Blushington Carries the Best Nude Lip Liner

Favorite things about Blushington Makeup & Beauty Lounge:
1.  Makeovers are $40 a pop.
2. The Lucky Stars red-lip-winged-eye look on the menu.
3. The darling peach and white decor.
3. Kate Conkey, one of the artists. (She’s amazing.)
4.  The slew of beauty products for sale, but especially the Becca nude lip liner.

Favorite things about Becca Cosmetics Nude Lip Liner Pencil:
1. The dual ends–one rosy neutral, one beige–make the perfect, customized nude.
2. It’s long lasting.
3. It can be used as a base layer to prevent other lipsticks from bleeding.
4. Coconut oil keeps a smooth appearance.

Win My Favorite Lip Balms of All time

Forgive me for posting a Friday giveaway today. On the other hand, it’s a good way to brighten up a chaotic Monday, right?

It’s that time of year again. Time to talk about Fresh Sugar lip balm and why you should stuff stockings full of it and hoard tons of it for yourself. I did a search of our site to find an old review to link this to and discovered the history makes me look like a Fresh Sugar lip balm hustler. But whatever. I love the buttery soft texture, the tinted options, the Advanced Therapy nighttime version, and pretty much, just all of it. And all of it is exactly what you might win if you enter this giveaway for the Fresh Sugar Soiree Set with a mini version of each of their lip balms.

Enter here. Good luck! A winner will be drawn tomorrow.

Five Holiday Party Makeovers: Look 5

It’s Day 5 of our week of holiday makeovers.

This week, we’ve got five local makeup artists who are sharing their favorite festive makeup looks and the must-have tools. I’ve worked with or experienced first-hand the talent of each one of these beauty gurus, and I’m thrilled with each of the final selections.

Up next: a brown smoky eye with a precise red lip. (See all the looks here.)

photography courtesy of Andrea Kearney

The Artist: Andrea Kearney, regional manager and artist, Le Metiér de Beauté
The Look: a chocolaty smoky eye with defined black eyeliner and a perfect, crisp red lip that’s classy, elegant, and never goes out of style

The Top Tools:
1. Le Metiér de Beauté Precision Liquid Liner in Noir
2. Le Metiér de Beauté Dualistic Eye Pencil in Tamarack (smudged all over for smoky effect)
3. Le Metiér de Beauté Colour Core Moisture Stain Lipstick in China Beach

Five Holiday Party Makeovers: Look 4

It’s Day 4 of our week of holiday makeovers.

This week, we’ve got five local makeup artists who are sharing their favorite festive makeup looks and the must-have tools. I’ve worked with or experienced first-hand the talent of each one of these beauty gurus, and I’m thrilled with each of the final selections.

Up next: an intense smoky eye with a matte nude lip, great for evening cocktail time. As Russ points out, “The main difference is this entire face is in matte colors instead of shiny or pearl. Great for young AND mature eyes.” (See all the looks here.)

photography courtesy of Russ Brouse

The Artist: Russ Brouse, freelance personal makeup artist
The Look: “Dark Holiday,” a sexy smoky eye and nude lip combo.

The Top Tools:
1. Kevin Aucoin Essential Eye Shadow Set, Palette #2
2. Yves Saint Laurent rouge Volupté Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick in #2
3. NARS blush in Zen

Five Favorite Holiday Party Makeovers: Look 3

It’s Day 3 of our week of holiday makeovers.

This week, we’ve got five local makeup artists who are sharing their favorite festive makeup looks and the must-have tools. I’ve worked with or experienced first-hand the talent of each one of these beauty gurus, and I’m thrilled with each of the final selections.

Up next: an intense plum lip with a festive sparkly eye. (See all the looks here.)

photography and illustration courtesy of Ashley Leal

The Artist: Ashley Leal, head makeup artist at Make Up For Ever NorthPark
The Look: “Holiday Glam,” a deep, plum-y red lip with a sparkled eye.

