Spring Staple: The Fuschia Lip

Ready for a little makeup bag spring cleaning? Now's the perfect time to toss out those dusty old formulas and breathe a little new life into your look...

First on my spring staple list is the perfect fuschia lipstick - in particular the creamy, semi-matte NARS Funny Face. It looks like such a bright, punchy color in the tube, but something about this particular hue makes it completely wearable and fresh, much more youthful and casual than the classic, slightly stuffy red. The formula is incredible - soft and velvety, but shockingly long lasting, with no bleeding or feathering to speak of. Just lush, rich pigment and hydrated lips. And though I've seen it flatter a myriad of skintones and colorings, I must say it looks particularly brilliant with green eyes. For the record, I'm terrified of bright lippies - I live in fear of the deranged clown look - so if I can wear this and feel good about it, anyone can.

Just add clean, dewy skin, fluttery lashes and voila -  the perfect antidote to this cold, ever hesitant spring.

Has a lip color ever suprised you with it's wearability? Are you feeling the fuschia lip trend? Tell me all about it below!

August Favorites - Lazy Summer Beauty

I don't know about you, but I get awfully lazy when it comes to beauty in the summer. A hint of sun on the skin and some healthy outdoor living, and I can just about forgo all the fuss so required in greyer months. Hair is left easy and undone - a spritzing of Surf Spray through damp locks leaves my straight, fine locks wavy and tousled with minimum effort. NARS brilliant new tinted moisturizer somehow covers imperfections thoroughly while leaving skin sheer and glowy - with a good helping of SPF included. A slick of juicy, pink Beach Tint dabbed on cheek bones leaves a healthy looking flush, and several lashings of Dr Hauschka's soft and simple mascara is the perfect natural-looking definition for my sensitive eyes. I love the deep shine and Aegean teal hue of Butter London's Slapper on toes - and accept that the name is alarmingly fitting, though somewhat accusatory. Shins and shoulders on show get a golden sheen from a few drops of Huile Prodigieuse, and a dab of Philosykos solid perfume on wrists and neck leave a light, fresh cloud of tart, green fig in your wake. 

How do you pare down your makeup routine in the dog days of summer? Any hero products? Share them below!

Coachella Beauty....

It's Coachella time here in the States, and I love everything about it – perfect weather, beautiful setting, dry, soft grass underfoot and a fun, relaxed area for a weekend away. The music isn't bad either. Sadly, I'm not going this year, so by rights I should be sulking and vindictive, especially with Pulp and Arctic Monkeys on the same day. Be still my Britpop-beating heart... Instead, I'm going to try to be helpful, and share my list of beauty essentials, the music festival edition of what's in my handbag?

It's a long day (or days) under hot sun - so keep makeup simple, with a hint of cool, easy edge, and bring along pint-sized products for minimum fuss and maximum glam. Here's my top ten - all of which will fit very nicely into a tiny, across the body purse or wristlet, so as not to hinder your ace dance moves - just make sure it zips or fastens up – you don’t want things spilling everywhere when you pass out in the front row. Not that I’d know anything about that…

1) Super by Perricone Sun Kissed SPF 25 - start with this light sun protection with a hint of tint, for natural, glowing skin.

2) Caudalie Beauty Elixir - to refresh and invigorate tired skin with rosemary and mint. Heaven on a hot, dusty day.

3) Josie Maran Bear Naked Facial Wipes - gentle and mild for quick touch ups. Also, there's polar bears on the packaging, which will always get points from me.

4) Laura Mercer Kohl in Antique Jade - because black is very rock, but oh so dull - this creamy stick lines eyes with a rich, warm shade that has a hint of green depth and will look so much prettier in the outdoor light.

5) Laura Mercier Caviar Shadow Stick in Khaki -smudge your liner with this fabulous cream shadow/liner - for undone but glam eyes that will look magic in the desert sunset. Follow rock rules when it smudges/fades - just add more over top.

6) Eyeko Skinny Mascara – for long, fluttery lashes that last and last, with none of the dry, prickly feeling of a waterproof mascara. You should probably bring along the included guitar pick - someone's sure to need it, and you just might save the day.

7) Burt's Bees Grapefruit Lip Balm - don't mess with fancy new glosses or balms on a day in the desert - play it safe with what you know works. Refreshing citrus smell and super hydrating formula leaves lips plump and natural, and you can tuck it in your bra when you dance. That's what I do anyway.

8) Klorane Gentle Oat Milk Dry Shampoo - freshen up roots and add some cool texture to your locks in between sets.

9) Tocca Stella Scented SPF 30 Wipes - touch up shoulders, arms and chest throughout the day with these heavenly, blood-orange scented SPF towelettes. Don't forget your feet - gladiator sandal tan is never attractive.

