Best & Worst Golden Globes Fashions

Last night the Golden Globes was the usual self-congratulatory marathon of Hollywood's who's who. There were funny moments, well deserved wins, and the usual "What?!?!"s. But most of all-- there was the fashion. In the dull, cold months of winter, I can look forward to awards shows if only for the fun of judging the styling of the female celebrities on the red carpet. Shallow? Yes. Fun? Yes. Here are my picks for the best and worst of 2014.

BEST:

6. Helen Mirren
Here is how to do "Woman of a Certain Age" correctly. She is wearing a lively green that sets off her pale, side-parted hair. Her make-up is just bright enough to compliment, but not compete with the outfit. She looks absolutely comfortable and sexy. 

KiWi TIME

I was lucky enough to collaborate on a shoot recently with indie dance-rock band, KiWi TIME and photographer Aliona Kuznetsova. Here are a few shots: 

Photoshootin': Behind The Scenes

This past Friday I was lucky enough to work with designer Rodrigo Trujillo, photographer Aliona Kuznetsova, and models Bella Fox and Mary Zdo (not pictured) on images for Rodrigo's Spring/Summer line. Here are a few candid shots from behind the scenes:

Vegan Makeup Guide!

Being a longtime vegetarian and makeup enthusiast, it can sometimes be a challenge to find great makeup with highly pigmented and bold colors that don't use animal ingredients. Now, most makeup brands have gotten the hint that consumers (regardless of diet) aren't down with animal testing. While some big brands still test, most have stopped. The main concern for us bleeding hearts are the ingredients used in production. Ingredients like Carmine (crushed insects), seem to sneak their way into a surprising amount of otherwise fabulous products.

Being able to feel truly good about where your makeup comes from is, after all,  a part of being more beautiful. But what you're after is quality and color. Those can be hard to come by if you don't look more closely. We've all seen the beauty aisle in Whole Foods or other natural food stores: boring colors, bad product performance, and ugly packaging.... sooo not what you're looking for! So what can you do when you want the best of both worlds? Research, research, research! It really isn't the most fun. I've scoured the internet for hours and done loads of testing while tracking down some of the best vegan products so you can rest your fingers and your mind. Below are some great options for quality and color as well as a full-face breakdown of my favorite products for a beauty arsenal you can feel good about.

MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

Recommended Reading: "Top 7 Lies Your Makeup Label Is Telling You"

Here are some good tips to keep in mind when shopping! While the use of these buzzwords doesn't indicate a bad product, you may want to ignore advertising hype and be aware that there's no such thing as a true "Anti-Aging" product. CLICK HERE for the article.

Makeup Brand Pronunciation Guide

If you're like me, it gets hard to constantly sift through all the brands, still remember how to spit out a name, and not sound like an idiot while doing it. I'm no pronunciation wizard and lets be honest - I am doing this post as much for my own reference as I am to be helpful to you. So, without further ado, here is how to pronounce some brands that twist up the tongue. May you never feel shame at the makeup counter again!

The Vintage Minnie Mouse Collection for O.P.I.

O.P.I. has announced that everyone's favorite female mouse is getting her own  limited edition collection! The collection will include 4 shades of red and pink that personify Minnie's signature style. They will be available starting in June and will retail for $8.50 each. 

 

From L to R: "Nothin' Mousie 'Bout It",  "The Color of Minnie", "If You Moust You Moust", and "I'm All Ears"

Nothin’ Mousie ‘bout It
Don’t squeak it – SHOUT IT! This confetti light pink is tops!

I’m All Ears
Tell me how much you love this magenta shimmer.

If You Moust You Moust
You gotta pink what you gotta pink.

 

The Color of Minnie

You had this little mouse at “red.”

Obama Nail Polish? Yes We Can!

The Obama's have come out with a special edition nail polish collection created by Richard Blanch of Le Métier De Beauté. It is, perhaps, the first nail polish collection by a political figure. Three colors are included in the collection and they are "Red-y To Win", "Victory White", and "Bo Blue". They come in a special collector's bag! The collection is available now at Obama's online store for $40 with all sales going toward POTUS' re-election campaign. Will you be patriotic and sport these shades for the good of your country?