The Top Tools:
1. Aqua Rouge Waterproof Liquid Lip Color and Aqua Lip pencil in #11
2. Aqua Shadow Waterproof Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in #26E
3. Holodium Powder (2012 Holiday Exclusive)

Five Holiday Party Makeovers: Look 2

It’s Day 2 of our week of holiday makeovers.

This week, we’ve got five local makeup artists who are sharing their favorite festive makeup looks and the must-have tools. I’ve worked with or experienced first-hand the talent of each one of these beauty gurus, and I’m thrilled with each of the final selections.

Up next: a classic, winged eye with gold shadow and a pretty pink pout.

photography: headshot courtesy of Brandy Adams, makeup look courtesy of Dior

The Artist: Brandy Adams, celebrity hair and makeup artist (and owner of WAAS Gallery)
The Look: “Class in a Dash–Liquid Love that Dazzles,” glowing skin, highlighted eyes with gold/bronze sparkle shadow, warm blush with highlighter on cheek bones, classic liquid liner, and berry toned lipstick.

The Top Tools:
1. YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Illuminating Foundation
2. Chanel Automatic Liquid Liner
3. Dior Diorific lipstick in Diorama

Just In: Blushington Beauty Lounge Opens December 15

photography courtesy of Blushington

Blushington Makeup and Beauty Lounge, the LA-based $40 makeover spot, is scheduled to open its doors on Saturday, December 15 at the Shops at Highland Village.

Put On Your Holiday Face With These 5 Festive Party Looks

You want to get in the holiday spirit? (I’m not quite there yet myself.) Start planning your holiday party face. This week, we’ve got five local makeup artists who are sharing their favorite festive makeup looks and the must-have tools. I’ve worked with or experienced first-hand the talent of each one of these beauty gurus, and I’m thrilled with each of the final selections. First up, a smoky eye with bold brows and a dark lip. You’ll want to change your facial expression (“menacing” doesn’t say “holiday cheer”), but I love a good dark lip for winter.

The Artist: Kate Conkey, freelance makeup artist
The Look: “Tarnished Gilded Glamour,” a sexy, slightly smudgy gold-green smoky eye, strong sleek brow, dewy skin, super contoured cheek bones, and a mahogany plum stained lip.

The Top Tools:
1. MAC Eye Kohl pencils in Tarnish and Powersurge
2. Susan Posnick ColorMe cheek and eye color in Ginger
3. Chanel Vitalumière Foundation

Match Making: Drybar Should Date New Blushington Beauty Lounge

The concept behind Blushington, which will open in Dallas in December, is such a blazingly obvious good idea, I can’t believe it has taken so long for something like it to open. It’s like the twin sibling of a blowout bar except, instead of a blow dry and style, you get your makeup done. You like that Hollywood starlet look with the red lip and winged liner? It’s yours for $40, baby. Want to go smoldering temptress with a smoky eye? Order up. The menu includes six looks, which are executed using Stila, Becca, Julie Hewett, and Kevyn Aucoin beauty products, and foundation is applied via the Temptu airbrushing system. If you’ve got your face makeup covered, it’s just $30 for eye makeup only. If you’re preparing for a photo shoot, order the Camera Ready version for $50. Got a flair for the dramatic? Don’t worry. Fake lashes are on hand. In fact, you can get eyelash extensions, too. If you love your new made up face and can’t live without seeing it again, you can take home products from the retail selection or pay for a class to learn the application. Hitting the Shops of Highland Park (conveniently located next to Drybar) in December.

photography courtesy of Blushington

Dreamy Lip Fix: Avène’s Cold Cream Lip Cream

I have chronic chapped lips. It’s particularly annoying in the winter. I’ve used Chapstick, Carmex, Burt’s Bees, Vaseline, everything in Whole Foods, straight Vitamin E oil, Aquaphor, eye cream, and pretty much everything else you can come up with. I’ve gone through the list of reasons these things aren’t working: irritating menthol, stifling petrolatum, addiction to lip balm, which is causing my skin not to produce its own oil, etc. In the end, I’m not sure I care. I just want something that soothes and hydrates. My newest lip balm love: Avène’s Cold Cream Lip Cream for “severely dry, cracked, chapped lips.” It’s mint-free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and its first ingredient is Avène Thermal Spring Water. (I don’t really know what that means, but I like it.) It’s formula is thick (but can be worn under lipstick), sheer (but potent), and long lasting (but not sticky). I was sent a sample of this stuff, and so far, I’m digging slathering it on before bed for overnight recovery and wearing it alone with a pink cheek and mascara for a natural makeup look. $14 at dermstore.com.

