  Only a measly 2 products have ingredients disclosed for MAC and none are disclosed for MACpro.  Not helpful and makes me curious as to what is being hidden.

NARS Cosmetics is owned by Shiseido. However François Nars is the founder and the ever-present creative director.

Looking at only NARS-specific products there are 187 products listed including the new Velvet Matte lip pencils and together the broad spectrum of NARS skin care and NARS makeup products contain no more than 236 ingredients; fully disclosed.

Joan Crawford on Makeup p. 215

"Makeup should be just a frame for the eyes.  When you lay on all the bright-colored goop and slather white under the brows the eyes themselves are lost in camouflage.  Just accent whatever God has given you with a subtle hand."  Joan Crawford - My Way of Life


Today's Makeup Look  5 (needs to last a good 14 hours):
(5 minutes)

face:

1. Exfoliate
2. Cleanse
3. Moisturize
4. NARS Makeup Primer
5. NARS Pro-Prime eyeshadow base
6. NARS Concealer (applied first to the hand and then picked up with my 242 brush)
7. NARS Sheer Glow (poured into the hand and then applied to the centre of the face, blending outward)
8. NARS Pressed Powder
9. follow Joan's advice accenting with a subtle hand; lots of NARS Larger Then Life mascara on upper lashes

... Joan made me do it.

Today's Makeup Look 4

NARS Malibu (brown pink) multiple on eyes and cheeks
NARS Laguna (brown gold) bronzer
NARS Hopi Velvet Gloss (honey beige) lip pencil
NARS Eyeliner stylo (black) to define top of eye along eye lashes, then a bit of a smudged black eyeliner pencil, overtop using a domed brush pressed on NARS Underworld 2 (slate blue) to create a thick smudged line along top.
NARS Larger Than Life Volumizing mascara


wore my glasses today too :-)

... Joan made me do it.

Cosmetics and Allergies

As earlier blogged I have allergies to a lot of cosmetics.  That's part of the reason all of my makeup is NARS and I am not interested in exploring outside the brand.

Before I continue I would like to preface that by far NARS has been the most hypo-allergenic experience I have had in any makeup line (others tried include: Clinique, MAC, Benefit, Cargo, Lancome, ...).

I have the most difficulty with creamy products and never am able to wear lipstick.  So, I was surprised when I was reaction-free with NARS Velvet Matte Lip pencils and the NARS Multiples.

I do have a strong makeup allergy against NARS lip lacquers (Chelsea Girls is so beautiful but I just can't wear it).
And after some testing I am certain that I am mildly allergic to their lip glosses (Belize is so gorgeous I will probably still wear it and take an anti-histamine [I'm sure only a true broad-spectrum allergy sufferer would understand]).
Putting it all together with some research I have learnt that the NARS lip lacquers and lip glosses contain lanolin oil (sheep) and I am allergic to lanolin :-(

The upside for those with lanolin allergies try:
NARS Multiples, and NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils.

Oh. One more thing.  I am allergic to almost all sunscreens, so no products containing SPFs will be in this blog :-)

For more information on ingredients in your makeup check out: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

Beautiful Blush

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Today's Makeup Look 3

NARS Penny Lane (nude pink) on cheeks
NARS Malibu (brown pink) multiple on eyes, cheeks, lips
NARS Belize (mauve pink) lipgloss
NARS Volumizing mascara

... Joan made me do it.

Great Music: Tennis - Cape Dory, Marathon

Really enjoying Tennis - Cape Dory right now.
This album was created by a husband and wife team while on a 6 month sailing trip on the Eastern seaboard.  A fantastic package of music.

Chilli con Carne p.31 of Happy Days with the Naked Chef

This recipe has become a Winter staple for me and my husband.  I usually make it on Sundays for a late lunch but it tastes so much better Monday as a packed lunch :-)  (I know it makes my husband happy and feel cared for to have a hearty hot lunch made by me for him to enjoy while at work; which is important.)

Jamie recommends serving it with crusty bread, tossed salad and guacamole.  When available I mash up some avocado to serve along-side; since Guacamole is not only tasty but an excellent choice for adding an enriched vitamin source for the body and skin.

The recipe itself is super easy and quick to prepare.  I would describe it as a tomatoe-based chilli; which I prefer to chillies of the "beany-meaty sludge" category.  I heat my high-sided frying pan on low heat, while chopping the 2 onions and garlic.  Add the oil, heat.  Turn the oven on to pre-heat at 300F . Toss into the pan the onions & garlic; add the cumin and chilli powder.  And once I add the beef to the pan; it's just a matter of browning it up; adding the other ingredients as directed.  Tossing it in the oven covered for 1 hour.  Pulling it out to add the drained and rinsed beans.  Cooking for 30 minutes longer and it's done.  Super-easy, nutritious comfort food.  One of the key ingredients that melds the flavours together is the hand-pasted sun-dried tomatoes in oil; I would try adding this to an already loved chilli recipe that you may have.

... Joan made me do it.