M·A·C Announces Marilyn Collection

 

M·A·C has just announced that it is jumping on the Marilyn Monroe bandwagon and releasing a collection based on the iconic star this coming October. Just in time for Halloween, the collection will consist of 30 products (including lipsticks, eyeshadows, eyeliner, and nail laquers) that will emulate the bombshell's signature style. M·A·C's senior vice president, James Gager says “Marilyn is an icon, plain and simple. Her look not only defined a generation but also is relevant today”. The brand is pairing with with Authentic Brands Group, which owns Marilyn Monroe LLC. Prices will range from $15-$27. 
With NBC's new show SMASH, My Week with Marilyn dominating the awards season, and this collection, 2012 is shaping up to be the year of Marilyn Monroe! 
For an entertaining and informative YouTube tutorial by Kandee Johnson, press play below! It is probably the most comprehensive (if a bit silly) video tutorial out of the many I've seen.

Trending: Black Makeup!

(CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

The latest trend to hit the Milan Fashion Week runways is the use of black makeup. Whether its a smokey eye or a black lip, this color is definitely making its mark on spring's fashion. Prada, Versace, Armani, Cavalli, and many more prominently featured the above looks. Are you bold enough to wear black?

Oscar Makeup: Hits and Misses!

Lets face it. The Academy Awards are great to watch, if only for the red carpet fashions. We all turn into critics and it becomes a fun competition to decide who did best and who could have done a lot better. As far as makeup goes, there were 2 classic, if predictable trends on the red carpet last night. Bright red lips can always be expected on a night where you go all-out glam. There were plenty of them. Some were absolutely flawless and some tipped the scales towards being overdone. The other trend was soft pastel shadows paired with light pink/nude lips. This light and pretty look is perfect for spring, but I got a little bored seeing it on too many faces last night.
Without further ado I present my picks for the 3 best and the 3 worst of red carpet makeup followed by  examples of how to and how not to execute 2 different looks we saw last night.

(Click images to enlarge)

THE BEST:

 Rooney Mara

Try to remember that this is not an airbrushed ad in a fashion magazine. She looks flawless. Her skin is pale and matte. Light, barely there shadow with no liner or false lashes. Light mascara and structured brows are the perfect compliment to ruby red lips.

M·A·C's New Viva Glam Line is Available NOW!

M·A·C launched their newest incarnations of the Viva Glam line online today. Nicki Minaj's last special edition Lipstick for M·A·C, Pink Friday, sold out quicker than you can say "ROMAAAAN!". So get them while they're hot, kids! Nicki's lipstick is a "bright yellow pink (satin)" and Ricky's is a clear lip conditioner. Use the coupon code "MINERAL" for free shipping! And remember, every cent of a Viva Glam product goes towards HIV/AIDS research. Look good and feel good.

Beth Ditto Collection for M·A·C

There are very few people I respect more in the music business than Beth Ditto. She dares to be nothing but herself in an industry often fueled by body image. The outspoken front woman of Gossip has a style that is completely her own and she will now have her own limited edition collection from M·A·C in June of this year. No details other than that loose release date have yet been released but you can be sure I will update you when more is available. Expect bold colors and lots of eye products!

Katy Perry's Lashes by Eylure

Katy Perry and Eylure have have teamed up to create a brand new line of false lashes! They are 100% natural, handmade, and reusable. There are four varieties and each are $6.99 and available here.
Descriptions of the lash styles are:

• Cool Kitty: Gorgeous framing with manicured tips. 

• Oh My: Big and beautiful with a layered effect.

• Oh Honey: A flattering full lash, textured for a natural finish but with enough volume to take your lashes from fine to fab!

• Sweetie Pie: A danty, natural hair lash that will discreetly add length and volume to your own lashes.

SPRINGSPOLSION!! The Best of Spring 2012

Investigating NARS new collection got my my mouth watering for the vibrant pastels of the vernal equinox, so I present to you what I consider the highlights of the Spring Makeup Collections. They include: Dior's "Garden Party", Chanel's "Harmonie de Printemps", Anna Sui's "Rose Fairy", Yves Saint Laurent's "Candy Face", Bobbi Brown's "Neons & Nudes", Essie's "Navigate Her", and OPI's "Holland". This is a mammoth posting, but nonetheless, a comprehensive glance at the best of this springs makeup counters. Enjoy!

