Beauty on a Budget: Fall Trends

Atlanta is beautiful in the fall. The air cools and the jokes begin to circulate amongst us “non-southerners” about the “cold weather.” The fun banter brings the fellowship of fall, of upcoming holidays and the spirit of giving. To me, this is the perfect season. It is now officially acceptable for me to wear that very coveted scarf, while walking around with my signature cup of Pumpkin Spice Latte. Fall also welcomes the most beautiful makeup of the year, in my opinion: deep bronzes, smoky purples, warm browns, colors emulating the gorgeous turn of leaves.

Due to my career as a hair stylist, nail polish is a pointless decoration. With my hands immersed in water 90% of the day, polish lasts about 10 minutes. Walking through the aisles of Target, one of my favorite stores, I fell in love with the themes represented in every polish line. Sonia Kashuk’s “Tauped” ($4.99), is beautiful. The deep taupe shade changes color depending on your clothing. It has hints of purple, but can appear grey or brown as well. Brilliant! This color has single-handedly converted a former polish hater.

Blush and pink tones are still very hot this fall and now they have translated into clothing. I love Jennifer Lopez’s line at Kohl’s as many of the clothes are the soft pink/blush color. They are beautifully designed with quality material that isn’t flimsy as you might assume from a discounted clothing store. The ability to purchase an outfit for less than $100 is pretty amazing! I was impressed.

Not all fall trends are soft and sweet, though. Bold purple is appearing frequently even in eyeliner. My favorite is Almay’s Purple Amethyst liquid liner ($7). Pair color liners with a neutral eye, like a gold shimmer for a bit of a retro look, which is always in style. I like to believe there are almost no rules that can’t be broken in fashion, including hair and makeup; therefore, I love to pair bold purple eyes with an outfit that might not match. Once upon a time it was taboo to wear black and brown together, right? Try pairing purple eyes with a coral scarf, or a blush shirt. It’s gorgeous and empowering.

A little preview: my next skin article is going to get you ready for the winter skin blahs! If you have a chance, check out Salma Hayek’s Nuance line. That’s all I’m saying. It can ONLY be purchased at CVS, and this girl, might be a tad obsessed. Enjoy this season! I love it!

Beauty on a Budget: Q & A with Date Night Magazine

I love to read the advice columns in magazines. However, annoyingly, every magazine offers conflicting advice about what to do with your makeup and hair. It’s confusing for anyone except stylists and make-up artists. I am the first one to say that my opinion is exactly that, an opinion based on my experience in the industry. With that said, I asked for your questions, and you sent them! I hope you find this Q & A helpful.

1. Are there makeup products that I should invest more money on?
Yes. I love that less expensive brands give high dollar brands a good run for their money. However, I always spend more money on my foundation. Skin is porous so it will absorb what you put on it. Less expensive foundations contain a lot of fillers: chemicals that your body can’t digest properly, so it is more likely that your skin will break out and age quicker. My favorite is Aveda.

2. How can I figure out my face shape?
Stand in front of a mirror with a dry erase marker, pull your hair back into a pony tail, and trace the shape of your face on the mirror. Google image: face shapes, and compare! A majority of people think they have a round face, when they normally do not. Don’t be misled because you think there is fullness near your cheek bones.

3. I love the look of lip-gloss, but it disappears too quickly! How can I make it last?
First, find a lip pencil that matches your natural lip color. Apply the pencil to your lips, and use your finger to smooth and blend it. Because lips are very porous, this will provide the barrier you need, apply the gloss on top of the liner. My favorite gloss is NYC’s Extreme Lip Glider Lip Gloss.

4. I’m tired of always wearing black or brown eye liner. Can I wear one with color?
Yes! I love a color liner right now. There are some great choices out there, but stay away from anything metallic. I love colors that complement your eye color. For example, I use a lot of plums, because I have brown eyes, but recently for a photo shoot I used turquoise on a green eye. Please do not pair color mascara with color eye liner, unless you’re attending an 80’s party.

5. My eye shadow always fades half-way through the day! How can I make it last?
One word: primer. I like NYC’s Individual Eyes Custom Compact, which comes with the primer in it. Wash your eyes with a mild soap (I prefer glycerin) or at least use an oil absorbing sheet to remove the oil from your eyelids. This helps the primer adhere to your eye lid. Cover any place you want to apply eye shadow to. I also apply some below my bottom lashes, and pull the color under my lashes too! This helps your eyes appear larger.

6. My lashes are short and stubby! How do I make them look longer?
First, make sure your eye liner isn’t applied too thick. This way your eyelashes can be viewed from the base, which gives the appearance of length. Next, curl your top lashes with an eye lash curler, gently. Do not squeeze too hard, so you don’t break your lashes, or pull them out. My favorite find has been L’Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara. It has a white primer, which you apply first, and after it dries, apply the mascara. The primer extends your lashes. You can layer it as long as you want, before the mascara is applied.

Want your questions answered? Comment here, e-mail me at cayladoeshair@hotmail.com, OR ask me on facebook or twitter