All Things Oscar

The Oscars are a favorite day of mine- I love everything about them, movies, beauty, jewels & fashion! So I decided (Mother Nature be damned) to host a viewing party. It was quite fun to throw together- with some of the accessories affordibly picked up at the dollar store, like the vintage inspired popcorn containers & movie sized candy.

To go with the gold star theme, I decided to spray paint bottles of prosecco & champagne to give them a gilded appearance. I loved the results- which were super easy, I just covered the labels with post it notes & got my spray on!

Gold star balloons from the dollar store provided valuable entertainment for the cat - see video of her trying to steal the decor on instagram!

The red velvet cupcakes renamed Red Carpet Cupcakes that were dusted with edible gold glitter were a crowd favorite.

So as far as the actual show- no real surprises as to the winners, I loved Ellen hosting! My pick for best dressed? Kate Hudson- hands down. Kate knocked it out of the park in her Versace gown that was the epitome of old Hollywood glamour. I also thought Angelina Jolie, Jessica Biehl & Sandra Bullock brought their A game. Who topped your list?

Peace. Love Lipgloss.

Oscars Beauty Breakdown: Jenna Dewan-Tatum

 So I'm sure being married to Channing Tatum would make anyone's eyes sparkle, but Oscar night mama to be Jenna Dewan-Tatum looked absolutely radiant. To play up her pregnancy glow, make-up artist Kayleen McAdams used the following Tarte products:

She started by prepping Jenna's skin with Tarte's BB Tinted Treatment 12 Hour Primer, then followed with their Amazonian clay 12- hour full coverage foundation in Tan. Tarte's Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Tan was applied underneath her eyes & the Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Peaceful was applied to the apples of her cheeks. To play up her gorgeous peepers, Kayleen mixed Amazonian Clay Waterproof Cream Eyeshadows in Slate & Plum Smoke both on her lids and along the lower lash line.  For a subtle lift Kayleen applied Skinny SmolderEYES Clay Waterproof Liner in Onyx to the outer upper & lower edges of her eyes. She finished by applying multiple coats of Lights, Cameras, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara. 

 Her lovely Oscar's look was completed with 2 coats of Tarte's LipSurgence Lip Tint (love these!) in Moody.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Oscars 2013: My Personal Picks

As much as I look forward to the Oscars every year- I'll be honest, it's just for the gowns & beauty!  I always feel like I've aged a year the show takes so long- i can't imagine how the nominees feel. Here's what caught my eye on the red carpet. Though Jessica Chastain didn't take home the Oscar this year for Best Actress, she got my vote for best dressed. I never would have thought she could have pulled off the color, but it was lovely against her alabaster skin. Her hair & make-up were the perfect compliment- she looked like a Hollywood starlet.

Naomi Watts' Armani Prive dress was modern, yet classic at the same time. The neckline made her stand out in the crowd of 'safe' gowns this year.

Reese's hair was absolute bombshell perfection & courtesy of Renato Campora featuring Vidal Sassoon products.

As always, Adele's make-up was flawless. Lots of cake liner- just how I like it! As for her fashion picks, I never feel like she flatters her figure & dresses twice her age.

 I think we're so used to seeing Jennifer Garner in the weeklies with her kids at farmer's markets that we forget how well she cleans up! After 3 kids, she's still one fierce mama.  Her necklace was captivating & my favorite accessory of the evening. I'll also state that her make-up was radiant & was another best on my list, along with mama to be Jenna Dewan-Tatum. It also helps that Jen's eyes light up whenever Ben speaks of her. So who were you favorite picks of the night, Beauties?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Must Have Make-Up Monday: Hourglass

I am powerless to resist anything involving a nude, glossy lip. Lord knows- my vanity is covered with all shades of nudes. I'm on an endless quest. When I was in NYC, I popped into Bergdorf's to investigate any new must haves. The make-up artist there from Hourglass was sporting a fabulous opaque nude lip. So we set about creating one to suit my coloring. I had already wanted to buy the Femme Rouge Velvet Creme Lipstick in Grace, since I knew it was used to create some fabulous Oscars beauty looks. Always on the lookout for the perfect lip liner, Hourglass' Trace Lip Liner in Bare also made its way home with me.Oh, did I mention I also scooped up this trio of glosses. I was totally torn between buying Child (top) or Ignite(bottom) initially, then we stumbled upon these minis- which had both shades + Imagine (center)= perfect solution!Here is the Trace Lip Liner in Bare, all on its own. It's a great your-lips-but-better shade with which to build any lip look.This look is the liner topped with the lipstick Grace. Grace is a delicious creamy, matte- but not in an extreme way. Your lips won't fall off from dryness. Plus, it's hard finding an opaque nude that doesn't wash you out. Grace is a hands down winner.Here I finished off my pucker with Ignite (top) & Child (bottom.) The glosses create 2 beautiful versions, one with some sheer shimmer & one in a milkier finish. I've been loving the multiple options I can create texture wise. The Hourglass line is quite luxe {meaning it's not cheap}, but I like the fact that I can buy refills for both the lipstick & liner. Plus, aren't we worth the splurge?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Oscar Night Beauty

