Once upon a time, I hosted an Evening of Glamour for Holly Safford and the lovely ladies behind The Catered Affair, the official caterer of the Boston Public Library. Together, we toasted our Taittinger Champagne (my signature beverage in the studio) to an evening of great skincare, gorgeous hair, and absolutely stunning makeup. Photographer Darlene DeVita captured the magic of the evening through her lens and was kind enough to put together a slideshow, which I now want to share with all of you:
My dear friend and stylist extraordinaire, Priscilla Collins, graciously provided hair services to the ladies, making them look extra-fabulous with glamorous curls and updos. As with every spectacular occasion, I was sure to have fresh flowers on hand, with arrangements by the delightful Orly Kohn of Tangerine Creations.
Our delicious nibbles were from Bacco's Wine and Cheese and the invitations seen at the beginning of the slideshow were from The Inviting Company, who did a great job of tangibly capturing the spirit of evening.
It was an evening of glamour indeed, and I'm so thankful to everyone who played a role in making it such a special time for all of us! And and extra thank you again to Darlene for putting together such a wonderful slideshow!
Excellent news, ladies! Damone Roberts, the Eyebrow King, has debuted a new line of eyebrow gels to work in tandem with his brow pencils and powders! As I'm sure you've noticed, a strong brow has been prominently featured in winter's fashion editorials, and with Damone Roberts' products you can bring this ferociously feminine look to the streets. What I especially love about the gels is their versatility- use a little for a natural look, or generously apply for a brow that's a little more bold. If you want to create a look with some extra drama, combine the gel with a Damone Roberts brow pencil or powder and create complimentary tones of color with extra depth and eyebrow lifting allure! Damone Roberts Eyebrow Gels ($22.00) comes in Clear as well as four fantastic shades: Beverly Hills Blonde, Ginger, Latte, and Minx.
As any makeup artist knows, if you're going with a strong brow, you must complete the look with extra-luxurious lashes. Ladies, it's my pleasure to introduce the Film Noir Lash Lacquer by Hourglass. Apply this glossy, black top coat over your mascara for amazing length, rich color, and extra-fullness! Even if you choose to apply it only to the very tips of your lashes, you will benefit from smudge-proof instant glamour- who doesn't love that? Film Noir Lash Lacquer ($28.00) is available in Kohl- a shade that gives every lash a definite wow-factor!
Diego Dalla Palma has brought us a daring new line of earthy tones with a richness and sensuality that is both incredibly fresh and playfully masculine. The line is Divine, and I'm having a fabulous time experimenting with the new pallet!
Here's what I'm loving:
Layering a matte Bordeaux Anti Age Lipstick with a Dove Grey Gloss for dimensional shine that's sealed with a stony kiss.
Creating the sensual Eye: Start with the The Dual Colour Eye Pencil and Kajal, which allows you to bring focus to the eyes by lining the inside with a soft, light beige and the outside with a strong deep brown. The pencil has a satin finish and precision point and glides over the lid like a dream! For maximum impact, pencil in a gorgeous brow with a confident arch. When it comes to shadow, keep the smokey tones lighter- use the Essential Due Eye Shadow in Dove and Grey for a stoic finish that's perfect from morning to evening.
Formal and elegant neutrals! In the world of makeup, neutrals have always been safe. Beige and mauve have been used for easy daytime looks and demure evening styles, but Diego brings neutrals to a whole new level! From Pink Grey to Dove, these DDP colors evoke a quiet, though mighty strength, and I love their versatility and lasting finish!
I'm extremely impressed with this entire new line. The colors can undoubtedly be worn with your favorite jeans and cozy sweater, but they also pair perfectly with a LBD or winter-white evening gown. They're grown-up colors with a new sophistication that most make-up lines can't come close to achieving. They're stoic yet adventures, and I urge you to stop in the studio to try them for yourself!
Happy September! Just in time for autumn, I received the fall line from Hourglass and the colors are fabulous! This season's matte eyes and lips are perfect for evoking a romantic sense of vintage Hollywood and will look rich and warm as the days get cooler.
The Vol. 6 Eye Palette is a must-have for an autumn- with five matte colors and one shimmer shade, you can mix-and-match and blend these colors to create an infinite number of stunning and seductive looks! To finish the eye, just add a touch of Script Precision Liquid Liner and some Film Noir Full Spectrum mascara, then pair with a scarf and light jacket for a chic autumn look.
