Urban Romance: Backstage with Redken at Fashion Week

Redken Creative Consultant Guido shares the goods on one trend for spring found off the runways at Fashion Week. Up or down, the new romantic looks have a more defined shape, with a grittier, slightly disheveled feel.

It’s fitting that leatherwear house Loewe showed sleek, leather-look ponytails on the runway. Here's how Guido created the look:

LEATHER-LOOK PONYTAIL

• Step 1: Brush in hardwear 16 super strong gel and gather hair in a ponytail
• Step 2: Flat-iron sections to create a slick finish. For best results with your flat iron, mist on iron silk 07 ultra straightening spray to smooth and protect hair.

 

70's INSPIRED WAVES  
These 70s-inspired waves were seen at this year's Versace show. To get the look:

• Step 1: Start by shampooing and conditioning with All Soft. 
• Step 2: Blow-dry hair smooth, then curl with a medium-size curling iron to create soft bend.
• Step 3: Finger-comb, then apply a small amount of rewind 06 pliable styling paste to add soft separation.

The Bardot-esque updo seen at Lanvin was a playful reimagining of the classic topknot.

  

BARDOT-ESQUE UPDO

• Step 1: Start by creating a high ponytail, then backcomb the tail to add texture. 
• Step 2: Twirl it into a wide knot and secure with bobby-pins. 
• Step 3: Mist hair with quick dry 18 instant finishing spray, then layer on vinyl glam 02 mega shine spray to add polish.

NEW CLASSIC
A revolutionary French twist with height and texture worthy of Marie Antoinette as seen at Louis Vuitton

• Step 1: Apply a nickel-sized amount of thickening lotion 06 body builder to damp hair and blow-dry. 
• Step 2: Take 1-3 inch sections and curl hair using a curling iron. 
• Step 3: Once curls have cooled, backcomb the entire head. 
• Step 4: Gather hair in the back and twist to create a French twist and secure with bobby pins. 
• Step 5: Mist hair with forceful 23 super strength finishing spray for humidity resistence and all day control.

TOUSLED BRAID  
Get the tousled braid seen at Alexander Wang, which goes perfectly with the designer’s modern take on American sportswear.
Step 1: Apply full frame 07 protective volumizing mousse, rough dry and swoop hair over one eye.
Step 2: Braid hair, letting the braid fall over your shoulder, tie loosely with elastic band, and pull out pieces to soften the look.

Aveda's Latest Pictorial Is Sublime

Eighties goth. Nineties grunge. Eternal beauty.

Sublime, the latest collection from Aveda’s VP Creative Director Antoinette Beenders, is inspired by music, culture and the iconic personalities from the late 20th century.

“This is punk beautified, raw and hardcore at the foundation, refined and elegant in its interpretation,” Beenders says. “We used opposing notions to present past ideas in a new way."  "It is often the case in culture, that what’s old becomes new again," Beenders continues. "Strong shapes, rough styling and matte finishing mingle in this collection to exude a raw yet sophisticated sex appeal. " "We cut classic silhouettes bluntly, and the makeup is intense, but done in a really beautiful way," Beenders says. "Sleek black-and-white clothing against a white background lends a freshness and vigor to the imagery.”

Beenders invites you to regard Sublime as an invitation to rethink the past—to find inspiration in unexpected places and to use your own experience as fuel for imagination. Lead artists from Aveda’s global network produce trend collections twice per year. Taking global hair trends from runway to real life, collection techniques are taught to the Aveda network in workshops around the world, providing Aveda stylists, colorists and makeup artists the opportunity to hone technical skills and explore their own creative expression.

Says Beenders, “Texture and bold color are back in a major way. What a wonderful opportunity to reinvent ourselves, return to fundamental skills and find new ways to create! I am challenging the network to rediscover their artistic voice."

Credits: The Aveda Artistic Team; Creative Direction: Antoinette Beenders, Vice President Creative Director; Hair Color: Ian Michael Black, Technical Artistic Director, Aveda Academy, London; Hair Cut/Style: Allen Ruiz, Aveda Guest Artist, Jackson Ruiz Salon, Austin, Texas; Erminio Fiocca, Artistic Director, Aveda Academy, London; Makeup: Rudy Miles, Aveda Global Make-up Director, New York, New York; Janell Geason, Aveda Guest Artist, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Photography: Miguel Reveriego; BTS photography: Patrick Scher
 
source: BeautyLaunchpad

FORECAST: Beauty Trends Fall/Winter 2010-11

On a beautiful fall evening in October 2009, the lovely ladies of Edelkoort Inc. and beautypress joined forces to host an invitation-only event at Edelkoort’s NYC headquarters, The Firehouse.

