Friday, December 20, 2013

Vanessa Hudgens Hair and Makeup Tutorial!! (N)

Who says you can't look naturally glowy in the wintertime? Many people think that just because the weather is cold and dreary, their makeup and hair has to accompany that-- but that's not true! Actress and singer, Vanessa Hudgens, is often seen as looking bronzed and summery, regardless of the time of the year. Her hair is typically in loose waves (as seen in the photo to the left) and in this case, her bangs are clipped to the side to show off her radiant makeup look. The makeup mainly consists of browns, bronzes, golds, and oranges with a small amount of peach on the lips and cheeks. Whether you're as tan as Vanessa Hudgens or extremely pale, you can pull off a natural looking tan with a few quick and easy steps! You'll have people thinking you just returned from a long vacation without your look appearing to be forced. Be sure to keep reading to find out just how this look is done!



Makeup Directions:
     1. Sunscreen. This may sound silly but if it's winter or summer, you're going to need sunscreen. Not only will it moisturize your skin, but it will protect it from the sun and harsh winds that winter brings.
     2. After allowing your sunscreen or moisturizer (with SPF, of course) to set, pick up your primer. This is going to be essential for the makeup look due to the fact that you won't want your bronzer or highlights to fade off or melt. If this happens, your artificial glow will look, well, artificial. And that's what we're trying to avoid. So, blend that in all over your skin, up to your hairline and down your neck.
     3. Next, apply a BB Cream or tinted moisturizer (Maybelline has one of the best BB Cream products and it's about eight dollars at any drugstore). Apply the appropriate amount you need onto the tips of your fingers and begin rubbing your hands together. This will warm up the product and allow it to blend into your complexion much easier. Dot the product on your forehead, nose, cheeks, chin, and neck. Then blend it all together for an all over natural coverage.
     4. Conceal any imperfections.
     5. Picking up a concealer that is a shade brighter than your natural skin tone, place the product beneath your eyes and blend it up to your cheekbones. This will begin the process of a natural glow and bring in the appropriate amount of highlight to your skin.
     6. With an angled face brush, pick up a matte bronzer. Avoid shimmery bronzers at all costs because nobody has a natural glitter effect to their skin (that would be weird). Blend the product in the hollows of your cheeks and up into your hairline on both sides, creating a mirrored "C" shape. Also, blend the product down the sides of your nose and down to your neck for a full tan. I recommend using the Nars Laguna Bronzer from Sephora.
     7. Prime your eyelids with a shimmering primer. Cover only your lids with the product, staying away from blending the product too far up. Keep it away from your brow bone and the inner corner of your eye. Bare Minerals Prime Time primer would be a great option.
     8. With a fluffy crease brush, pick up a shimmery bronze eyeshadow and begin blending it in through the crease. Stay out of the outer-V and keep it only in your actual crease.
     9. With a shimmering dark brown shadow, you can now begin applying that to your outer-V. This will add definition to your eye and give more of a dramatic effect (if that's what you're looking for).
     10. Lining your eyes is an optional step but in this case, Vanessa appears to be wearing a black coal liner in her waterline and tight line. An easy trick to getting liner up into your tight line would be to apply the liner to your waterline, then blinking repeatedly. The color should transfer.
     11. One to two coats of your favorite mascara follows.
     12. With a matte peach blush, apply the product to the apples of your cheeks and blend out to avoid any harsh lines.
     13. Finish off the look with a light pink or coral gloss.

Hair Directions:
     1. Start off with your hair down, and completely brushed out to get out all of the knots and snarls.
     2. Since we will be applying heat to the hair, heat protectant is a definite must. Spray a generous amount of your favorite heat protectant on your hair, making sure you get all the way from your roots to your tips. Brush through your hair once more to evenly distribute the heat protectant.
     3. Depending on if your hair curls easily or not, you may need to put a little moose in your hair to help hold the curls.
     4. Take your favorite curling wand and since we want big loose curls, choose a barrel that is 1 1/2 inches or bigger. Wrap a section of hair that about 1 inch big, and wrap it around the curling wand. Hold for about 30-45 seconds and then let it fall. Continue all around your head until all your hair is curled.
     5. To make the curls a little looser and relaxed, take either your fingers or a comb and brush through the curls. Don't forget to spray on hairspray to keep the curls in tact and to hold all day/night long.
     6. To complete the hairstyle, and dress it up a bit, take an inch section of hair at the front of your head on each side of your part near your hairline.
     7. Take both sections of hair and twist the back away from your face.
     8. At the back of the head, take the two strands of hair and pull them together with a small butterfly clip.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Holiday Hair & Makeup Tutorial!! (M)

