Top New Ultralight Makeup Foundations: Yves St. Laurent Fusion Ink & Laura Mercier Smooth Finish

Wearing YSL Fusion Ink in BD50 Warm Honey

If you caught any of the runway shows from Fashion Week, you'll notice that the look for SS2015 is one of fresh color and a earthy palette of neutrals. You'll see this everywhere from eye shadow to foundation. Less is more and the nearly nude face with matte lips is trending now.

So one of the best ways to try this new look out for yourself is to stop in at Sephora or a department store counter to get a complimentary color match of these NEW ultralight foundations. These new foundations are so light and fluid that it feels like you are wearing NOTHING at all. Here are the two favorites I just purchased.

Yves Saint Laurent Fusion Ink Foundation (Le Teint Encre De Peau)
I first saw this foundation at Sephora earlier in September along with YSL's Touche Eclat Foundation. I ended up purchasing the latter which may be good for a cold, dry winter but WAY too oily for the fall. So I went back and purchased the Fusion Ink Foundation everyone has been raving about. Well for one thing, it slips on like nothing and is very similar in texture to Dr. Perricone's No Foundation, Foundation. The big difference is that the Fusion Ink is much more pigmented and covers better. It also will hold up for nearly 24 hours as I found out by falling asleep in it after my bodacious birthday party!

YSL Fusion Ink Foundation has a weird stick applicator so it's best to apply to the back of your hand first and apply with a Beauty Blender Sponge or a fine goat hair brush like the Esum G47. Coverage is buildable but the look you'll want is "barely there". The result is a healthy, natural look that just makes people think you have amazing skin. So now that your summer tan is fading, go and get matched up by one of the pros. This foundation is just shy of 1 oz (0.84 fl oz) and retails for about $60 plus tax but will last as a little goes a long way. My shade? BD50 Warm Honey but I may need to go lighter as my tan fades. This shade isn't as "warm" (read "yellow") as most foundations in this category which I actually like. The finish is semi-matte and looks incredible with a bit of NARS Orgasm Illuminator popped on top of the cheekbones. No setting powder is needed and this foundation did not require blotting or touch-ups.

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation
I visited Lord & Taylor to be color matched for this. I have used LM primers and tinted moisturizer before and like the product line. So I was really curious to try her new take on the ultra-light, long wearing foundation trend. Once again, this is a very light, almost watery foundation. Very similar to Dr. Perricone's No Foundation, Foundation which I really like and wear most everyday even if I'm not in full makeup. This new LM foundation however melts into your skin and leaves a lit from within glow. You can not see or even feel it on your face and it doesn't settle into fine lines or pores. Pretty amazing! This foundation comes in 24 shades and mine is Macadamia which is Light with Warm Undertones.

The best way to choose a foundation is to have it color matched to your neck in the store. Then go out and wear it in different lighting conditions: at home, dinner, outdoors, etc.
Right now Laura Mercier will do a color match in this foundation and send you home with a FREE 5 day supply. Sephora will do the same with any of their foundations and products as well. They are the only ones who sell YSL cosmetics so I often shop there.

Both of these foundations are long wearing and incredibly enough, can not be seen on the skin which is what you want for the new, "barely there" trend. This look says "See my healthy skin, not the piles of makeup I've globbed on top." So get with the program and lighten up! What's next? How about a dupe for Urban Decay's NEW Naked 3 Palette? Stay tuned!

Makeup: YSL Fusion Ink Foundation, NARS Orgasm Illuminator & Hourglass Extreme Sheen Lipgloss in Nectar. Mary Kay Mascara, Eye Shadow - Lancome

NYFW Runway 500 Eye Makeup Designs Esum Brushes, Pur Minerals and Sephora's Makeup Forever

500 Eye Makeup Designs and some of my favorite tools to do it.

Kicking off Fashion Week, you can't help but envy some of the exotic eye makeup designs we see on the runway. Well, I've walked the runway and know how much a beautiful eye makeup application can do to compliment an outfit. So here are some tips and tools to add some pop to your eyes and wow to those brows:

NEW! 500 Eye Makeup Designs by Kendra Stanton
Kendra is a nationally renowned makeup artist with her work being seen on the covers of Fast Company, Los Angeles Magazine and the pages of Muse Magazine, Runners World and the New York Times. Just published in August 2014, Stanton's book offers everything from the more subdued everyday work looks to more artistic high fashion eye makeup seen on the pages of Vogue and Harper's. I really like the variety of designs and the choice to go a bit crazy for Holidays or even cos-play. 320 pages with a brief tutorial in the back of the which acts as the basis for all eye makeup applications. Book is available at FairwindsPress.com or Amazon.com and retails for $24.99