10) NARS Paradise Brush/Bronzer/Highlighter Trio - the perfect festival compact - in a genius padded, zip package, with universally flattering hues for defined, sunkissed cheeks and temples.

Who’s your favorite in the Coachella line-up this year? Do you have a must-have item for long days in the sun? Share your tips below!

Orange Crush

I'm head over heels for the orange-based, tomato red lip colors that are everywhere right now. Heaven sent for a pale, warm-toned girl like myself, they keep the bright shade looking effortless and cool - not as editorial and difficult as the bright tangerine hues, but much less formal and serious than the more classic, blue-based red lip.

These five are my top picks for their finishes, lasting power and beautiful tones - pair with a sweep of bronzer and a messy ponytail for instant, easy summer glamour....

1) Sheer and light, Le Metier de Beaute Sheer Brilliance Lip Gloss in Orange Juiced adds a hint of papaya-hued shimmer - a great way to just dip your toes into the orange trend.

2) For the more adventurous, Urban Decay's Super Saturated High Gloss Lip Color in Punch Drunk is a long-wearing, almost neon hit of bright but flattering orange with just enough red to keep it wearable - the smooth pencil leaves a slick of vinyl-style shine that lasts and lasts.

3) My favorite of this group (I've already gushed about it here) Clarins Rouge Prodige Lipstick in Clementine is like a bright, juicy fruit punch for your lips - a beautiful formulation of lasting color with a creamy, hydrating base.

4) For a cool, modern finish, NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square is a gorgeous orange-based red that applies smooth and soft, leaving a rich, completely matte layer of sumptuous color.

5) The reddest of the bunch, NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in Heat Wave looks like a classic lip but with a hint of orange that warms up skin beautifully - a touch of retro, 1940's glamour with a trendy twist.

How bright will you go this season? Do any of these shades catch your eye? Have a favorite color you can't wait to wear this summer? Tell me all about it below!

Beauty Thieving - Joy Cioci S/S 2012

The NARS makeup for the Spring/Summer Joy Cioci show is the latest beauty obsession to hit The Blossom Shed - the cool, creamy skin and flushed cheeks look like something from a dreamy wintery fairytale. The look was created using NARS' forthcoming tinted moisturizer for clean, sheer skin, layered with Orgasm Illuminator cream color on cheeks, a sheer slick of Corfu Cream Shadow on lids and Larger Than Life Lengthening Mascara on lashes. The Velvet Matte Lip in Red Square finished off the beautifully creamy tomato red lips with a modern, matte twist.

I want to pin my hair into a wavy bob and wear this look every day this February. My hair is far too long and heavy, but a girl can dream. An extra-gorgeous detail of the show? The intricate lace-patterned lucite manicure sported by models, which should clearly only be attempted by the clever and nimble fingered.

Any readers smitten with this look as well? More importantly, does anyone else have a sneaking suspicion that it's going to take more than tinted moisturizer to get your skin looking like that?

photos via pinterest

Beauty Thieving - Louis Vuitton S/S 12

I'm sure I wasn't the only one to be completely captivated by the makeup for the carousel-themed Louis Vuitton S/S 12 show - not just divinely pretty, but infinitely wearable, and easily adjustable to suit any skintone. Since October I've been searching high and wide for some sort of tutorial on the look, but I can't find a thing - so I had to take matters into my own hands and make one myself. I don't see why it shouldn't be possible to do a similar, slightly easier version of the look with the above products. Apparently makeup artist Pat McGrath used 10 sets of false lashes on each eye for the show to give the incredible feathery length. This is not for me, who can manage to get just one strip caught under my eyelid or up my nose when attempting to apply. So I think a good lengthening mascara combined with some individual falsies should suffice for a toned-down version. Here's my picks for an easy, quick version that's still shimmery and sheer:

Face Concealer by Yves Saint Laurent
Face Blush by NARS

FACE Stockholm Lash Lift - I just reviewed this new mascara and praised its "doll-like" effect. Perfect for the doe eyes here.

Benefit Lash Lovelies - apply these single falsies wherever you need a little extra thickness or length, particularly the outer corners, but only after you've already put on several coats of mascara. Good luck, you'll need it.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash eye shadow - a shimmery, natural-looking champage hue on the lids.

YSL Touche Eclat - to brighten and conceal while keeping things sheer.

Benefit High Beam - I love this subtle highlighter, and like to mix it with a bit of moisturizer. Dab on cheekbones, browbones, down the bridge of the nose and above the cupids bow.

Smashbox Eye Beam Brightening Pencil - to rim the inner eye and lashline with a cool glow.

Nars lipstick in Pago Pago - this soft, peachy pink is pearly but still warm, perfect for this look.

Nars Duo in Orgasm/Albatross - Orgasm is the perfect peachy neutral for just a hint of color on the cheeks - swipe in the hollows, with Albatross along the cheekbones for contour and definition. Hello bone structure!

