The Golden Globes 2011; makeup review!

Well I was just in heaven watching the Globes last night. That's like my Superbowl, baby! Red lip were definitely out in full force, and they were usually very matte, but ranging from a pinky red (on the radiant Natalie Portman) to a bright orangey red (on the unexpectedly edgy Jayma Mays from Glee) to a deep rich red (on Christina Hendricks.) Piper Perabo took the Carolyn Bessette approach and kept the eyes very minimal, the cheek very flushed, and the lips matte and cherry red. LOVE.

But we certainly saw our share of nude lips as well; Eva, Halle,Sandra,Olivia, and J Lo all sported beautiful pinky nudes with their more dramatic eyes. I was not sure about Sandra's bangs, but adore the rocker eye. I didn't love J Lo's silver eye outside on the Red Carpet-it looked too cool for her warm skin, but it looked much prettier when he was presenting. I have it on good authority that Nicole Kidman is hands down the most gorgeous celebrity in person-("a goddess") as she put it (one of my dear friends was there last night!)

I absolutely adored Michelle Williams' coral lips! I think coral would have been a smart choice for all the women who wore emerald green (I know I need to go buy something green TODAY, how bout you?) And I was a huge fan of the orange/coral gloss on Heidi Klum as well; love the contract with the dramatically lined eye.

So who got it "wrong"? While I adored Elizabeth Moss' dress, her hair and makeup looked unfinished to me; she didn't look polished at all. Catherine Zeta Jones looked very pale and washed out on the Red carpet (less so in this pic I found) and her brown lips didn't do her any favors. and while I am a fan of red lips, on Christina Aguilera they looked garish. Yes, I know that's her trademark. I just think that particular red is all wrong for her.

Over the top lashes continue to be a hot trend; Eva had sparkly ones! Jennifer Love Hewitt had the fluffiest lashes-her look was all about the lashes.

Mila Kunis' look was so clean, defined, and classic, as was Dianna Agron. What a pretty bridal look that would be!

It's hard to pick a favorite of the night, especially since the makeup can look so different from photo to photo, and completely different inside or out. But I think I am gonna have to go with January . The sculpted cheek, the perfect red lip, the classic defined eye...That amazing hair helped the overall look too.Love or hate the dress, you gotta admit she commanded attention. What did YOU think?

Golden Globes 2010/teal rimmed eye

Marion Cotillard had this teal asymmetrical getup; (love the color; not sure about the style) and I loved how her makeup echoed the shade. Normally I do not feel you need to "match" your eye shadow to your outfit, but in the case, her makeup artist nailed it. I could just as easily see this much color to the eye on a bride though; I love when a bride adds that pop to that white or ivory gown.

The eyebrow is perfection, first of all.

Use Tarte brow kit in medium-it has a teeny brow gel, an itsy pencil, a powder, and a wax. It's like having a makeup kit for your Barbie doll, but it is very handy. (Except the tweezers. They're useless.)

The foundation is fairly matte (think Mercier oil-free) and the cheek fairly neutral. Mercier's "wild bouquet" is a must-have staple for nearly anyone. Use a highlighting liquid such as Benefit high beam on the browbones, tops of cheekbones, and inner corner of the eye. It really reflects the light but doesn't look glittery.

The eye is completely rimmed in black again, all the way to inner corner and inside the waterline. Use Smashbox jetset in black; it is very waterproof. smudge outward (gotta work fast; jetset has very little play time) with the teal from Nars "misfit" duo. You can use the second shade all over. Lots of black mascara and individual lashes complete the drama of the look.

On the lip, use MAC "spice" and MAC "bare necessity" dazzleglass.

Golden Globes 2010/understated eyes

Many people commented on the somewhat stoic tone of this year's Globes; perhaps people were afraid to appear too exuberant with what is happening in Haiti.

But as a makeup junkie, I noticed a trend toward lighter eyes, less reliance on smoked out blacks and charcoals, and more light shimmers and neutrals. I personally felt that Drew's incredible gown deserved a lot more drama-the hair seemed pretty unimaginative, the brows looked unkempt; she needed either a strong eye or a strong lip and she looked too "safe" for me.

Jennifer Aniston is just always spot on with her easy, sun-kissed look. Heidi was much more tame than usual with her makeup but I really liked the fresher, younger look it gave her.

Juliana went with bronzy neutrals and a super contoured brow; flwless with her show-stopper of a gown.

Lastly, Kate went with sparkly white on her eyes and a beigy lip. I would have wanted some kind of statement in there, because her hair was quite mature and staid with such a architechtural, modern dress. But strangely enough, I wasn't consulted...

Golden Globes 2010

Chanelling Julia:

I thought she was absolutely perfect this time out-the sexy "hippie" waves, the big heavy jewels, the more casual dress.

A very hot momma.

Here's my take on Julia's look:

Laura Mercier oil free foundation

Nars blush in "orgasm"

Laura Mercier "bare lips" lipstick

Nenefit "skinny jeans" cream shadow on entire lid

Laura Mercier black caviar smuged into lashline

Laura Mercier "pearl" on browbone, "cashmere" in crease

Mac brow pencil in "lingering"

By the way, I am probably not too far off on these guesses; Julia's personal makeup artist, Genevieve, worked for Laura for years and still is very loyal to her products (like moi!)

Golden Globes 2010/Red Lips

You know I love a big red lip and none of these ladies were shy about the shades they chose. But which ones were a win, and why?

I would have preferred a somewhat rosier red on Meryl, this particular shade washed her complexion out, as far as I was concerned. It could also have to do with the fact that she is wearing black; not her most flattering color. But I love the minimal makeup elsewhere on her face; very Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.