One of my Oscar predictions for make-up looks last night was radiant skin & soft lips. Here are 2 Hollywood Stars that captured that look flawlessly! Make-up Artist Stephen Sollitto created Amy's ethereal look using Hourglass Cosmetics. Her peaches and cream complexion became the perfect canvas with an application of Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. For a luminous glow, Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturizer in Ivory was applied all over the face. Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer in Fair was used under the eyes (she is a mom after all!) For contouring, the bronze shade from Hourglass Illume Creme-to-Powder Duo in Bronze Light was used. Hourglass Visionaire Eye Shadow Duo in Gypsy was applied to bring out Amy's baby blues. Hourglass Script Precision Liner along the lash line was topped with the deep purple shade from another Visionaire Duo, Exhibition to further enhance her eyes. Of course, lots of Houglass' Full Spectrum Mascara was a must!

Her whisper light lip color was created with Hourglass Femme Rouge Velvet Creme Lipstick in Grace followed by a swipe of Prodigy Hydrating Lip Gloss in Ingenue.I love me some Claire Danes, ever since My So Called Life right up to Homeland currently. Fresh off a vacation, celebrity artist Jen Streicher used Hourglass Cosmetics for the look & prepped Danes' skin with Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. Then a blend of two shades of Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation in Light Beige & Sand was applied to her skin. I must get my hands on this foundation, it looks like it's right up my alley!

To create a radiant glow to her skin Hourglass Illume Creme-to-Powder Bronzer Duo in Sunset was used, then topped with Superficial Waterproof Bronzer. Streicher also turned to Hourglass' Visionaire Shadow Duo in Gypsy to highlight Danes' gorgeous peepers. I'm going to have to pick up this shade for my kit as it seems so universal! The shell shade was applied to the lid, the coppery shade along the lash line. For intense lashes both Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara and Film Noir Lash Lacquer were applied. Hourglass Aura Lip Stain in Flush was the perfect choice to compliment Danes' dress. A coat of Hourglass Extreme Sheen Lip Gloss in Reflect completed the look.

I thought both of these actresses looked stunning! Who were your favorite looks of the night? Sandra Bullock was another of mine for sure!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Oscars Countdown

Happy Oscars day beauties! How I love this day, more so for the fashion & beauty excitement than the actual awards ceremony. However, I can't wait to see hosts Anne Hathaway & James Franco. Hopefully they'll breathe some new life into the awards show & no doubt there will be a musical number!
For those of you hosting Oscar viewing parties, how adorable are these Eleni's sugar cookies? They come in best actor, best actress & best picture categories.

My favorite is the best picture nominees collection, these will surely be a conversation starter!
Stay tuned for my best & worst dressed pics tomorrow!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Oscars Glamour

Yes it's that time of year! Any girl that loves glamour, loves the Oscars. It's the female equivalent of the SuperBowl. Who were my picks of the night? Amanda Seyfried was stunning in Armani. The potential in this young actress is huge. Such talent, I knew both her & Kristen Bell were special way back when in their Veronica Mars days. I loved the clean lines of this dress, though it still had a great Cinderella feel to it. Flawless skin & make-up (with that alabaster skin-you know she wears her SPF!) + sleek hair = perfection!

Elizabeth Banks rocked it out in an incredible form fitting grey frock that fit her like a glove. Her diamond headband, grey smokey eye & nude glossy lips were the perfect finishing touches on the stunning look. You gals know I heart that look make-up wise!

Sarah Jessica Parker wore one of the most unusual dresses I've ever seen & I was captivated by it. Some didn't like it, but I thought it was true art as only Chanel Couture could do. Her make-up was gorgeous up close with her bright blue eyes heavily rimmed in sparkly black liner. The obsessive girl in me would have liked to smooth her hair a bit(I wasn't the only one on Twitter!), but for the most part- right down to her chunky bracelets, she was fashion personified. So who were the best & worst dressed of the night in your opinion my beauties?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Speaking of Oscars, stay tuned this week for news about the NYC event I attended that's pretty much the Oscars for beauty products. Let's just say I was in heaven & I'm going to share the love!