BSB: Beauty news, makeup swatches and pictures, nail polish articles, makeup tutorials, product reviews, and how-to's from a MAC-trained makeup artist.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week: Bobbi Brown backstage at Rachel Roy

Bobbi Brown shared a peek into the process that started her down the path to a sensational Rachel Roy fashion show.

 

Beauty School Lunch Break

Maybe it's because I'm 6 months pregnant, but despite my lack of appetite I'm obsessed with food! I know - that makes no sense. Blame the hormones!

Here are a few things that I've been losing sleep over!

 

Dude, if you aren't familiar with the Panera Breakfast Sandwich, you need to hustle your butt over to the local patisserie and grab one tomorrow. While technically not a lunch, it leads my story here because it's just that scrumptious. I've had this twice in the last two weeks, and I must forcibly restrain myself from going daily!

These sammiches have freshly cracked eggs (not those frozen slabs in other breakfast sandwiches) gently placed between two slices of freshly baked, toasted Ciabatta. And lemme tell ya the thing that makes the recipe: a thick slice of Vermont white cheddar is melted onto the bread during the toasting process. I like mine with Applewood-smoked bacon, naturally.

You know this is good, because I ignore the Cinnamon Crunch bagels (with Honey Walnut cream cheese) in favor of this.

 

And next up:

(image source)

I know you're going to either make fun of me or gag, but I'm truly obsessed with icing on crackers!

My mom (and her mom before her) used to take extra homemade icing, left after dressing a cake, and put it on crackers. A few weeks ago, I started craving these and rather than compound the problem by making cakes, I just purchased some ready-made icing and slapped it on Ritz Crackers. And now I can't stop eating them. I carefully eat a healthy dinner, often involving a salad, then treat myself to some of these for dessert! 

(To my dear friend from HS who will probably read this  -you know who you are!- please do not mock this snack. It's no M&Ms and salt, but it's still a good salty+sweet sensation!)

For the record, I prefer chocolate or dark chocolate frosting.

 

And lastly:

(image source)

Pad Thai. Oh yeah! I love this lovely mix of rice noodles, eggs, fish sauce, bean sprouts, peanuts and lovely seasonings. While I love it with chicken or shrimp, too, plain pad thai (no tofu, thanks) is my favorite.

Granted, Americans make this a bit heavier (read: greasier) than the traditional - but that's probably why I like it! And the veggies make me feel slightly more virtuous.

So... what are your favorite snacks?

Stunning beauty makeup looks from the IMATS in London

"Gothic Beauty Makeup" was the call to arms at the IMATS (International Makeup Artist Trade Show) in London this year. Below are winning looks from the student artist competition, courtesy of Makeup Artist Magazine.

PS: If you're an artist and not familiar with the magazine, you must check it out.



Emily Jayne Dowdeswell won first place with this beauty make-up:

Photo by Deverill Weekes ©Make-Up Artist magazine

Leah Mabe won second place with this beauty make-up:

Photo by Deverill Weekes ©Make-Up Artist magazine

Sarah Spears won third place with this beauty make-up: 

Photo by Deverill Weekes ©Make-Up Artist magazine

Gothic beauty make-up by student competitor Jane Christensen.

Photo by Deverill Weekes ©Make-Up Artist magazine

All images are property of Makeup Artist Magazine, so if you borrow: CREDIT THEM, and the artists!

Fashion Week Fall '09 | MAC Face Charts - 2.17.09 | Behnaz Sarafpour, Rodarte, Matthew Williamson

To see the looks and charts, keep reading!