Attendees included representatives from Amazon Beauty, Bleu Magazine, Chantecaille Beauté, Erno Laszlo, Good Housekeeping, Givaudan, LashControl, LUSH, Marc Rosen, Meniscus magazine, MyBeautyBerry, Priti Nails, Scenterprises, WWD Beauty Biz, 3&Co., and more. Guests enjoyed apple cider and Bouké wines, and were then seated for two informative presentations:

First, beautypress founder Gabriele Fuchs, reported about the rapid growth and acceptance of beautypress by the editorial community.

Next, Emmanuelle Linard a leading trend expert and executive director of Edelkoort Inc., provided an inspiring look at beauty trends for Autumn/Winter 2010.
 

TREND UNION

FALL/WINTER 2010-11

 

“MONOLOGUE”

 
In a response to the economic downturn, we choose to slow down, take a very close look at our identity and re-assess our brands and products lines, as well as our manufacturing and distribution ways. We will scrutinize every step of our personal and professional behaviors and open our minds to different solutions to adjust to a new world in motion.

Weary of trying to create everything for everybody, accepting that we have diluted the quality of our merchandise into excessive production and scattered our skills in too many product lines, we strive to simplify it all.

We quiet everything down and we focus on the essence of our brands, the core of our lines, on the magical origins that attracted our customer base in the first place.



T-B, L-R: Brandi Halls of Lush, Camilla Barungi of African Moringa, Jen O'Holla of Lush, and Allie Leung of Lush; Kathryn Cusimano of Betty Confidential and Marianne Mychaskiw of Good Housekeeping; beautypress founder Gabriele Fuchs updating attendees on beautypress growth; Ragna Frodadottir of Edelkoort, Diana Tedesco of beautypress, and Emmanuelle Linard of Edelkoort

This concentrated state of mind becomes a MONO recipe to redefining a sustainable solution for reinventing and marketing our way ahead.

This mono-minded inspiration will apply to many categories of design. Distinct and focused beauty trends are identified for the Fall/Winter 2010-11 in this concentrated approach, where we will comply with sharper design choices, chosen references and accurate creative ideas. We will be assertive in our beauty looks, to make our seduction known in a distinct choice of color, brick red, all red, black, grey, metallic and more. Packaging materials and shapes will be adopted without hesitation, sustainable or eerie, decorative or minimalist, historical or futuristic, pure or passionate. Specialized brands and one-destination store will be elected by consumers who are restructuring their lifestyles and reinventing the way they shop.

To make sense, for now! Consider yourself now in the know ...
 
source: beautypress; Edelkoort

Lancome Launches Iconic Matte Lipstick Collection Just in Time for Spring

Lancome gets ready to play along with one of the top trends for Spring - the matte lip - and their Color Design Matte Lipstick creations are definitely to be envied and adored.

What's the one drawback many beauty lovers identify as the reason they turn their noses up at the matte lipstick? Dry texture. 

Problem solved!  To say that Lancome reinvented this iconic texture isn’t mere exaggeration. The new formula is described as soft and creamy, glides effortlessly and comes in eight dreamy colors. The credit goes to the new formula; its mattifying agent isn’t a dull powder but a light-diffusing gel. I can hear makeup divas everywhere cheering on this one element alone, much less the fantastic shade options available.  Look at them ... they are drool worthy! High pigment levels ensure that it wears for hours, while soft waxes and emollients deliver modern slip.

Makeup artist Daniel Martin used the Bronze Show shade at the Chris Benz Fall 2010 presentation for the perfect update on the 90’s lipstick. Celebrity makeup artists are already in love with the formula, too. Read what makeup artist Fiona Stiles had to say to Teen Vogue about the Corset shade!

Available in eight shades - $22 USD

* Red Haute * Posh Pink * Lucky Kiss * Corset * Plum Show * Pink Preview * Bronze Show * Stylista

Color Design Matte is a Macy’s exclusive and will be on both the Macy’s website this week and on lancome-usa next week.  I cannot wait to try this one!

Love Your Korres Kissed Lips

Recreate your favorite fashion and beauty trends with Korres antioxidant-rich, long-wearing formulas for brilliant color and a radiant finish to your complexion.

