This Could Be Fall’s Perfect Look

Freida Pinto, the Indian beauty who shot to stardom after her leading role in Slumdog Millionaire, never fails to look stunningly jaw-dropping. Her appearance at the premiere of her newest film, The Rise of the Planet of the Apes, was no exception. With summer coming to a close, Freida chose a sexy autumnal look: smokey brown eyes, burgundy lips, and subtly peach-tinted cheeks.

Recreate her dark, sultry look with these easy steps!

1. Line your eyes inside your lashes all the way around with a dark, chocolate-y eyeliner.

2. Using an eyeliner brush, line outside your bottom eyelashes with a golden brown shadow.

3. On your upper lid, use an small eyeshadow brush and color in with a deeper brown up to the crease of your eyelids.

4. Using the lighter brown shadow, fill in up to your brow line.

5. Use a large face brush to swipe a peach-y bronzer on, from the center of your cheeks up and out.

6. Finish with a deep, dark burgundy lipstick.

The Art of Undertones

Thebeautydepartment.com is like my personal beauty school. I learn so much from this website and of course I have to share all this knowledge with all of you. Now my latest lesson is the art of undertones.

I know it sounds trivial, but when you know yours and then adjust your make-up colors accordingly, something magical happens and you’ll light up a room. Here are a few of the best ways to detect yours:

1. Stand in front of a well-lit mirror in the privacy of your bathroom wearing only a pure white towel/bath robe and wrap your hair under a white towel. Drape another white towel over any furniture behind you because the more you are surrounded with white, the easier it is to see what colors are hiding beneath the surface of your skin. Now what do you see? Does your skin look blue-ish? If so, you have cool undertones.  If it looks yellow-ish, you have warm undertones, and if it’s green-ish, you have neutral undertones.

2. Hold up a piece of silver or platinum jewelry next to your skin, then a piece of yellow-gold jewelry and determine which one looks better, regardless of your personal preference (I love a yellow-gold necklace, but if I hold both up to my skin, silver is much more harmonious because I have cool undertones). So if the silver/platinum looks better on you, you have cool tones, if the yellow gold looks better, you have warm tones. If both hues look equally good on you, you probably have neutral.

3. Look at the veins on your underside of your forearm or underarm in the sunlight.  If your veins are blue or blue-purple, you have cool undertones.  If your veins are yellow or olive, you have warm undertones.  If you have both blue and green veins, you are neutral.

After taking all three tests, you should have a good idea what your undertones are.  Here’s what to do with this invaluable information (with a cheat sheet):

If you have warm undertones, you look best when you wear eye shadows that are gold, copper, bronze or any of the earth tones (orange, olive, yellow or brown) paired with a warm peach or coral blush.  When picking out your perfect red lipstick, choose an orange-based red and when choosing your foundation, look for a yellow-based or peach-based shade.

If you have cool undertones, you look best when you wear eye shadows that are silver, grey, magenta, pink, white or any of the jewel tones (emerald, sapphire, garnet) paired with a cool pink or rosy blush. I have so much pink naturally in my face that I always fought it with peach blush until one day Scott Barnes was doing an appearance at Saks Fifth Avenue and told me not to fight the pink but embrace it.  I’ve been wearing pink ever since and it works so much better. When picking out your perfect red lipstick, choose a blue-based red and when choosing your foundation, look for a pink-based or neutral shade.

If you are lucky enough to have neutral undertones, you get to wear EVERYTHING!  And black is the exception and looks good on cool, warm and neutral undertones.  But of course, rules were meant to be broken (like mixing a printed skirt with a striped top) and you can wear whatever you’re in the mood to wear… So if you have warm undertones but your favorite make-up line just came out with an amazing silver liquid liner that you have to have, go for it, just know that the copper one will look better on you. But don’t break the rules when it applies to your foundation shade; there’s nothing pretty about a yellow-based skin tone covered with pink-based foundation.

WANTED: Fashion & Beauty Bloggers

Are you a fashion & beauty blogger or do you want to be one? I'm looking for 2 (maybe 3) beauty and/or fashion blogger for this blog.

Blogging takes a lot of time and having to combine it with my everyday life can be sometimes overwhelming. Come on, I mean a little help won't harm anyone. Besides I think the cool thing of having different bloggers is that you get different views on fashion and/or beauty topics. I still want to have consistency on my blog, that's why I will always check every article before posting it.