NY Fashion Week Fall '09 Schedule for February 18th

9am	Vera Wang Show	sponsored by
	158 Mercer St.
10am	Tommy Hilfiger Show
	The Tent, Bryant Park
10am appt	Rafe Preview
	Rafe Studio, 85 5th Avenue, 12th Floor
11am appt	Kara Ross Preview
	41 E. 60th St, 5th Fl (Park & Madison)
11am	Brian Reyes Show
	The Promenade, Bryant Park
11am	Catherine Malandrino Show
	Rainbow Room, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th Fl. (49th)
12pm	Phi Show
	76th 9th Ave., 16th Floor (15th/16th St. enterance on 15th)
12pm	Unrath & Strano
	Eye Beam 540 West 21st Street
12pm	Jerome Dreyfuss and Ludivine
	1216 Lexington Ave, 82/83
1pm	Rebecca Taylor Show
	The Salon, Bryant Park
1pm	Douglas Hannant Show
	Plaza Hotel - 768 5th Ave, Edwardian Room
1-3pm	Julian Louie Show
	Drive In Studios, 443 W. 18th Street, Studio 3 (btwn 9th & 10th ave)
1-6pm	Adrienne Landau Presentation
	519 8th Ave, 21st Fl
2pm	Isaac Mizrahi Show
	NY Public Library, (5th Ave/42nd)
2pm	Macqua Show
	Eyebeam, 540 West 21st Street
3pm	Ports 1961 Show
	The Promenade, Bryant Park
4pm	Calvin Klein Show #1
	205 W. 39th St., 1st Floor
4-6pm	Leifsdottir Presentation
	209 West 38th Street, 7th Floor
5-7pm	Naeem Khan Presentation
	260 W. 36th St, 12th FL (7th/8th)
6pm	Kai Kuhne Show
	Eye Beam, 540 W. 21st St.
6pm	Christian Siriano Show
	The Salon, Bryant Park
6-8pm	Hayden-Harnett Presentation
	Chelsea Hotel - 222 W 23rd St
6-8pm	Libertine Presentation
	187 Lafayette St, 7th Fl
7pm	Custo Barcelona Show
	The Promenade, Bryant Park
7-9pm	Leanne Marshall Presentation
	409 W. 39th St
7-11pm	Sioloonim's Presentation
	226 5th Ave, 2nd Fl
8pm	Zac Posen Show
	The Tent, Bryant Park

Fashion Week Fall '09 | Makeup Porn from the Marc Jacobs show (featuring NARS)

Hold onto your hats, kids. This is some serious makeup porn!
Meanwhile, you can read more about the look Fraçois Nars created for the Marc Jacob show here.

Fashion Week Fall '09 | Francios Nars for Marc Jacobs

Fraçois Nars has been away from the fashion circuit for 10 years. What made him come back this Fashion Week? Marc Jacobs. He made 65 different looks for 65 models, and only for Jacobs. 

“We’ve known each other since the beginning so it was really fun to work with Marc again.  I really love what he does,” said Nars. 

PS: See some great makeup porn from this show here! 

SHOW: Marc Jacobs

LEAD ARTIST: François Nars, Founder and Creative Director of NARS Cosmetics

TREND: Night clubbing – theatrical makeup – strong eyes, porcelain skin

Inspiration:  The Marc Jacobs Fall 2009 collection paid homage to the New York night club scene of the 1970s and ‘80s.  Drawing inspiration from these decades and the works of Sprouse, St. Laurent, and Halston, François Nars took into consideration each model’s individual beauty before creating a separate edgy look, reminiscent of the past but still very modern. "We are doing quite an eclectic look," he said. The inspiration for diversity came from Nars’ book XRAY.  “[Marc] wanted to keep that feeling,” said Nars, “the variety of looks, the same way we do the campaigns for NARS.”  Overall, it was important that each girl look beautiful, even with strong theatrical looks.  Much like the fashion, Nars emphasized having fun with makeup for the coming year, despite the times we live in- “It’s a good antidote.”

Look:  Focusing on an edgy, night clubbing look, strong eyes and bold color were a major theme.  Black shadow laid the foundation for creating the dramatic eye, to which the artists added cobalt blues, deep greens, bright purples, reds, fuchsias, and glitter.  “There is a wide variety of color,” said Nars, “it’s whatever looks good on the girl.”  For many of the models, porcelain skin was a key component, allowing the black eyes and bright colors to pop.  “You want to play with makeup,” says Nars, “makeup is a great accessory - that is the message.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAC - I may be a little angry with you... (re: MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation)

I went to swatch this foundation yesterday, and boy isn't it nice on the skin!? DOWNSIDE? I'm an NW15, and the Studio Sculpt NW15 swatched more to an NW20. I was highly disappointed, as should all NW15s and NC15s be.

