Stila | Beauty and Fashion Tech

Jul 27, 2011

Stila Happily Ever After Palette Review

July 27, 2011 By Carleenp Leave a Comment

Stila has out a stunning new bridal theme palette that is perfect for the bride or bridesmaids and would make an incredible bridesmaid gift, but also comes with a rather stunning price tag of $75. I thought about buying it to make swatches, but at that price, as gorgeous as it is, I held off.

The Stila Happily Ever After Beauty Palette is a limited edition set and includes a mirrored palette with a velvet pouch and includes the following:

Six eye shadows in a matte ivory, taupe shimmer, matte chocolate brown, shimmering nude pink, matte fawn, and mauve nude shimmer
One soft pink cheek color
One soft tan bronzing powder
Two lip colors in the shades warm nude and dusty rose
One smudge stick waterproof eye liner in Lionfish, which is a bronze shade

For anyone who is a fan of soft, feminine, and neutral shades, this is a dream palette. But the price tag seems high to me. It is a lovely set, and Stila makes quality cosmetics, but I would rather see it priced under $50.

If you want it and are willing to pay for it, you can find it at Sephora.

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Filed Under: Makeup, Palettes and Collections Tagged With: Stila

Apr 4, 2011

How To Apply Foundation

April 4, 2011 By Carleenp 1 Comment

I have been asked a lot recently about basic makeup tips and application. So I decided to present a few how to articles from guest authors as part of a back to basics series. The first in the series looks at how to apply makeup foundation.

Cream to Powder Foundation: Many consider a creme-to-powder, such as Make Up Forever Duo Matte (editors note: highly recommended, read previous review here: Make Up Forever Foundation) to be the best foundation for most skin types. Apply a creme-to-power foundation by using the enclosed sponge. Dab to sponge onto the make up and pick up a small amount. Then, starting with your nose, spread the foundation gently across your nose and onto the cheek areas. Make sure your application is smooth and even (you should not be able to see any lines.) Once the nose and cheeks are covered, spread more foundation evenly across the rest of your face. You want to make sure it all blends and has an even look. Applying foundation with more pressure on the sponge will create a more full coverage, less pressure will result in lighter coverage. Avoid pure powder foundation if you have dry skin, as it can make you look chalky.

Liquid Foundation: Folks with oily skin, or skin that is oily in places and dry in places, will probably prefer an oil-free, liquid product such as Stila Natural Finish Oil-Free Makeup. Those with very dry skin might prefer a moisturizing brand. To apply the foundation, remove the cap from the bottle, and place a small amount of foundation on your fingertip. Depending on your coverage preference, place between one and three dots of foundation each on your nose, cheeks, forehead and chin.

Next, use a foundation sponge ( we particularly love the Beauty Blender Sponge) or your fingers to smooth the dots together so that your whole face is covered. Add more foundation as necessary to create an even finish.

There are also several options for folks with uneven skin-tone or freckles. One option is to use a foundation primer concealer or a BB cream underneath the foundation. You would place the primer or concealer only over the area(s) that needed attention, and then cover your full face with the foundation. Alternately, you may choose a sheer powder or very light foundation and let your natural beauty shine through. Women who tan in the summer will find they need seasonal foundations. However, it is not a good idea to use a darker foundation to mimic a tan. The solution for that is a self-tanner specially formulated for faces.

The biggest secret, whichever type you choose, is to make sure the coverage has no streaks or dark/ light spots, and that the shade you choose matches your skin. The best foundation is the one that makes you feel beautiful.

Filed Under: Face Products, Foundation, Makeup Tagged With: Beauty Blender, How To Series, Makeup Forever, Stila

Jan 28, 2011

The Best Make Up For Hazel Eyes

January 28, 2011 By Carleenp 3 Comments

Some are blessed with a unique hazel eye color, making it difficult to know what makeup works best. The color can range from green to gray and light brown depending on what you are wearing and is altered by makeup shades, Below are tips on makeup on the best make up for hazel eyes. Buying makeup for this eye color can be challenging for some but here are the basic guidelines:

1) Line those eyes! Remember that dark eyeliner will make your eyes stand out even more, giving almost a vampy look. This is great for evenings out on the town with your guy or girlfriends, our simply when you want to draw attention to your face when in casual environments or presenting to a large group. With so many liners on the market, Shiseido is one preferred brand, particularly the Makeup Smoothing Eyeliner Pencil. It goes on smoothly so you don't have to pull at that delicate area of your eye, doesn't smudge, and can be blended to give you that to die for smoky eye. When it comes to make up for hazel eyes, this option is great because it comes in two shades, allowing you to go for the rich dark look or light natural look.

2) Bright colors are going to reflect whatever you wear, meaning your eye color will appear to change once your in fluorescent light. When opting for vibrant shades in attire, the make up for hazel eyes should be muted and more natural. The Stila Color Wheel Eye Shadow Palette (above) is a great purchase for those who love to experiment. This wonderful assortment of great shades from warm and natural to bright, sassy and classy is available at Sephora Not only do you get a great palette of color, but Stila also provides tips on application and step-by-step instructions from their own artists to create your best look. For my ladies on the go, Stila has great traveling palettes in shades influenced by locations around the world, great makeup for hazel eyes. Check out Sephora for the limited edition Stila Trendsetting In Tokyo Travel Palette ($65 Value (below), this one is only $10 and is all about eye popping color with personality! It offers an amazing selection of 4 award winning Stila colors to complement whatever you wear and individual style. It's one of a limited edition 5 part series, this just happens to be one of my favorites.

3) One of the most important types of make up for lighter eye colors is mascara. And similar to hair, everyone has different wants and needs; some mascara products will lengthen while others add volume, at times both. I prefer a product that defines my lashes, doesn't smudge or clump and is easy to remove. One favorite is Stila Convertible Mascara Black. Application is easy and it gives you a long, strong lash minus the raccoon look by the end of a long day and washes of with just warm water.