The holidays are approaching and hair and makeup looks are becoming bolder and more pronounced. People are getting more daring with their curling irons and deep wavers, creating a very texturized and full hair look to wear for the winter season. As for makeup, people are wearing dark shades of purple and shimmering gold tones on their eyes along with a gold highlight and even a dark lip color. This season is focusing on contouring and framing the face, so with this look inspired by Selena Gomez at the 2013 Flaunt Magazine Party, you'll be able to accomplish that.

Makeup Directions:
     1. Begin priming your skin and your eyelids. The harsh winter weather can take its toll on your skin and could ruin it, so be sure to find a primer with SPF in it. It's possible to get sunburn (yes, even if it is cold out, the sun is still out and shining).
     2. Next, apply your foundation accordingly. I would recommend a liquid foundation with a moisturizing element within it to fight your skin from becoming dry and irritated more than it already may be. If your skin is oily, then proceed to use a cream foundation or even a powder one. Cover the entirety of your complexion with the product to give yourself full, matte coverage.
     3. Apply concealer if necessary to spots that may need attention. This may include dark circles, imperfections, or areas that appear slightly more reddened than the rest of your skin tone.
     4. Set your foundation and concealer with a loose or pressed powder of your choice. Blend the product down to your neck.
     5. With a contouring brush, pick up a matte bronzer and suck in your cheeks. Begin filling in the hollows of them to recreate any of the definition that you may have lost while applying the foundation. Also, bring the product up to your hairline and down the sides of your nose.
     6. Next, use a gold tinted highlighter. This could be a liquid or powder, but it might be easier to use powder. In that case, begin brushing it over your cheekbones and also bring some onto your brow bone and the inner corner of your eye. This will draw light onto your face. Also, apply a bronze shade on your lids.
     7. Pencil in your eyebrows if necessary. Bold brows are in this season and will go well with this look.
     8. Skip the eyeliner and go straight to mascara. Apply more coats than usual due to the fact that there is a low amount of product on the rest of the eyes.
     9. Swipe some moisturizing chapstick on your lips and make sure that they are as smooth as they can possibly be.
     10. Apply a dark, plum shade of red on your lips.
     11. Finally, set your entire makeup look with a setting spray. This will protect your skin from the weather conditions and keep it looking fresh and new all day long!

Hair Directions:
     1. Start off with your hair down, and brushed through to get all of the knots and tangles out.
     2. Part your bangs with a center part, and pull the rest of your hair back so there is no part at all.
     3. Starting at the crown of your head and working your way back, begin to tease your hair. Pick up about an inch section of hair, and using a teasing comb, or even a regular comb, start with your comb in the hair, near the roots of your scalp. Begin moving the comb in an up and down motion, without removing the comb from your hair. Repeat this process until the desired volume is achieved. Lightly comb over the top of your hair to get rid of any visible knots.
     4. Now to begin the fishtail braid start off with pulling all of your hair over one of your shoulders. To do this braid, split your hair into two sections. Take a small section of hair from the outside of one of the sections, and cross it over to the opposite section. Alternate sections, and repeat this process until you have braided all of your hair.
     5. Depending on your hair color, secure the end of the braid with either a dark colored, or light colored elastic, to blend in with your hair color.
     6. To achieve the messy braid look, lightly pull the braid out a little so it isn't so tight anymore. Let a few pieces of hair stick out as well. Continue to play with the braid with your fingers until the desired look is achieved.
     7. Finally, use a good, firm hairspray to keep your hairstyle in place all day and night long!