Sorry, I didn't get a picture.

GRRR.

Read more about this stunning foundation here. It still appears to be great stuff, and my friend who runs the counter said it's really nice. Too bad I can't wear it myself...

Want to watch the Michael Kors Fall 2009 Runway Show? YOU CAN! 2.18 @ 11AM EST

Couldn't make it to Fashion Week? Love Michael Kors as much as I do? You can still catch his Fall '09 collection - LIVE! (online). Click the image below at 11:00AM EST and you can watch the show. Unfortunately, I just got this information, so sorry for the last minute notice. And also unfortunately, I'll be sitting in a doctor's office at 11. Poo! :(

Fashion Week Fall '09 | MAC Face Charts - 2.16.09 | Donna Karan, Carolina Herrera, Luca Luca

To see the looks and charts, keep reading!

NY Fashion Week Fall '09 Schedule for February 18th

9am	J. Mendel Show	sponsored by
	The Salon, Bryant Park
9:30am	Lauren Pierce
	666 Greenwich St, Suite 444
10am	Nanette Lepore Show
	The Promenade, Bryant Park
11am	Michael Kors Show
	The Tent, Bryant Park
12pm	Richard Chai Show
	The Salon, Bryant Park
1pm	Oscar de la Renta Show #1
	583 Park Ave. (63rd St.)
3pm	3.1 Phillip Lim Show
	The Tent, Bryant Park
3-6pm	Carmen Marc Valvo Presentation
	Citrine, 59 West 21st (6th Ave)
4pm	Alexandre Herchcovitch Show
	The Salon, Bryant Park
4-5pm	Marchesa Presentation
	Chelsea Art Museum - 556 W. 22nd St at 11th
5pm	Doo.Ri Show
	Milk Gallery, 450 W. 15th St., GRND Floor
5-7pm	Michael Angel Presentation
	Twelve21, 12 West 21st. St, Ground Fl.
5-7pm	Vivienne Tam Presentation
	Vivienne Tam Boutique, 40 Mercer St.
5:30-6:30pm	Tory Burch Presentation
	Prince George Ballroom 14 E. 28th St (5th/Madison)
5:30-6:30pm	Devi Kroell Presentation
	Milk Studios, 450 W. 15th street, 8th Fl
6pm	Milly by Michelle Smith Show
	The Promenade, Bryant Park
6pm	Juan Carlos Obando Show
	Eye Beam 540 West 21st Street
7pm	Anna Sui Show
	The Tent, Bryant Park
8pm	Mackage Show
	The Salon, Bryant Park
8pm	Julianna Bass Show
	Mr. West 559 W. 22nd St (Westside Highway)
8pm	Richie Rich Show
	Waldorf Astoria, Grand Ballroom 301 Park Avenue
8pm	Untitled 11.11
	The Pink Elephant, 527 West 27th Street
9pm	Proenza Schouler Show
	508 W. 26th, Ground Floor
9-11pm	Erin Wasson + RVCA Presentation
	Milk Studios, 450 W. 15th street

