Am. Makeup is back!

Am. Makeup is back!

New spring sale from OFRA marks my return.

I know I've been away for a while, but I'M BACK! What better way to celebrate my return than news of a great spring sale! OFRA Cosmetics, a makeup & skincare infused brand, recently announced their "Bloom Sale". You cant go wrong with 25% off. Oh, and spend over $50 and shipping is free! Only bummer is, sale ends April 15th.

 

Here's how: You can enter their promo code "BLOOM" during the check-out process - or - click this link >>> http://ofracosmetics.com/index.aspx?dc=BLOOM (which is easier) and just shop and it'll be entered automatically. 

--Be sure to check out our  full site & forum to be a part of a beauty community! 

www.americanmakeup.com

Glad to be back beauties. More news, tips, tricks, and insight soon!

Oscars Beauty Secrets: Celebrity Makeup Tricks

With the Oscars coming this Sunday, the anticipation builds: Who will be the big winners? What will the celebrities wear—and more importantly (to us), what will their beauty looks be? With cameras flashing all night, along with a little eating, drinking, crying, and kissing, how do the stars maintain their makeup into the wee hours of the night? We asked celebrity makeup artists Matin (who works with leading ladies like Amy Adams and Claire Danes) and Mai Quynh (who was responsible for Emma Stone's sun-kissed Golden Globes look, above) for their best secrets. After all, even if you're not taking home a golden statue anytime soon, you still want makeup to stay perfect for hours on end.

Quench your skin. "The trick to making your makeup last is well-moisturized skin," explains Matin. "When it's dehydrated, it eats up the makeup. The night before an award show, I have my clients sleep with the Guerlain Midnight Secretmask on." When he gets his hands on them, he slathers on a moisturizer (his favorite: Laura Mercier Mega-Moisturizer), lets it sink in, then massages on a silicone-free primer. "Silicone ones can make your skin slippery, but a good one creates an even surface."  

Go easy on the foundation. While you might think the stars wear more makeup for red carpet events, that's not the case: "The less foundation you use, the less the skin rejects it and the longer it will last. I apply a sheer amount to even out the skin, then use concealer to cover any redness around the nose or dark circles," Matin says.  

Layer blush. "I recommend using a cream blush, like Mark Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint, first and then applying a powder blush on top," says Quynh. Her fave:Mark Good Glowing Powder Blush. "Layering products ensures that they'll last all day and into the night."  

Set your eyes. "With a brush, dust a little translucent powder on your lids before you apply your eye makeup and once you're finished, over your shadow and liner," Matin recommends.  

Keep your lips low maintenance. "The less fussy the lips are, the less you have to worry about touching them up," says Matin. "I like to go with beige, brown, or nude lips and play up the eyes instead. For a 'done' lip, use a stain first so when the cream or gloss fades, you'll still have some color."  

Stockpile your clutch. "I love Sampar's blotting sheets. They come on a roll so you can tear the sheets as long or short as you'd like. I line my clients' bags with five of them," says Matin. Quynh swears by blotting sheets as well, especially before reapplying powder: "For perfect skin, use blotting sheets before touching up your powder. This will help avoid makeup looking cakey."

Who was your favorite?

Source: allure

Don't Forget Your Neck!

When doing your daily cleansing and moisturizing routine, don't forget to include your neck! You don't want a radiant, beautiful face being held up by  a saggy, old, wrinkled neck do you?  No, I think not.  I have to admit, I've been guilty of this in the past. The neck is just as important to include in your daily skin care routine as your face is.  Think about how much you move your head around in a day.  This constant moving and stretching of the skin, added to UV rays and harsh weather exposure, is the reason we need to pay extra attention to our necks.  The skin around our neck is just as delicate and thin as the skin around our eyes, and if we don't take proper care of it, it can lead to premature wrinkles and saggy skin.  No one wants that!

So in the future when you're washing, toning and moisturizing your face, take an extra ten seconds to include your neck.  Your future self will thank you for it.

5 Tricks for Tired Eyes

5 Simple Tricks to Turn Up Tired Eyes

We all experience nights, whether restless or reckless, that quickly turn into mornings where we wake up looking just a little less than alert. But as the story goes, when that alarm buzzes, it’s time to get up and hide our tired eyes. I got the scoop from Physicians Formula Celebrity Makeup Artist, Joanna Schlip, on how to look alert with a few makeup tricks.

1. Line the top of your eye three quarters of the way starting where the color of your eye begins and take it out to the spot where the crease in your eye ends. Creating a thick line on the top gives the illusion of fuller lashes, which opens the eye. Try Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum, $10.95.

2. Trace a soft, thin line underneath your lashes on the bottom of your eye. Make sure you avoid the inner rim. It will only make them appear smaller.

3. Smudge a highlighter or a shimmery eye shadow underneath your brow bone and place a tad in the inner corners of your eyes for an instant pick-me-up.

4. Fill in your brows from the arch to the outside of your eye to add lift. I like the Estee Lauder Artist’s Eye Pencil, $19.

5. Apply false lashes to the outer most corners of your peepers, curl them and add mascara.

And woo-la! Grab a grande non-fat latte with an extra shot of espresso and no one will ever know about your rough night.

Read More here at Glamour