CHECK OUT PHOTOS AND PRESS RELEASES AFTER THE JUMP!

Beauty Steal of the Week: Physicians Formula Eye Booster

Getting back in the swing of things for 2012, I present the newest beauty steal of the week: Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum (what a mouthful!). I spotted this little pen in CVS for a little over $10 (plus it was buy 1, get 1 free). It claims that after 2-4 weeks of daily use that lashes are "Longer, Fuller, More Enhanced". While, I can't be tamed enough to stick to one eyeliner for any length of time, I can tell you that, as a liquid eyeliner alone, this is a fantastic product. For the price, it behaves as well as a high-end liner. The metal pen is easy to spot in a crowded makeup bag (which is a plus for me) and the tip is precise and sharp and has stayed that way for more than 2 months of frequent use, making it beyond easy to achieve easy cat eyes. The formula goes on perfectly, lasts all day, and feels weightless. Colors available are Ultra Black (my choice), Black, Deep Brown, and Clear.
As I said, I can't speak from personal experience as to the lash growing effects, but the reviews online seem positive in general. It is safe for contact wearers and those with sensitive skin and eyes (unlike products like Latisse, for example). As someone who has been irritated by itchy liquid liners in the past, this is a plus.
If you're in the market for a fantastic, quality liquid liner, consider this my seal of approval!

Blooming: NARS Spring 2012 Collection

Popping into stores and online on January 13th, François Nars newest collection will make you pop with vibrant hues this spring! Some expected pastel shades are mixed with more unexpected royal blue, bronze, copper, and nude colors which are usually more common in summer collections (which the campaign shot above echoes).
I'm most excited about three items:

• Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Mexican Rose (hot pink)
• NARS famous blush in Gaiety (candy pink similar to my favorite, Desire, but a little more icy pink than hot)
• Eyeshadow in Lhasa (a shimmering lavender-gray)

Read the press release and see a shot of the collection after the jump!

First Look at the Daphne Guinness Colletion for M·A·C

Fashion icon Daphne Guinness is introducing a new collection for M·A·C to be released December 26th and available through February 9th. The 21 piece collection includes:

• 4 Cremesheen Glasses
• 4 Pro Longwear Lipcremes
• 3 Nail Lacquers
• 2 Eyebrow Pencils
• 2 Powerpoint Eye Pencils
• 3 Pigments
• An Eye Shadow Quad
• 2 Blush Ombrés

The shades are primarily a range of cool grays, pinks, and purples which reflect Guinness's Cruella deVil-esque sense of style. The stand-out product seems to be the Ombré-styled (linear color gradient in purple/pink) blushes. Otherwise, these are just different (some impractical) shades of products we've seen before. It would take a bold person to wear the gray lip glass!

Holiday Sales!

Its not even mid-November, so you know what that means? Holiday sales!!! Two good "Family and Friends" sales this week are Benefit Cosmetics and Too-Faced Cosmetics. Both offer 20% off all merchandise.
For Benefit Cosmetics: Shop their website between now and 11/14 with code: LOVEYALL
For Too-Faced: Shop their website with between now and 11/16 with code: FF2011F

I will try to post any upcoming sales that I spot ASAP. Happy shopping!

Nicki Minaj for O·P·I

In yet another beauty brand collaboration, Nicki Minaj has teamed up with everybody's favorite nail polish, O·P·I! The collection consists of 6 nail shades (3 glitter, 2 creme, 1 shatter). I'm loving the electric blue and green! The collection has a loose retail release date of January 2012.

See close ups of the shades after the jump!

UPDATE!

OPI just released a statement on Facebook along with this picture. The statement reads:

"Despite what you've seen online, we wanted to make sure you got accurate information from us. The Nicki Minaj collection consists of a deep shimmering purple Shatter called "Super Bass" and these five Nicki-inspired colors: "Metallic 4 Life", "Save Me", "Fly", "Did It On 'Em" and the bubble gum hue "Pink Friday".

So, everything is the same except for the Pink Friday shade which in my mind is better. I'd rather have a matte neon pink than a metallic pink (which, to me is a 'lil bit tacky).