As a guest blogger you are also promoting your blog. As you all know I love supporting my fellow bloggers, because since I started blogging for the first time I received so much love and support from everyone. So it's also my way of thanking.

I won't be very demanding. The only requirements are:

• Age between 16 and 28
• Gender: Female
• Language: English 

You have to write a post (at least) once a week. Post must have at least one picture. 

If you're interested please send me a mail at amake-uplover@live.com with the following information:

• Name, Gender, Age
• Location, Spoken Language (everyday)
• Personal Blog URL (if applicable)
• Blogging Topic (Fashion and/or Beauty)
• 1 Picture

Back to School Trends

Trend 1: Jade, Mustard, and Rust Hues
Every season has its hottest colors, and this year it’s all about jade green, mustard yellow, and rusty orange. Expect to see these colors splashed across everything from handbags to dresses, and flats to shorts. Unsure about these shades? Consider purchasing a few accessories in these hues for an inexpensive way to try the trend.

Trend 2: Camouflage Print
Piggybacking off of last year’s skinny cargo pants and military jackets, camouflage prints are in for the fall. The trick to wearing this trend is finding the right balance between couture and costume: Look for pieces that incorporate other stylish elements, like a modern shape or a sheer fabric, or girl-up a piece from the army surplus for a modern aesthetic. And it’s usually best to stick to one camo piece per outfit.

Trend 3: Peplum Silhouettes

A peplum silhouette fans out at your waist, giving your body an hourglass shape. You can find lots of dresses, skirts, and tops tailored this way right now, since peplum is a hot trend for fall. This trend may not have a long lifespan, so we recommend picking up a few less expensive items unless you really think you’ll love this look for multiple seasons.

Trend 4: Plaids and Polka Dots

These prints are practically seasonal classics — every fall, we see an influx of colorful plaids and girly polka dots. Add a few pieces to your collection this season, or just dig up your tried and true favorites from last year.  

Trend 5: Colored Pants
Rainbow-hued pants popped up last year and are back again this season. They’re a great way to add interest to an outfit, and they’re the perfect way to get out of the blue jean rut. Wear a neutral top to tone down the eccentric look of a bright pair of pants, or go bold and pair yours with a complementary hued top for a colorblock look.

Trend 6: Chunky Sweaters
Back for another season are our favorite chunky sweaters. These knits look especially on-trend when paired with summer dresses or maxi skirts. Having trouble shopping for sweaters in this summer’s heat wave? Look for wide knit styles that are perfect for layering over tanks tops and gauzy dresses.

Get S.Gomez Style: Her Stylist Spit All Out

We can’t get enough of Selena Gomez‘s style—on and off the red carpet! Now thanks to InStyle.com you can get all the inside scoop on Selena's signature look out of the main source, her stylist Basia Richard.“As a musician, she wants to be sexier and more grown up,” Richard, shown inset, told InStyle.com. “As an actress, we keep it softer and more glamorous.”

1. Wear White All Year

“Selena loves white, she wears it all year round. When there’s a rack of clothes, she’ll go straight to the white pieces,” the star’s stylist Basia Richard told InStyle.com. “In the summer she’ll wear little white dresses, and in the colder months she’ll do dresses with long sleeves or a beautiful white blouse with skinny jeans and boots, that California boho look.” 

2. Dress Up Your Shorts

“Shorts can easily be dressed up for events by adding the right accessories,” Richard said. “If you wear them with a tee it’s going to be a casual look, but throw on a gorgeous top and heels and you have something more glamorous.”

3. Try Beachy Waves

“Selena loves to wear her hair down with some loose curls at the ends,” Richard told us. “She’s been wearing her hair like that for a long time, those beachy beautiful curls.”

4. Go For Edgy Nail Colors

“She always goes for purple, black or navy nail polish,” Richard said. “She likes to keep her nails dark and edgy.”

5. When In Doubt, Wear Pumps!

“When it comes to shoes, it’s all about comfort,” Richard told us. “Selena rarely goes for platforms. Mid-heel pumps are her favorite.”  

6. Have a Signature Accessory

“Hoop earrings are Selena’s go-to accessory,” Richard said. “She’s been wearing them every day since she was a little girl!" 

7. Pair Comfy Tops With Sleek Bottoms

“She’s all about comfort and she wears oversize cotton tees all the time,” Richard told InStyle.com. “Selena likes to wear them over jeggings or skinny jeans. It’s a casual, feminine look.”  

