FALL'S HOTTEST LIP COLOR!!!

Hold on to your seats.... the hottest lip color right now is brown, yes BROWN!

I've been using it on photoshoots and myself as well.  It goes with everything, even purple hair, and looks flattering and fresh.

Here are my faves:

RMSBeauty in Moment

Gisele loves this color because it counters the natural redness in her lips, that's what her makeup artist and founder of RMS Beauty, Rose-Marie Swift, told me.  Available at ABC Home

Revlon's Colorburst Lacquer Balm in Ingenue

Nina Van Bree w/Women

Amanda Norgaard w/IMG Models

I used Revlon Ingenue on these models and I think it's better and fresher than nude.  Nude was so two years ago!

Are you convinced the hottest color is brown?  I hope so!!!

Purple is the New Black

I have been obsessed with purple lately - specifically shades of lilac.

Like this lip and cheek stain combo from Benefit.  It's the perfect summer shade and looks great with a tan.

My favorite nail polish is Chanel's Sweet Lilac.

Enjoy the last month of summer by drinking the PURPLE KOOL-AID like me.  

Okay, and I recently had my hair dyed a shade of grayish purple - thanks Michael M @Veer & Wander Salon
And my hair cut by Andre Gunn @Brydges MacKinney 
xoxoxo

photo by Dennis Sanner

J MENDEL Backstage Spring '13

For J Mendel Gucci's makeup was a lightly smokey eye with a hint of lip color.  She applied a medium shade of brown on the crease of the lid and blended outward using Revlon Colorstay Eye Shadow Quad 500 Addictive Intoxiquant.

One of the most important features in Gucci's makeup is to make the skin look flawless.  To achieve this she starts with  Dr Hauschka's Rose Day Cream.

Addictive Intoxiquant Eye Shadow

Gucci doing demo for her team

J Mendel looks on

finished makeup

Lindsey Wixen

Lindsey goofing off

The hair was designed by Orlando Pita.  I watched his team make waves using a flat iron.

Models lining up

Finished hair

Oscar de la Renta Spring '13 Backstage

The hair and makeup for Oscar was gorgeous!

Orlando Pita added bright colored extensions to a combo french twist/beehive for an edgy modern look.

Gucci Westman's makeup was minimal with a magenta lip stain and finished brows as the prominent features.  The result was ladies who lunch with an edge.

It was pretty crowded backstage and the hair took quite a long time to complete.

Rag & Bone Backstage Spring 2013

At Rag & Bone Gucci Westman designed a clean fresh look perfect for Spring.

The face had a fresh look with the brows being the prominent feature.  On the eyes she put a brown matte shadow in the crease and blended outward.  The cheeks had a well blended creme blush in 2 shades of brown with a small dab of pink on the apples (not too high).  On the lips she used a warm brown color with a little gloss for a sexy finish.

My makeup station.

Guido designed the hair.  He slicked the hair off the face and kept it long and flowing in the back, using extensions on girls who needed more length.

The show was packed as usual.

Perfect Lip Palette

This week I will be heading to NYC to assist Gucci Westman at the shows:

Rag + Bone
Oscar de la Renta
J Mendel

Guiletto

So stay tuned for lots of backstage photos and makeup looks for Spring '13

Meanwhile.... here is a product I can't live without.  It's Kevin Aucoin's lip palette.  I've used it on so many shoots since I bought in last year at Bergdorfs.  It has the brights you need in pink and red and a neutralizing nude to mix the perfect shade.

I used it on this model for an Ebay shoot.

Photo by Michael Waring

Going for Gold

I worked with three Olympic athletes for the August issue of Glamour Magazine:  Natalie Coughlin, Khatuna Lorig, and McKayla Maroney.

The theme was gold and I used different shades to complement the clothes and complexion of each athlete.

Photographer:  Ture Lillegraven
Editor:  Rachel Wang
Hair:  Anthony Cristiano
Makeup:  Racine Christensen

Makeup I used:  Makeup Forever Aqua Creme & waterproof Aqua Liner, Revlon Highlighting stick in Golden/Dore, Shu Uemura lipstick in Gold #035, MAC lipstick in Bronze Shimmer, pots are all MAC pigments.

Paris Beauty Trends

Here are some of my favorite looks from the Paris shows.

At Dior Pat McGrath designed a minimal polished look with nicely groomed eyebrows, mascara on upper & lower lashes, and shadow to emphasize the crease in the eyelid.

Isabel Marant - the queen of cool had very natural looking makeup with lightly textured hair.  Makeup artist Karem Herman created a California sun kissed glow using lots of bronzer and a little color on the lips.



Jean Paul Gaultier's hair  by Guido Palau had a "graffiti stripe" with long extensions.  The makeup by Stephane Marais has a "fucked up beauty" quality created with liquid eyeliner and greasepaint.

For Stella McCartney Pat McGrath used a brilliant cobalt blue mascara.

At Givenchy Pat McGrath created a Goth look by using burgundy around the the eyes and a deep mulberry lipstick.

Now is the time to add some colored mascara to your own makeup bag.  A little while ago I bought Benefit's Bad Gal in Plum and Buxom's Blue Noir.