Redken Wool Shake Volumizer - this was used backstage to add the matte texture to model's hair - tease a bit, and pull it into messy french twist or bun and then add a thin hair band or ribbon - I love this crystalline version from Anthropologie.

Lipstick Lust

When it comes to lipcolor, I tend to stick to safe pale pinks myself, but two shades of Nars Pure Matte lipsticks have really caught my eye this Fall -

Carthage - god knows if I could wear this bright a hue - probably not - I tend to think you need china pale skin to look good in these candy shades, but it doesn't mean I won't try it next time I have a chance - it's gorgeous and saturated and extremely unique.

Madere - this nude is extrememly matte, and so would completely blot out the lip - sounds scary, but should make an fantastic palette for pale, creamy colors over top- without a good base, it's hard to get the lighter shades right.

I do find Nars' formulas a littler dryer than I'd like, but that's something I tend to think has to be sacrificed for really saturated, rich pigment - they continue to have the best selection of unique and really eye-pleasing colors and formulas, so I keep coming back - they're also the makers of my favorite orangey-red, Heat Wave, and my go-to coral for summer - Niagara. Which reminds me - watch out for the coral in winter - what looks juicy and bright on suntanned skin can look scary and a little Florida retirement community when the tan fades. I found this out the hard way, so that you don't have to. xoxo

Sephora Sale

I love Sephora. I love their sharp color scheme, and their broad selection of products, their easy website, and their samples policy which I am so easily able to exploit through subterfuge and lies.

So I'm very happy to report that their storewide 20% off sale is rumored to start on Oct 20th - not a minute too soon because my makeup bag is starting to look pretty forlorn, and the 3/4 empty vials and tubes are getting that crusty, worn look that makes me want to just die.

There are things I absolutely must have, and some that I hope to pick up if I happen to be extra-flush that week. Which is highly unlikely, but a girl can dream. So my wishlist is as follows.....

YSL Touche Eclat in #2 - I've somehow managed to squeak by without this for 6 mos - thank god for a tan is all I can say. Come November when that lovely consumptive look sets in for the winter, this is what will save me from despair - it's the only concealer/cover up I ever use - creamy, sheer and bright.

Benefit Velvet Eye Shadow in Where There's Smoke - maybe one day I'll branch out and wear some other color on my eyes besides irridescent grey. Maybe one day I won't be as lazy, and will learn how to use a makeup brush. Until then, this will be my new go-to eyewear, to try and pry me away from my Laura Mercier Sable. A soft grey. Baby steps.

Guerlain L'Heure Bleue EDT - I'm not going to go into my adoration of this gorgeous, timeless, heartbreakingly beautiful scent. I'll save that for another gushing post where I have unlimited time to wax lyrical. All I'll say now is that I vascillate between preferring the EDT and EDP, the latter is more rich and true and at the moment by #1, but I can always use a bottle of the EDT kicking about - it's first whiff is a little more acid and sharp, but the drydown is sublime. Mmmm. And it’s cheaper, so that’s the clincher.

Benefit They’re Real! Mascara – I don’t think it should be THAT hard to create a mascara that makes my lashes look long, separated and glossy. Not dry or flaky or clumping. Just saying NON-CLUMPING is apparently not enough, as it seems the more they tout this, the worse they glue my lashes together. The only one I have ever been happy with was Clinique Long Pretty Lashes, which was perfect for daily wear, but the packaging reminded me of middle school, and would sort of mess up the whole sartorial feng shui of my vanity table. I have high hopes for this one from the reviews – it seems to tick all of my boxes, but we shall see. I intend to splash out on it and then dish.

Nars Lipstick in Heat Wave - this is so far the only red lipstick my complexion can even begin to cope with. I’m pale but with yellow undertones – anything with any pink or blue tones look beyond gruesome on me. This is very orange based, a matte, tomato red, that with a careful hand I really like on myself. I’m not sure I will ever wear it with my lifestyle lately, which is very chapstick and ball cap, but I have to set myself goals. Watch out grocery store, I’m going to pair this with a high pony tail and a white tee shirt and jeans.

Super by Perricone Sun Kissed SPF 25 – as I may have mentioned before, I HATE the feel of any kind of cover on my skin – Touche Eclat is the heaviest I can stand. I love the idea of tinted moisturizer’s sheer glow, but have never found one I don’t loathe - I think the quality of the moisturizer itself is never up to par, regardless of the tint. So I am extremely happy to report that this is a gem – it made my (summer) skin even and , and feels light and smooth. You only need a very small amount, and I like to think that this over my Caudalie SPF 15 day cream is a good amount of sun protection. Judging by my charming freckle moustache, the SPF 15 on its own is not.

SO – what’s your wishlist for the sale - any stocking up to me done, or a product that you’re just dying to try? Spill below.