Get Pampered. Give Back. All Happening at Lily Med Spa Tonight

photography courtesy of Lily Med Spa

September is National Hunger Action Month, and Lily Med Spa is doing their part to raise awareness. Tonight, from 3 pm to 6 pm, the spa is offering champagne, wine, and hors d’oeuvres, as well as special prices on Botox, Juvederm, photo facials, MicroLaser peels, Jane Iredale makeup, and more. For every treatment purchased, Lily Med Spa will donate a meal to the North Texas Food Bank. While services must be purchased during the event to receive the special prices (and have a meal donated), they can be redeemed at a later date. Take advantages of these prices, which will let you feed your ego as well as someone in need.

Margaux Anbouba is a ShopTalk Intern.

This Giveaway Will Make You Blush

photography courtesy of Le Metier

Because it is blush. A beautiful Kaleidoscope Blush Kit from Le Métier de Beauté. According to Le Métier’s Director of Color, Mikey Castillo, “In order to create dimension, there must be at least two pigments that are contrasting in tone or texture. For instance, matte with sheen, satin with matte, pink with coral, or mauve with bronze. Layering multiple shades eliminates flatness while bring vitality to the skin.” This little warehouse of rouge accommodates four beautiful blushes: a satin peach, a matte rose pink, a peach shimmer highlighter, and a cool pink shimmer. I’ve always loved the brand’s clever seasonal Kaleidoscope compacts and I’m thrilled to finally see a blush version. One lucky reader will win this $95 setup, but I suggest checking it out at Neiman Marcus. I’ve been playing with my Kaleidoscope for days, and you can create dozens of looks by mixing and blending the colors. Enter here to win.

Keep Cool and Carry On (Even in this Heat)

A couple weeks ago I whined about the 90-degree temperatures and gave you a little list of my favorite Texas-heat survival tools. Well, now that’s it’s well into the 100s, I’m adding a couple more. Jump for a cosmetic case that stays cold, a face powder that applies cool, and a spray that’ll keep your makeup glued all day and all night.

(more…)

We’ve Got a Little Makeup Bundle Up for Grabs

Today’s giveaway is a little assembly of cosmetics that have been stashed in my beauty drawer: MAC “Overdyed” blush, Estee Lauder eye liner in “Black Quartz,” Le Metier de Beaute’s Anamorphic Lash mascara in “Aubergine,” Estee Lauder eyeshadow duo in “Platinums,” and Bite lip rouge in “Geranium.” To enter to win this assortment, enter here.

We’re Giving Away Dallas-Exclusive Lip Glosses from Le Métier de Beauté

Atlantis Sunset (behind) and Sweet Abigail (in front)

I’ve raved about beauty line Le Métier de Beauté before, and I’m loving the opportunity to give some extra special products away. I’m giving away two set of the the lip gloss pair above in Atlantis Sunset, a coral “sheer brilliance,” and Sweet Abigail, a pink “lip creme.” These glosses were created by two Dallas Metiér makeup artists and are being sold exclusively in town. Linda Glove chose the pink and named it after her niece, Abigail. Johanna Uek named her pick after a beach memory. (Johanna’s son, Zach, is going blind and in an effort to show him beauty he may not be able to see in the future, the family took a vacation to the Bahamas recently. The coral gloss is named for those sunsets.) Each gloss retails for $36, but two lucky winners will win both both colors. I’ve had the opportunity to play with both, and they’re amazing; maybe even more beautiful layered together. To enter to win these, click here.

To find out how to donate to sweet, optimistic Zach Thibodeaux, send momma an email at johannaskincare@gmail.com.