NARS Laguna - the perfect bronzing powder

NARS Laguna Bronzing powder was recommended to me around the Laguna Beach and beginning of the Hills days and the reign of Lauren Conrad on popular culture.  It's really perfect for "warming up" my complexion all year round.
I wear it lightly in the number 3 pattern as mentioned in both professional makeup videos below (earlier blogged) which I describe as: "Perfect Glowing Skin" and "Easy Date Night Look".  In the second video the makeup artist mentions to not start 'at the top of the 3' but rather to deposit most of the powder along the cheek; so begin there.  Sometimes knowing what not to do makes a world of difference.

... Joan made me do it.

Fabulous Skin Healing Product

I have intolerant and allergic skin, so finding something that "works" and doesn't aggravate the issue has been a lifetime work in progress.

Part of living fabulous is having great support which includes a great hair stylists.  After years of searching for a great salon I found WorldSalon.  Here my stylists recommended worldPRODUCT for my hair and as a promotion he suggested worldBELIEVE as an everything for everyone cure all.  I thought it was strange to get a skin healing balm at the hair salon, but was so happy with finally having a great hair cut that I just rolled with it.

worldBELIEVE is amazing: heals red dry skin, blemishes, scratches everything it touches turns lovely :-)

I have an inkling that the secret is the first ingredient: "sesame oil" - "the Queen of all oils" (anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, high in vitamin E).

Creating a Makeup Base - Fabulous Skin

Creating a polished look.

1. Start with clean skin.
2. Moisturize.
3. Put a modest amount of NARS Makeup Primer in palm and spread and press into face with fingers tips.
4. Put a small amount of NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof eyeshadow base on palm and spread gently on eye lid up to brow and around the eye.
5. Use NARS concealer (I use Custard) under the the eye lightly and as needed.

In my research I have learnt that NARS creamy face products work best (and may be designed for) when warmed with one's hands or fingers.  I find that manual/mechanical blending of concealer and foundation is less so required and the products looks most beautiful and natural when warmed by ones fingertips.  For best results I put the concealer on the side of my hand, like in the video below, and grab the now warmed concealer with a flat concealer brush to place place it flawlessly in large flat spots such as under the eyes.

You can choose to stop there (make sure to set the concealer by using face powder if you do).  But to complete the 'perfect canvas' look:

• Pour or pump NARS Sheer Glow foundation (I use Deauville) on palm and spread from centre of face outward.
• Use NARS Pressed Powder (I use Eden) and polish.

I know that this model has flawless skin; but the advice and technique are Fabulous! :

... Joan made me do it.

Joan Crawford on Eye-Brows p. 216

"Brows frame the eyes.  Encourage them, for they're a great beauty asset."
Joan Crawford - My Way of Life


Learning brow shaping from a master in this video.  It is a variation on classic advice on how to groom fabulous eye-brows:

... Joan made me do it.

New Purchase from the 'it's all about the pretty' Valentine's Day Beauty Event

NARS Penny Lane - a nice warm glow; I hear there's nothing like it !
NARS Kuala Lumpur - really pretty; makes green eyes glow :-)

NARS Gipsy - supposedly a great entry-level red lipstick (read in Italian VOGUE)

... Joan made me do it.

Today's Makeup Look 2

NARS Malibu (pink brown) Multiple on eyes, cheeks, and lips
NARS Mambo (chocolate brown) Eye Liner Pencil
NARS New York (plum brown)
NARS Himalayas (opalescent white)
NARS Pandora (black) at base of lashes
NARS Deep Throat (peach pink)
Lip balm; or NARS Belize (pink mauve) lip gloss
NARS Volumizing mascara

This look was gifted to me by a makeup artist/stylist super star; which I will discuss again on a later blog :-)
I felt so lucky that day!!

... Joan made me do it.

Today's Makeup Look 1

NARS Sugarland 1 (glimmering apricot) on eye lids
NARS Deep Throat (peach pink) blush on apples of cheek dusted over NARS Malibu (brown pink) Multiple on cheek and lips
NARS Gothika (berry) lipgloss
NARS Pandora (black) shadow at base of lashes
NARS Volumizing Mascara

... Joan made me do it.

NARS Makeup Cleansing Oil - Review

Gentle and Effective:  NARS Cleansing Oil

Quick Take: silky

Soothing treatment. The product recommends 3 pumps (I use one; at most 2 ... on dry skin). The cleansing oil easily dissolves all make-up with gentle massage. Then I wash off the cleansing oil with warm water and afterwards my tried and true Ali-friendly face wash.  I got this makeup remover for Christmas and use it everyday. For this cold, dry winter it's a skin calming product. .... I have extremely allergic skin. Gentle & Fragrance-free :-)

(... would give 5 stars if I didn't have to wash it off and it would just wipe off.)

... Joan made me do it.