Christina Hendricks' makeup was perfectly balanced; the flushed cheeks complimented her orangey-red lip perfectly, and the drama to the eye was just enough without pulling focus from the lip.

On January Jones,I like the shade, but her eyes look a little squinty here-I think maybe a lighter shade on her lid would have created a more open look. And while I adore her pale skin, she could have benefited from a teensy bit of very light bronzer and a peachy blush.Love the new fuller brow on her!

Cameron looks very unpolished to me; that dress is so smokin' hot, but from the neck up, she looks a bit like she just rolled out of bed and tossed on red lipstick in the limo. I know that's kinds her thing but As she gets a bit older I would love to see a little less of a messy look. The lip color needs to be a bit warmer; it is too blue for her and for the dress. The overly bronzy look to her skin clashes with the vibrancy of the lip.

What did you guys think?

Golden Globes 2010; Sandra Bullock

Hands down, my favorite makeup look of the night!

(Honestly she looked prettier on my HD tv last night than she does in the accompanying pic, but anyway...)

Here is how I would achieve Sandra's glowing skin and defined eye:

Use Laura Mercier's illuminating tinted moisturizer all over. If you need additional coverage, spot apply Laura Mercier's moisturizing foundation and/or secret camouflage)

Use Tarte's stick blush in "blushing bride" on the cheekbones. (Apply translucent powder ONLY on the nose, chin and forhead, and only if you tend towards excessive shine)

Lightly define brows with MAC lingering pencil and sweep into place with MAC's brow set.

Rim entire eye with Smashbox jet set in black, giving a slight cat eye effect. Smudge the liner slightly upwards at the outer corner with Laura Mercier "Chambord" shadow. Use a light shimmery cream shadow all over the eye, such as Benefit "tattletale"; carry this into the inner corner of the eye. Continue to bulid the Chambord, alternating with Laura Mercier Primrose, for a soft but smoky halo effect. (The definition is mainly at the lash line and fading out towards the crease.) apply short and medium individual lash clusters for more pop and open-ness to the eye.

The lips are very soft; try Laura Mercier Chestnut pencil along with Mercier "opal" glace.

inspiration: Nine

Lately I have been completely obsessed with liquid liner. Thin line, ticked out at the ends or big wide stylized, as long as it's black and very bold. I blame my recent viewing of the movie Nine, but my inspiration board in my office(which rotates depending on what I am researching) is currently covered with that same look. Mad Men of course has been a huge influence in makeup and fashion as well.

I am an aficionado of the liquid in a tiny vial and a separate brush, but many of the "marker" styles are quite satisfying to use too. I am currently wearing an (since discontinued; grrrr)ebony liquid by Laura Mercier that has a slight shimmer. LOVE the sparkle it gives my eyes. L'oreal makes a really nice one in a pen form. It does take a steady hand and a lot of patience to master this technique, because liquid liner is notoriously impossible to repair if you get it crooked or apply to much or your eyes don't quite match. I like to start with a fairly thin line on each eye and build from there depending on what type of look I am trying to achieve. If a shaky had is a problem, try leaning your elbow on the counter. Many tutorials will advise you to hold the lid taut but I rarely find that necessary and to me it doesn't give you a clear idea of what the line will actually look like after you release the skin.

I like begin in the middle of the lid and work outwards, and then later take that line to the inner corner, but most people come up with a way that feels natural to them.

Come get a liner lesson if you are still unsure-Wednesdays are my in-studio day!

Drew Barrymore= Stunning

Drew's makeup has just been rocking my world since she has been out promoting Grey Gardens. the retro clothes, the pincurls. Methinks I have a girlcrush-as long I don't have to listen to her...

If one of my brides went with this look to the left here i would be doing a happy dance.

Inspiration from the red carpet

I did not "review" the looks from the Oscars; there are enough of those post-mortems! However, I know my clients are sometimes at a loss when I ask them to bring me pictures of makeup looks they would like for their wedding. Bridal magazines tend to have some very bland makeup in their fashion spreads, and the makeup in bridal ads is usually very dated looking.

These were some of my favorite looks-and do note that all of these gorgeous women are wearing some color on their lips-no nudes, champagnes, or pale pinks in the bunch. (Not to say women were not sporting those lip at the Oscars-they just did not make brideface's Hall of Fame.)

Are you seeing the huge "Mad Men" influence in the ticked- up black liquid eyeliner, and the matte, deep toned lips-? Jven January Jones has a modernized, very amped-up version of the makeup style she wears on the show, and I am obsessed with the orange lip-I think we will be seeing a lot of orange, judging from Fashion Week. And a huge return to Lipstick, with a capital L; sheer gloss will be less important. Her brows are absolutely amazing.

Very glam, very Old Hollywood.

Golden Globe Trends

Well, I can't say I watched the whole show-I don't have that kind of stamina or inclination-but I did study the fashion and hair and makeup this morning. It looks like finally the bold lip is back, and the ubiquitous smoky eye is in semi-retirement. From bright, super-matte matte red on Heidi Klum to coral on January Jones, I sensed a return to the starlet glam of the forties and fifties.

Amanda Seyfried was my absoute favorite makeup of the night. She pulled off a deep lip and a very defined eye without looking overly painted. this would be a stunning look on a bride with a flair for a little more drama. The bronze shades on her eye really pop her bule eye, as does the rasperry toned lip. It works because she has that porcelain skin; this look would look muddy against a faux tan.

The ones who stuck with the nude or champagne lip and the charcoaled eyes ended up looking a bit dated and washed out. Can we agree that this look is a little played out by now? And when I watched snippets of the show on our hi-def TV, the actresses who were hoping for a "dewy,glowy" look ended up with more of a "greasy, smeary" look. I asked my husband, "What are they serving there tonight-fried chicken?"