Today's Makeup Look 35 - "the Year of the Cat"

Inspired by one of the big trends this year: fully lined feline eyes.
NARS Via Appia Larger than Life long wear precision eyeliner

inspiration - article and video:
http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/year-of-the-cat/

... Joan made me do it.

Today's Makeup Look 28: Neutrals p.88-89 of Makeup Your Mind

First applied concealer under eyes, next to nose, and on blemishes using Custard and Vanilla.  Then added the NARS smudgeproof eyeshadow base on eyelids.  Used my fingers to tap the Cannes multiple (metallic mauve) pigment along and under cheek bone and on apples of cheeks.  Using a powder brush, applied NARS pressed powder in Eden all over face, creating a softening effect of naturally rosy cheeks.  Put Lola Lola shadow (frosted brown) on eyelids and around eye.  Placed the beige pink matte colour of All About eye under eyebrow and blended towards crease as described.  Added a very light amount of Blondie (matte light taupe) above crease and at inner corner of eye.  Used Blondie to fill in eyebrows.  Put on lots of coats of the NARS Larger Than Life Volumizing mascara.  Lastly, substituted the described lipsticks and gloss for the Velvet Matte lip pencil in Sex Machine.

... Joan made me do it.

Joan Crawford on Practising Makeup p.217

"This [makeup program] reads like a long, painstaking process, but after practice a complete makeup job can be done in just minutes."
Joan Crawford - My Way of Life


Practise is essential to becoming good at all things: Using cooking books that appeal to you in philosophy is a great way to become fabulous at cooking. Likewise, imitating or using inspiration from the Makeup Your Mind book is a great way to become fabulous at using makeup.
Below is one of 12 looks posted from François Nars' 2nd Makeup Your Mind book to be released April 19th.


"Makeup is an accessory to fashion." François Nars, 2011

... Joan made me do it.

Makeup Your Mind - Express Yourself

Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself is the sequel to François Nars' first makeup how-to book released in 2001.  The new book is described as "like a cookbook: I'm [François] sharing how a recipe is made." Unlike the earlier book, this one will feature 60 non-models.  It's available now on Amazon for a great price!

Check out the May issue of MarieClaire for a sneak peak of the Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself book, including 2 detailed looks.

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.

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