8. Go Nautical!

“Selena loves stripes,” Richard said of the star’s style. “She’s always wearing striped tees and dresses.”  

9. Punch Up Your Look With Bold Shoes

“If Selena is wearing a clean look, we always dress it up with beautiful shoes,” Richard told InStyle.com. “At the Billboard Awards, she was wearing this beautiful simple black dress but her red shoes really brought it all together.”  

10. Embrace Bright Lipstick

“She likes to wear bright lipstick, like orange and red,” Richard said. “She’s not afraid of colorful lipstick and she wears it well.”  

 

Some Love to the Hair

TBD started a section on their website called the hair boot camp. They give you some serious tips on how to handle your hair according to the type. So grab a pen and paper, because we are going hard.

Look through these images and see which of these lovely ladies most represents your hair type. Once you find your number(s), follow the letter keys at the bottom. Do as many as you can over a weekend. Without a doubt, this little health boost for your hair will have you well on your way to shiny strands!

1. Naturally curly hair: Weekend- A, B, D, E, H, I Regularly- K, M, O, P, Q 

2. Virgin hair: Weekend- A, B, D, H, I Regularly- J, L, M (twice a month), O, Q, S

3. Color treated hair: Weekend- A, B, D, E, F (for highlights), G (blondes), H (brunettes/redheads), Regularly- J (blondes), K (brunettes/redheads), M (brunettes/redheads), N (blondes), O, P, Q, R, S

4. Heavy + straight hair: Weekend- A, B, D, H, I Regularly- J, L, M (on the ends), O, P, Q, S

5. Bleached or high-lift blonde hair: Weekend- A (only shampoo once with clarifying shampoo. if you need to shampoo again, use your regular shampoo!), B, D, E, F, G, I Regularly- J, alternate M + N, O, P, Q, R, S

6. Naturally wavy or frizzy hair: Weekend- A, B, D, E, H, I Regularly- K, L, M, O, P, Q, S

7. Beach hair or hair affected by weather: Weekend- A, B, D, E, F (if yellowed from sun + salt water), H, I Regularly- J (if hair is colored) K (if hair is not colored), L, M, O (you can also apply spray-on sunscreen to your hair before going to the beach), P, R

8. Hair with extensions or a weave: Weekend- A, B, C, D, E, H, I Regularly- K, L, M, O, P (on your hair and the extension or weave hair), Q, R, S


YOUR WEEKEND TO DO:

A. Shampoo your hair with a clarifying shampoo. Focus on massaging it into your scalp using your fingertips and let it naturally clean the ends as you rinse it through. This will remove any film caused by product build-up or natural oil build-up. That film will be a dulling residue in the long run, so you need to remove it when you feel it. If your shampoo doesn’t lather, try shampooing it one more time. When hair is clean, it lathers. That’s when you know you’ve removed all the gunk. Good lather = clean slate! Note: This is NOT something you would do every time you shampoo because it would be TOO cleansing and strip all the nutrients. Only do this once or twice a month.

B. Blend 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup jojoba oil + 1/4 cup coconut oil in a bowl. At night, apply a light amount to your ends and put it in a low braid or bun. Don’t soak it or you’ll end up with a greasy pillow! The size of a nickel or quarter will be plenty. It moisturizes while you sleep! In the morning, wake up and apply a more liberal coat from the middle to the ends of your hair. (Rub a little into your scalp if it’s dry! If you have an oily scalp, skip it.) Put it in a low bun for the day. You OBVIOUSLY want to do this on a low-key weekend because walking around with oil in your hair isn’t exactly… a trend. In the evening, shampoo lightly to remove oils and condition as usual.

C. If you have extensions or a weave, it’s really important to clean your real hair, so focus on getting in between the wefts with shampoo + your fingertips. Repeat if necessary until it lathers. Do small, gentle, circular motions with your fingertips. Not too rough or you will tangle the hair above your extensions or weave. Let the shampoo rinse through the ends as you rinse it out. It’s never a good idea to vigorously scrub at the ends of extensions or a weave. That can be a bad scene. Condition heavily from middle to ends. Avoid getting conditioner near the tops of the extensions because that can cause slipping. Make sure to rinse all shampoo + conditioner out from in between wefts or your scalp will itch.

D. Whip up this Kitchen Beautician mask as directed, put it on from roots to ends + put a shower cap or saran wrap over it. Apply light heat with a blow dryer. Let it sit for one hour. Rinse + lightly shampoo.

