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.

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.

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

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

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)

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

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.

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

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.

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.

The Cool-It Caddy:
I got a press release about a cosmetic case that freezes, and I thought it was a neat concept, so I requested a sample. When I got it, I started thinking it was more hassle than it was worth. But that was fall. Then the clouds opened up, the sun beamed down, and my Chapstick melted at the pool, and I thought, hey, maybe I should give it a try. So I froze the little sucker overnight before heading to Exhale’s pool on a Saturday, and stored in it my phone, sunscreen stick, lip balm, granola bar, and a couple other things, and I was pleasantly surprised by the beauty of a cool lip gloss on a hot day, a phone that didn’t fry my earlobe, and a granola bar that was, well, still a bar, rather then a mush ball. I highly recommend this for people who spend time outdoors.

MAC Magically Cool Liquid Powder:
Now, I’d guess this product’s full of chemicals in order to get the “magic” cooling effect, but at this temperature, I’d put dry ice on my face if I believed it would cool me down. This little tub of powder applies like any ol’ powder, but feels damp and cool when it hits the skin. It makes me want to dump it right over my head. But seriously, it feels like silk and looks beautiful over foundation.

Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray:
There are a handful of products I can NEVER remember to use because my beauty routine feels ridiculously long already. (Like, my eyelash growth mascara, foundation primer, berry mask, both eye creams, etc.) Once upon a time, setting spray was on the list of forgottens. Then I met Urban Decay’s All Nighter. Touted as a 16-hour makeup setting spray, this little bottle sat on my shelf for three months before I touched it. Then, one day, I used it in the morning. I had a long day ahead of work, happy hour, and concert, and guess what? My makeup. Stayed. Put. It was amazing. I can’t promise you at 11 pm you’ll look like you applied your makeup five minutes ago, but the colors, foundation, powder, and shadow even will still be in the correct places and that’s more than I can usually say for myself at 7 pm.

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.