NY Fashion Week Fall '09 Schedule for February 17th

9am-6pm	Sears/Kmart Fall Fashion Preview	sponsored by
	Bryant Park Hotel (40 W 40th St), Floor 18
9am	Cynthia Steffe Show
	The Salon, Bryant Park
9am-6pm	Temperley London Presentation
	453 Broome Street, 2nd floor
9am-7pm	Spanx Fall Preview - Confessions of a Shape-aholic
	The Bryant Park Hotel, 24th Fl 40 W. 40th St.
10am	Badgley Mischka Show
	The Tent, Bryant Park
10am	Sophie Theallet Show
	The Altman Building, 135 W. 18th St. (6th/7th Ave.)
11am	Allison Parris Show
	Greenhouse, 150 Varick (Spring/Vandam St.)
11am	Matthew Williamson Show
	The Promenade, Bryant Park
11pm	Mulberry RTW & Accessories Presentation
	SoHo House Library, 29-35 Ninth Ave. (13th St.)
12pm	Rodarte Show
	522 W. 21st St.
1pm	Derek Lam Show
	635 W. 42nd St. (11th/12th Ave.)
1pm	Pamella Roland Show
	The Salon, Bryant Park
2pm	Diesel Black Gold Show
	The Tent, Bryant Park
2:30pm	Behnaz Sarafpour Show
	Exit Art, 475 10th Ave.
3pm	Dennis Basso Show
	The Promenade, Bryant Park
3pm	Coventry Show
	Cedar Lake, 547 W. 26th St.
4pm	Marc by Marc Jacobs Show
	NY State Armory, 68 Lexington (25th St.)
5pm	Chocheng Show
	The Salon, Bryant Park
5pm	Trovata Show
	Focus, 599 Eleventh Avenue
5-7:30pm	Joanna Mastroianni Presentation
	230 W. 38th St 15th Fl (7th/8th)
6pm	Max Azria Show
	The Tent, Bryant Park
6-9pm	Kelly Bergin Presentation
	Salmagundi Club, 47 5th Ave
6:30 - 7:30pm, 8-10pm	Propr Presentation
	Highline Ballroom 43 W 16th St
7pm	Mario Moya Show
	DJT Fine Art Gallery 231 10th Ave at 24th St.
7pm	Amanda Pearl Presentation
	The Bryant Park Hotel, 40 W. 40th St.
7pm	Tibi Show
	The Promenade
7pm	G-Star Show
	Hammerstein Ballroom 311 W 34th St (8th/9th)
7pm	Don the Verb Show
	Thor, 107 Rivington St.
7pm	A Detacher Show
	The Altman Building, 135 W. 18th St. (6th/7th Ave.)
8pm	Domenico Vacca Show
	The Salon, Bryant Park
8pm	Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons & KLS Collection Show
	Gotham Hall, 985 Avenue of Americas
8pm	Nice Collective Show & Gen Art
	Angel Orensanz Foundation, 172 Norfolk St. (Houston)
8-9pm	Philosophy Di Alberta Ferretti Presentation
	Eyebeam, 540 W 21st St.
9pm	Narciso Rodriguez Show
	The Tent
9pm	AZ Araujo Swim Collection
	Nikki Beach Midtown, 151 E. 50th St

Field Trip: Sephora browsing

 

I think it's time to go on another field trip! Let's see what's new and improved at Sephora, shall we? I'm inspired by the new catalog I just got. Here are some of the images from said catalog, and online. LOVE 'EM!

I tried it: Clairol Perfect 10 by Nice 'n Easy. So was it? (nice and easy, that is)

I have no problem admitting I color my hair. I also don't hesitate to admit I often do it at home. I do, however, hate confessing that I have gray hairs to cover (even though I'm proud to be nearly 38 years old). I recently tried an at-home hair color that has a new technology and is winning all sorts of kudos. So here's a little story about all of these things...

Keep reading!

Cue the double entendres - NARS introduces Love Set, the ultimate recipe for romace

I missed posting this for Valentine’s Day, but it's never too late for some good lovin'!

NARS introduces the Love Set, an assortment of flirtatious hues to help you achieve that coveted after-glow: Pillow Talk Lip Gloss, Sex Machine Velvet Matte Lip Pencil and Orgasm Blush. 

Available exclusively at Sephora.

 

Pillow Talk Lip Gloss

The unique, semi-sheer formulation provides serious shine and imparts a warm azalea pink hue.  May be worn alone or atop any lipstick for a perfectly sexy pout.