E. Check out your hair under a microscope. Rough towel drying can surprisingly cause damage. Try switching out your hair towel out for an old absorbent t-shirt! This is one of my favorite tricks for eliminating frizz!!

F. Shampoo for 2-3 minutes using a purple shampoo! Toning shampoo has a dark purple base and will cut out unwanted yellow-y or brassy tones. It looks scary and dark when it comes out of the bottle but don’t worry. Ask your colorist which one they’d recommend.

G. Ask your colorist or hairstylist to recommend a repairing protein mask. Protein masks are used to re-build weakened or chemically-compromised hair.

H. Ask your colorist or hairstylist to recommend a moisturizing mask. Moisture is much different that protein. Moisture masks are extremely important for naturally curly hair, virgin hair, and those with single-process color.

I. Apply leave-in conditioner! It helps detangle, seals down the cuticle, restores the ph balance, and promotes shine. Try to find one that’s weightless!



YOUR REGULAR TO DO:

J. Switch to a sulfate free shampoo + conditioner. To put it simply, they don’t strip the proteins from your hair. There’s no point to doing protein treatments if you’re just going to wash them out, right?

K. Use a moisture rich shampoo + conditioner. Curly/wavy hair naturally lacks moisture. It’s less about proteins for this kind of hair and more about retaining moisture. Maybe even try a natural or organic brand from your local health food store!

L. When in the shower, be sure to focus on shampooing the root until it lathers and conditioning the middle to ends. This will this will create the cleanest canvas and maximize volume for hair that’s straight or heavy.

M. Continue using a moisturizing mask once a week! It will soften your hair and promote shine. It will also help eliminate dryness that can lead to breakage.

N. Continue using a protein mask twice a month. It will strengthen your hair from the outside in and creates a protective protein shell in the long run. Great for weakened hair caused by over-processing!

O. Use a protective serum or argan oil on your ends before + after blow drying. Also great for eliminating frizz and creating shine when air-drying.

P. Every 8 weeks, go in and get a color gloss with your hair colorist or do a store-bought color glaze at home. I say it all the time and I think everyone should do this! It’s like a band-aid for the hair. You can actually extend the life of your haircut by doing this in between cuts. It literally seals down split ends temporarily.

Q. If you’re guilty of over styling from blowing out or curling your hair every day, substitute one or two of those days with a non-heat styled up-do, like a messy ponytail, the Ballerina Bun or the Fun Bun.

R. Invest in the best shampoo, conditioner and/or leave-in conditioner. If you’re spending a lot of money on a beautiful hair color, you want to make sure it lasts as long as possible and doesn’t fade. Most of the time, higher-end brands DO use higher quality ingredients. Find out what your hairstylist thinks will make the biggest difference. Try it out. Keep the receipt, because most high-end brands also guarantee their products.

S. Don’t spray hairspray before you curl or flat iron! You’re basically baking alcohol into your hair. Try your best to only spray after you use a hot tool of any kind. If you need the extra help with hold, use a thermal protecting spray. Any hairstylist will be able to help you find a good one!

Brushology: The Eyes

This time its turn to the eyes and there are so many brushes for this part that you can get overwhelmed a little at the make-up specialty store.  But fear not my friends, TBD have narrowed it down to these six: Just print out this cheat sheet and take it with you next time you’re in the market for new brushes.

 

·         LID: Look for a natural-bristled brush that is dense yet thin, tapered and medium in length. The best way to use this brush is to wet it first with a little water, tap off the excess then dip it in a shadow in swirling motions to create a paste of sorts.  Then swirl it on the back of your hand to perfect the consistency (might have to dip again in the shadow until its right) and to smooth away any clumps, then sweep it over your entire lid for a more intense effect with longer staying power. ** Note: wetting shadows works best with shimmer or metallic’s, not matte shades. Further, this brush also works great for your brow bone and lower lid.

·         CREASE: Here you’ll want a pointy “bullet-shaped” tapered tip made of natural bristles that fits perfectly in the crease for when you want to create a smoky eye.

·         BLENDING: This brush works like a windshield wiper, sweeping back and forth over both the lid and crease to blend all colors together and smooth away any hard edges.  A step that you don’t want to skip, ladies!  **Bonus: I use this brush often to powder the t-zone with loose powder instead of using a big powder brush, allowing your cheeks to glow.  And to make a bright lip color last all night, I use this brush to powder the lips in between coats.  See our tutorial on the Perfect Red Lip.