For suggestions about which fall colors are best for you, please stop by my studio next Thursday, September 8 from 6:00 to 10:00 PM for Fashion's Night Out. I'm offering complimentary fall eye and lip makeovers and anyone who spends $100 or more will be given a free gift! Come experiment with new shades from premier makeup lines, including Diego Dalla Palma, while you sip some bubbly and enjoy some nibbles on Newbury's biggest party of the year! See you there!
Be honest: do you clean your makeup brushes? If so, how often? Did you know that it only takes a few makeup applications for bacteria, dust and excess makeup to build up on your bristles, thereby impeding flawless makeup application and significantly detracting from the quality of your skin's health and beauty?
Trust me, I know what a hassle it is to clean makeup brushes (I do it all the time), so I was especially pleased to find Klix, a makeup brush with a replaceable head that you can easily snap off and recycle when it's dirty. The bristles are synthetic, and were made by founder Linda Shrier to imitate natural hair bristles and evenly apply both powder and cream-based makeup. Their soft, white bristles allow you to easily judge when the head needs to be clicked off, recycled, and replaced with a clean, new brush.
I've started to sell Klix brushes and replacements in the studio. I think they're especially great for women who travel often and frequently expose their makeup brushes to new environments (think about the cleanliness of the inside of your purse, suitcase, or even your makeup bag...) and don't have time to clean their brushes as often as they should.
Next time you're in the studio, take a look at the brushes. I think they're fantastic, and I'm sure you will too!
Ever wonder how Italian women always manage to look so chic? With their red lips, flawless skin and smokey eyes, they definitely seem to have their makeup routine together, and their secret is Diego Dalla Palma, a Milan-based cosmetic brand founded in the mid 1970s.
Diego Dalla Palma is committed to creating beauty in a world of gorgeous imperfection. As you're well aware, no two women are perfectly alike, and DDP celebrates those differences and encourages women to choose products that will enhance their individual beauty rather than conform to an impossible standard. With an extensive collection of stunningly pigmented products ranging from lip liners to nail polish, every woman is able to find products that will best enhance her personal style- whether it be edgy and dark, classic and subtle, or elegant and bright.
I've had the Diego Dalla Palma line in my studio for about a month and have had so much fun getting acquainted with it! The lipsticks are smooth and glossy, the foundations cover beautifully but still allow the skin to move freely and breathe, and the colors across the entire line are so incredibly lovely! When I use the line, DDP's commitment to art become hugely evident- and every face becomes a masterpiece.
Over the next couple posts, I will be introducing this wonderful line to you and focus on the products I'm most excited about. I encourage you to stop in the studio and take a look at the brand (I'm honored to be the only Diego Dalla Palma retailer in Boston) and play with the colors and textures yourself!
If you're anything like me, you've been absolutely enjoying this glorious summer sun, but after the clam bakes, baseball games, and days at the beach, I've acquired some pretty serious tan lines. To combat unwanted lines and to even out my skin, I've become reliant on Mirage Waterproof Bronzer by Hourglass. With this product, my makeup brush becomes a magic wand and my tan lines completely disappear- making it perfect for strapless dresses and wedding gowns!
To apply, choose a clean, dry powder brush with a diameter that is close to the width of the lines you'd like to cover. Keep in mind that the powder works best with medium/dark tanned skin, and is quite concentrated. To disperse it evenly, tap the excess powder off your brush before lightly dusting it over your skin until the lines are invisible.
If you need more concentrated coverage, I recommend using a clean, damp sponge. After you've applied it with the sponge, give the area a little dusting with a brush to completely blend it to your natural tanned tone.
Not only is the product going to give you a stunning, even skin tone, it's also going to last! The bronzer is waterproof, which means no amount of humidity will allow it to melt away, making it my go-to bronzer for outdoor weddings, garden parties, or trips to the pool. And I personally love it's clever packaging- the magnetic case means I can throw it in my purse without worrying about it opening, and the built-in travel mirror allows me to touch up my tan lines or dab some extra bronzer on my cheeks even when I'm on the go!
Mirage Waterproof Bronzer ($40), blender sponges and brushes are all available at Katrina Hess Makeup Studio at 115 Newbury Street, Suite 301.