Sex Machine Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

Combining the convenience of a pencil with the application of a lipstick, this rich, pink-mauve lip pencil provides a matte, creamy finish that will last for hours. 

Orgasm Blush

This cult classic makes cheeks blush a perfect pinky-peach flush and subtly highlights with accents of golden shimmer.

Price: $49

Fashion Week Fall '09 | MAC Face Charts - 2.15.09 | DKNY, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Tuleh

To see the looks and charts, keep reading!

Bobbi Brown's Makeup Artistry Program at Emerson College

Bobbi Brown Introducing Makeup Artistry Program at

Emerson

College

 

 “When I found Emerson, I found myself. It’s so great now to come back full-circle and help aspiring makeup artists grow and learn.”- Bobbi Brown

 

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and Emerson College announced today the establishment of the Bobbi Brown Makeup Artistry Program set to begin this spring.

 

Bobbi has partnered with Emerson College, her alma mater, to create an educational program for aspiring and professional makeup artists.  Taught by her top artists, this program offers 1-day Workshops in which the artists can hone in on their makeup skills and intensive 1-week Courses to train and prepare the aspiring artists for a successful career in makeup artistry.

 

“The Bobbi Brown Program is dedicated to excellence in educating individuals who seek to enhance their personal lives or prepare for a career in makeup artistry,” said Mary Harkins, associate professor in Emerson’s Department of Performing Arts, who oversees the program. “The program draws upon the artistic integrity and professional reputations of Bobbi Brown and of  Emerson College, which is known for its leadership in communication, film and the performing arts."

 

The initial 1-day workshops will be given in spring of 2009 and the first series of 1-week courses will be offered in summer of 2009. 

 

Spring 2009:

Bobbi Brown Makeup Workshop Series

For anyone from makeup junkies to aspiring makeup artists.  Each six-hour Workshop includes a makeup lesson and demonstration followed by hands-on application by each student.

 

Saturday, March 14^th:  Beauty Basics Workshop

Saturday, April 18^th:  Special Occasion Workshop

Saturday, May 30^th:  Mother/Daughter Workshop

 

Summer 2009:

The Art & Business of Makeup Artistry Course Series

Bobbi’s first series of courses designed to train those interested in entering the field of makeup artistry. Program of instruction varies based on the course level and focus.  Each 1-week course results in three college credits. Stay tuned for more information.

 

Dates to be announced:

June: The Fundamentals of Makeup Artistry

July: Advanced Makeup Artistry

August:  The Business of Makeup Artistry

 

For additional program information consult the Bobbi Brown Program website (www.emerson.edu/bobbi_brown_program), call 617-824-8280 or e-mail [email protected].

MAC and RuPaul's Drag Race - a winning combination!

Any open-minded makeup afficionado  (especially one who, like me, used to work at MAC!) enjoys a good Drag Queen. And some of us would argue that there's rarely such thing as a bad Drag Queen.

I have some friends who preform in drag, and have always admired the art. And when most of us think of Drag Queens, who's name pops up? RuPaul, of course!

(image source)

The master of drag, RuPaul, has a new show from LOGO called RuPaul's Drag Race, a reality show searching for America's Next Drag Queen Superstar. RuPaul hosts, and nine performers compete weekly in challenges testing their aptitude as fashion designers, hair stylists, performers, spokespeople, and makeup artists.

Fashion Week Fall '09 | Barbie

As we reported here, Barbie hit the runway in her first ever fashion show,
celebrating her 50th Aniversary, and it was amazing!
Take a look at the fashions here.

Ken made an appearance, and there were special guests to end the show.

Just keep on reading to see the pictures!

(And when you're done looking, I dare you to tell me that
you don't want to go out and get a pair of sky high pink heels!)

Fashion Week Fall '09 | NARS Face Charts - 2.14.09 | Hervé Léger

 

 

(LOVE THE CHEEKS!)

NARS Cosmetics was backstage creating the makeup look for Hervé Léger’s Autumn/Winter 2009 show.  

To see the looks, the inspiration, and the how-to keep reading!