·         LINER (PICK ONE FROM THIS ROW): Because there are so many amazing long-lasting gel liners out there now (you know them, they come in smudge pots and have revolutionized eyeliner!), you’ll need a liner brush.  The easiest one to use (if applying make-up makes you queasy) is the angled brush.  It’s bent so you can apply it with your eye open while looking in a mirror.  The slanted liner brush and the pointed one are merely a preference thing… so play with both next time you’re at Ulta, Sephora or a department store to see.  I like the slanted one because you can also dip it in black shadow and use it to color in the waterline (the area just between your lashes and your actual eye).

·         BROW: Look for a double-ended brush that has a spooly (looks like a mascara wand) on one end and a slanted brush on the other end so you can brush them up and over before you fill them in with a powder.  If you need a refresher on brows, Lauren and I show you how here.

·         SMUDGE: This brush evolved in the last few years and quickly has become a favorite of mine!  A lot of my clients don’t want their liner on the bottom lid to look like a “line” so for years I would smear it with my ring finger to create more of a shadow.  But this brush is much more effective. Look for one with a flat head, short and dense natural bristles as it gives you the best precision for smoking out lines.

Source: The Beauty Department

Must Haves in your Warderobe

Little Black Dress After almost a century the little black dress is still one of the most fashion innovations of all time (thank you Coco Chanel). It is essential that you find one that suits you best. Whether it is strapless, turtle neck, or shoulder cross, you can always wear it with a panty, a belt, a blazer, or just simply bare, an LBD dress is good for all seasons.

Jeans
A jeans is a must have in your closet. It doesn’t matter what your body shape is, with all the sort of jeans out there, you will sure find one who suits you best. A dark wash is the handiest. Black and dark blue looks always pretty and a bit classier.

Blouse
Some garments are more classic and even years after they emerged for the first time, people still wear it regularly. A white blouse is a perfect example here. Just like jeans a blouse can fit any figure; you just have to look for the right size.

Skirt
Although a skirt might not be something everyone would like to wear I think it’s a essential piece. Look for something that is consistent to your style. The good thing about a skirt is that you can wear it with a pair of flats for a casual look, or with pumps for a night out.

Boots
Whether they are embellished motorcycle boots, flat boots or knee high boots with platform soles, it all your own taste which some find you perfect. Boots are always useful, especially when it is cold outside.

Black of white tops
Cotton, jersey, silk, or chiffon, a black or white tops is a good example of a basic fashion piece. It may not necessarily be very noticeable, but it does form the connecting element in your look, without the distraction of the main garment.

Black pumps
Either platform, stiletto or block heel will make legs look slimmer and calves more defined. Look at a heel height that you are comfortable with, you don't have to cripple yourself in 5 inch heels.

Jacket or Coat
If you live in colder country, a jacket and or coat is of course necessarily. Everyone can look amazing on one of them. Don’t go too wildly on the color; you can add an extra pop of color with accessories. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have one or two trendy jacket. A bright red can really make a statement in your outfit.

From Daytime Look to Nighttime Look in Less Than 10 Minutes

You don’t have to start from scratch with your make-up when you’re going to an event straight from the office, or from school to a party. These steps will help you change your face completely.

1. 1.       Look at your make-up. If it shows some cracks, than spray a refreshing toner and correct the corners with a damp sponge.  After the foundation is all gone, put some powder-creme foundation on with a sponge.
2. 2.       Apply the blush and bronzer what firmer on. Put some highlight powder above your cheekbones.
3. 3.       Color your eyes.  One shade over the whole lid and a darker shade on the outer corner.
4. 4.       Go over the existing eyeliner and make the line thicker and/or longer. Apply the eyeliner on the under lid and waterline.
5. 5.       Apply an extra layer of mascara.
6. 6.       Optional: Put fake eyelashes.
7. 7.       Apply a natural, light pink or peach lipstick or lip gloss.

And the Winner Is...

My giveaway is now closed and it’s time to announce the winner. Special thanks to everyone who participated.

If you followed me on my blog and on my Facebook page you had twice the chance to win. The winner was chosen trough random.org and all names were randomized as well.

Now lets see who the winner is.

*DRUMROLL*

This number corresponds to Chique & Glam. Congratulations girl! I will be contacting you a.s.a.p.