NARS Trouble Maker Eye Set - Review

Included in the NARS Trouble Maker eye set:

1. Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara in Black
2. Eyeliner Stylo in Shiny Black
3. Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
4. Travel-size Eye Makeup Remover

My Sephora "beauty insider" report:

Great value for Essential Products

Quick Take: good value

A fantastic mascara: a couple sweeps goes a long way, the mascara DOES NOT dry dull, no clumping, DOES NOT dry-out lashes.
Eye remover: works really well and is soothing.
Shadow base: this is AMAZING! I can't believe I've even attempted to work without it. Eye make-up really stays put and a little bit of product goes a long way! All my careful work in the early AM lasts into the night. So it gets me more value out of ALL my eye make-up!! A must must must!!!
Liquid Eyeliner: i haven't tried any eyeliner look but look forward to playing as it came in the set! Brush point is elegant - lots of control and clean/smooth flow of product

... Joan made me do it.

Supplies: MakeUp Brushes

I think buying cheap makeup brushes is a waste.  They are something that you will re-use and can last a lifetime if cared for properly (how to: Cleaning Makeup Brushes blog).  And the proper tool in any job can make a world of difference.
I started my makeup brush collection with a set of 5 short-handled brushes from MAC that came with a nice case for storage and travel.  MAC Cosmetics generally releases several brush sets once year with limited quantities for ~$55 CAD (very reasonable given the cost of individual brushes).  And a really nice way to get some pretty makeup tools to play with.

My first MAC Short-handled Travel Makeup Brush Set (baby blue):

1. 242 SE (concealer or creamy product brush),
2. 224 SE (blending brush)
3. 316 SE (316 lip brush)
4. ~ 208 angled brow brush
5. 129 SE (powder/blush brush)

MAC Single Makeup Brush purchases and deemed essentials:

1. 239 eye shader brush
2. 219 eye pencil brush (small domed brush; I wonder how this compares to the NARS #14 brush)
3. 212 flat definer brush (I wonder how this compares to the NARS Push Eyeliner brush .. on my want but don't need list)
4. 217 (eye blending)
5. 187 (for light-weight powder application ....not really an essential, but a good idea at the time - purchased on a trip to New York City)

... I found myself needing a second domed brush for a second lighter colour some mornings when cleaning the brush in the moment would not work...
So, I waited for the MAC travel brush sets to come out and picked up a travel bag with a domed brush and some other great tools:

1. 187 SE (light application powder brush)
2. 168 SE (large angled contour brush - love this!)
3. 252 SE (large shader brush)
4. 219 SE (small domed brush)
5. 209 SE (eyeliner brush)

If I could do it again I would get only these makeup brushes:

2 x small domes brushes (consider NARS #14 small domed eye brush)

1 x angled eyebrow brush

1 x standard blush brush

1 x powder brush (I don't have one ... maybe NARS Botan brush or Bronzing brush - I will have to inquire further  .... update I got the NARS Yachiyo brush)

1 x NARS Push Eyeliner brush

1 x shader brush (239)

1 x eye-blending brush (217)

So, 8 makeup brushes I think is absolutely needed ... I have 15; I guess that's not so bad ... we learn through mistakes and "waste", which in essence is not a waste because something is learnt :-)

Joan Crawford on Blush p. 214

"I like a light brownish shade.  It matches my natural complexion and I brush it under my cheekbones to accent my bone structure.  But a very fair skin could use a bluish pink blusher, and ... an olive skin should have a warm brown one."

Joan Crawford - My Way of Life

A video on learning Blush Application from a Master:

... not into false eyelashes used in the above-video; but a very nice date look - especially with Valentine's Day fast approaching!  In the Summer this concealer-only look may work well ... especially with all the online rumours of tinted moisturizer/ no-foundation looks being promoted.

... Joan made me do it.

Exfoliation - Home Brew

Tuesday evening.

Online Recipe:

2tsp ground oatmeal (used a mortar and pestle)
1 tsp baking soda

plus warm water and gentle circle motions with paste on the face.

... Joan made me do it.

Looking Fabulous

I never spent the time to play with makeup and beauty regimes.  Sure I've bought eyeshadows and put them on, but I've never spent the time to learn how to be fabulous at it.  I guess I thought for those important life moments I could get someone else to help me look my best; but more recently I think this is something important one should learn for themselves.  No one else will ever care as much about your face as you.

To be fabulous and treat yourself fabulous you need to invest the time to learn.
I believe everyone if they have the desire and a decent work ethic can learn any skill.  In other words, how can anyone believe that they "just don't have the talent/skill" and therefore "can't"?  The fact is all skills develop from interest and I'm interested in treating myself well and taking the time to care for myself by investing in my own beauty.  Superficial criticism aside, there are very few if anyone who honestly does not want to be beautiful.

... Joan made me do it.

Eating Fabulous

I think it's important to eat well.  For health. For pleasure. For shared experiences.  Preparing a lovely meal and sharing it with those we love and care for is really a lovely thing.
I want to be fabulous at cooking dinners.
To start somewhere: I really like Jamie Oliver's cooking style.  The Naked Chef.  Naked Cooking.  So, after a few random "google searches for blah blah recipes by Jamie Oliver" over the last 5 years, I decided to buy Jamie Oliver's "Happy Days".  ... specific dinner blogs to follow :-)

... Joan made me do it.