New fall eye makeup colors from Pur Perfect Fit Eyeshadow Trio

Pur Perfect Fit Eyeshadow Trios
New for fall, these Pur Perfect Fit Trios shown here are: Jet Setter, Bohemian Bombshell and Lady Luck. This Belgium formula describes itself as, "Luminous, long-wear colours that correct the look of lines and creases. Beauty - pur and simple."
I don't have serious lines but it's good to know that this formula will not make matters worse! Feels almost creamy when blended but it is truly a powder formula. Reminds me of my Bare Minerals Eye Duos, (my favorite is The Top Shelf). If you want perfect eye shadow application that doesn't crease, first prime your lids with something like L'Oreal's Miracle Blur and set with a silicon powder like Elf's High Definition Powder. Check the new Perfect Fit Trios out at PurMinerals.com

My Favorite Eye Makeup Tools - Esum Pro Essential 14 pc Set
If you are looking to move up to makeup artist quality brushes, you'll want to check out Muse Beauty Pro. You will need serious brushes like these to pull off the looks in the book. Some of my favorites from this pro set include:

S33 Medium Round Eye Contour Brush
B15 Angle Brow Brush
W21 Small Filbert Shader Brush
T05 Square Liner Brush
G09 Extra Small Scallop Liner Brush

Esum brushes are available at MuseBeauty.Pro

Make Up Forever Smokey Extravagant Mascara & Sephora Colorproof Liquid Eyeliner in Navy Blue
This season, navy blue is the new black so you might want to check out how to wear this with a subdued smokey eye. I like Sephora's Makeup Forever Mascara as well as their namesake Colorproof Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner. Always use an eyelash curler before applying mascara. What's hot now also are eyelash extensions. Add them in one by one for the most natural look with less mascara clumps and cleanup. Many spas like J n K at Commisso and Co. Hair Salon in Port Washington, Long Island offer this service so check around.

Sephora Colorproof Waterproof Eyeliner in Blue Navy

Boots Botanics Eyeliner Pencil
I received this is my BoxyCharm subscription box this spring. It is made with skin conditioning jojoba oil but the label says made in China! Boots is a UK drugstore brand and I have used this eye pencil quite a bit. I like that it comes with its own sharpener, similar to the Elf Eyeliner Pencils. The color does seem to stay put and if you pop any pencil in the fridge before sharpening, you can get a clean, tight line. Clean up of all this eye makeup needn't be a horror either. Very heavy eye makeup comes off easily with Lumene Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover. It comes from Finland and is made with 100% Organic Arctic Linen Seed oil and can be used on eyes and lips. Use this or gently massage some organic coconut oil over your lids and wipe gently with a flannel or face cloth.

Makeup Forever Mascara and Boots Botanics Eyeliner

Book and Eye Shadows c/o Fairwinds Press and Pur Minerals respectively

Skin Perfect: NEW Moisture Blur Primer by L'Oreal Paris

New from the RevitaLift Collection - Moisture Blur is blurring the lines!

Paris-France Spring is here and most of us are ready for lighter clothes, shoes and makeup. The only thing is the challenge of sporting a fresh, natural look can mean showing your skin for what it is: uneven, full of large pores & acne scars. I've pretty much found my Holy Grail of primers, namely L'Oreal's Miracle Blur which I use in practically every photo shoot. Still that didn't stop me from trying something new from the same line. Oh, so glad I did!

Moisture Blur - Moisturizer + Primer
It's no secret now that red carpet stars like Jennifer Lopez (J. Lo) are in love with Miracle Blur. I liked it when it first came out over a year ago and was one of the first to use and review it. The original formula tends to get a bit dry and stiff in the tube.  It also separated so I've learned not to stock up as age does not improve this product's application. The newer Moisture Blur however seems a bit softer/creamier perhaps because of the addition of moisturizers.

Moisture Blur is creamier than the original Miracle Blur

What's the Difference?
Moisture Blur, as the name implies, has 24hour moisturizers built into the product in addition to the line filling primer action. It is also easier to apply than the original Miracle Blur. On the downside, Moisture Blur DOES NOT have sun protection factors like the original Miracle Blur which has a SPF of 20. This is not really a deal breaker for me because I use a dedicated sunblock no matter what. My sunblock goes on BEFORE my primer and the new one I'm using from G.M. Collin does not interfere with my makeup at all. See: The Top New Sunscreens for Spring-Summer

Less is more. Try a lighter makeup touch for spring.