LOVE YOUR LIPS COLLECTION
The perfect way to achieve healthy, luscious lips with a hint of color! Prepare the lips with Lip Scrub, play your way to the perfect, naked pout with Cherry Oil Lip glosses in universally flattering shades and put the finishing touches on your pout with Jasmine Lip Butter that melts onto the lips, leaving a shiny, tinted finish. The limited edition collection includes:

• NEW! Organic Lemon Lip Treatment Scrub a gentle yet effective lip treatment that prepares the lips for long-lasting lip color.
• Cherry Oil Lip Gloss in New Naked Shades Rose 22 and Beige 30; high-shine, long-wearing glosses in flattering natural shades enriched with Cherry Oil and Vitamins to deeply hydrate and repair the lips.
• Best-selling Jasmine Lip Butter, an intensely hydrating lip treatment with a soft, sheer hint of color.

Retails for $34.50 (a $64 value)

CHERRY OIL LIP GLOSS

Long-lasting, creamy, semi-sheer formulas in wearable and vibrant shades. Go natural with NEW naked shades!

• Cherry Oil moisturizes lips, prolonging the wear and giving a high-shine, non-sticky finish
• The natural active Jojoba Oil smoothes fine lines and deeply hydrates the lips
• Potent antioxidant Vitamin C and E prevent free radical damage and repair the lips
 
Retails for $17
 

SPECIAL BEAUTY OFFER


For more information and to shop the sweet special offer going on now, visit Korres online.

NYFW Fall RTW 2010: Tomato Red Lips Rule the Runway

Receiving lots of attention, oooh's and ahhhh's at NYFW is the makeup look created for Costello Tagliapietra Fall RTW 2010. Easy to see why!



Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra gave the backstage beauty department a clear vision of what they wanted to bring out their collection: Coutney Love with a 70's vibe and a tad bit of Japanese influence (inspired by a trip to Japan the designers took recently).

Makeup artist Lisa Butler for MAC contrasted the beige and plum colors of the designers' clothing collection with a strong tomatoe-y red lip. Butler created a unique shade by blending MAC Russian Red lipstick with MAC Luna Cream Colour Base. Skin was left pale, fresh and clean, to give focus to the lips. Brows were left au naturel and were combed upward for an animalistic feel.

The asian influence was apparent in the hair. Stylist Nelson Vercher created an airy updo with lots of wispy volume, finished with a high knot. "It was all about a girl traveling from Russia to Asia but with some form of togetherness-she went on that journey but still came out looking lovely," explained Vercher. "There's a Geisha influence but it's not too literal-it's modern and young, but still elegant."




(L-R) Vena Cava, Richard Chai Love, L.A.M.B., Prabal Gurung

Other collections rocking a fab carrot, tomato red included Vena Cava, Richard Chai Love, L.A.M.B., Prabal Gurung and sure there will be more. Contrastly, many designers showed collections with makeup-less beauty looks. Another color showing all over faces of the runway? Shades or purple - no surprise there, right ladies.

source and images: getty, imaxtree, nymag, stylist, elle

Matte Lips Right through Spring

Rachel McAdams and Scarlett Johansson

You know that matte lip look that won crowds over during the runway shows for Fall/Winter fashion week? Expect the trend to continue well into spring. Now, we're not talking about powdery, dry, chapped looking lips; this is a fresh, modern, approach to pretty lips with a modern edge, and oh so easy to achieve when you have the right product.


Lip Tech shades: Nude (creamy beige-y nude), Peony (rosy pink), Sangria (berry fuschia) and Maple (deep warm nude)

Enter Smashbox Lip Tech. Here's the scoop:
Lip Tech is a new weightless, satin-matte lip color that perfectly contours lips and comes in a mirrored compact with a unique silicone applicator. The formula contains Vitamin E and emollients to protect and provide a soft, cushiony feel. The silicone applicator is key to the application. Because it's not spongy, the product doesn't soak into the tip, allowing the ability to stack or layer lip color directly onto lips.

Spring runways were all about softly stained, satin-matte lips. In the short video above, Smashbox Lead Makeup Artist Lori Taylor shows us how to get this ultra-feminine, romantic look in just a few simple steps using Smashbox Lip Tech.

Great Freebie! Smashbox has a special beauty offer going on now where shoppers receive this gorgeous ready-for-spring Eyeshadow Trio in Glow FREE with your online Smashbox order of $65 or more. Hurry, though, expires 2/15/10.

Enter code: VDAYPNK at checkout

While you're checking out Lip Tech and other fab award-winning Smashbox products on their site, be sure to enter for a chance to win their Share the Love Sweepstakes partnering up with Lucky magazine. Smashbox and Lucky are giving away the ultimate swag bag, a Lucky VIP tote filled with $500 of Smashbox Cosmetics plus other goodies, to one winner and her BFF.

Click HERE to enter the Share the Love Sweepstakes now

Smashbox Lip Tech retails for $24 and is available through Smashbox and other retailers.