The Results - Photo Ready Skin
Oftentimes I have to be on location at very short notice for a promotional appearance or photo shoot. The bigger magazines and TV Stations have hair and makeup artists on the set to get you ready. However, to save time and make sure my foundation matches, I'll often take care of that at home via an airbrush (Kett Cosmetics specifically). Using Moisture Blur is a major step up from the Miracle Blur primer because I don't have to remember to apply tons of moisturizer. In fact in the photos above and below, I'm only wearing MitoQ Advanced AntiOxidant Moisturizer under the Moisture Blur. MitoQ is super intense and light, leaving no residue as it sinks completely into the skin. It also helps even out and correct sun spots and freckles due to UV damage.

Moisture Blur offers 24hour hydration.

The Wrap
Suffice it to say, I'm really pleased with the application and all day hydration of Moisture Blur. My pores and acne scars are nicely hidden and after using it on my lids, my eye shadow went on easier as well. My skin is generally oily so winter time makes it just about right. As the weather warms up, I'll see if the Moisture Blur is too heavy or not, however I think it will be fine. You really can't feel it on your skin! I all of these photos I am wearing:

MitoQ Advanced AntiOxidant Moisturizer
Moisture Blur
Lancome Teint Miracle in Bisque (W) 
HourGlass Nectar Lip Gloss
Yves Saint Laurent Golden Gloss
Victoria's Secret Brightening Highlighter
Bare Minerals Top Shelf Eye Duo
Sephora's Color Proof Eyeliner in Navy Blue
Physician's Formula Bronzer

Bringing the Spa Home with Clarisonic and Embryolisse

The Clarisonic display at Sephora, 42nd Street, NYC.

SEPHORA, 42ND ST. NYC: Earlier this year, we were doing a photo shoot in Midtown and stopped by Sephora on our way to Times Square.  They have a really large selection of all things Clarisonic so we went over to the display and saw this cool attachment for the PLUS. If you're not too familiar with the Clarisonic Line of sonic cleansing systems, the PLUS has interchangeable heads for both your face and body.

Clarisonic's Body Brush Extension Handle turns the PLUS into a back brush! Pair it with Embryolisse Soap Free Cleanser and Lait Creme Body Lotion for a full spa treatment.

Clarisonic PLUS
I've had my Clarisonic PLUS for about three years now and I wouldn't be without it. I even take it with me camping! When you snap on the facial brush head, the unit senses this and automatically selects those settings. Pop on the body brush-head and it goes into a 2 minute cycle for the bath or shower.

The Clarisonic PLUS with both the facial and body brush heads.

Sonic Cleansing All Over
The Body Brush Extension Handle just makes the PLUS that much better. Now I can more comfortably reach down to the small of my back, knees, legs and feet. The PLUS easily snaps into the cradle which is angled to more effectively access your back. If you're like me and have acne on your shoulders and back, this brush attachment is a great way to treat it. The handle of the extension is comfortable and easy to grip even with soapy hands.

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Moussant (Sans Savon) & Lait-Creme Riche Corps
My Clarisonic PLUS came with several tubes of gentle cleansers which are perfect for traveling. At home, I prefer to use Embryolisse Lait-Creme Soap Free Cleanser.
Since it is soap free, it does not dry your skin or leave a film. Rich in sweet almond oil and shea butter, I just squeeze a little on my wet skin and begin massaging with my PLUS.  This is a multi-tasking cleanser as I've also used it on my face and as a shampoo. It's even gentle enough for use on babies.

Moisturizing After your Spa Treatment
The icing on the cake is going to be your moisturizer. My favorite by far is Embryolisse Lait-Creme Riche Corps.  I love the delicate fragrance of sandalwood which is a signature note of this French line. It contains shea butter, oils of sandalwood, cork and barley with vitamin E.  It is SO rich, a little goes a long way especially on moist, freshly cleansed skin. I've been to several day spas and enjoy what they do but you can treat yourself at home EVERYDAY to a facial and body scrub with Clarisonic and Embryolisse!

Body Brush/Attachments & Cleansers-Moisturizers c/o Clarisonic & Embryolisse respectively. 

Clarisonic & Opal Give-Away!

Right now, Gavethat.com is holding a Clarisonic Mia & Opal Skin Care Systems GIVE-AWAY!!!! Read our article: Spa Pleasures at Home to find out what these incredible products can do. Follow this link below and enter before midnight, May 31st, 2010!!!!


Enter Gavethat.com's Clarisonic & Opal GIVE-AWAY