This photo of fabulous Brazilian model Rojane Fradique perfectly illustrates what I’ve been saying for so long — bright colors look so stunning on beautiful black skin. Seriously, how fierce is she? I wish I could do such stunning eye makeup. Someday, bellas, someday.
The holiday season is upon us, and that means parties and get togethers and lots of opportunities to go out and look fabulous. This is the makeup that will help you get there.
Anyone remember my fake eyelash hell from last year? I think enough time has passed for me to consider a retry for New Year’s Eve. This time, instead of individually glued in lashes, I’m dying to try some Shu Uemura lashes. And the time is right — the company known for producing the best fake lashes on the market is having a friends and family event! From 12:01am EST on Thursday, December 13th through 11:59pm EST on Monday, December 17th, you can get 20% off when you enter the promotion code HOLIDAY07 at checkout. This offer isn’t available in stores, you gotta buy online at Shuuemura-USA.com, and if you sign up on their website (registration is free) and spend over $75, your shipping is free. Click here to check out some of their craziest lash styles. I’m not THAT out there – I’ve got my eye on the Premium Lashes Set. Hint hint, Santa baby!
I’ve been doing more makeup reviews recently, and trying out quite a few new brands. Some of the best stuff I’ve tried recently is by MESS mineral makeup, which stands for Making Everyone Soo Sexy — If you don’t know, now you know! I am seriously impressed by the quality of this brand. They’re based in New York, and all of their products are named for the city’s streets and areas of interests. They were able to perfectly match my skin tone, and sent me William Street bronzer, Grand Central Station blush, and Houston Street loose eyeshadow, which is the most perfect golden shimmer shadow I’ve used, possibly ever. Want to look a pretty MESS? Right now it’s their Tis the Season to Go Glam Holiday sale, and you get sweet discounts! Buy any 2-3 items and receive 25% off, and the discounts increase if you buy more stuff. Check out their beautiful lipgloss selection! Oooh. Next, I’m dying to try their mineral foundation. I bet it’s incredible.
My holiday party is Saturday, and tonight, I’ve got a wedding to attend — this will be an all-out glamtastic weekend for me. So I’m already thinking of the looks I want. My holiday party has a black and white theme and isn’t in a super glitzy location, so I got an understated wear-anywhere LBD from Old Navy that I can dress up or dress down for future events, and adorable black and silver embellished Steve Madden flats (the party’s taking place here, so apparently there’s sand and walkways where you’ll sink in heels. Lots of the ladies in my office were like, no heels? And I was like, yay, flats!). So because I’m wearing a relatively understated ensemble, I’m going all-out fab with the makeup. My inspiration is the amazing Estelle, and the look she sports in the video for Wait a Minute (Just a Touch).
Retro but modern and oh so gorgeous. Love Estelle! That eye makeup is killing it right now. Besides that soft silvery-white shadow, she’s also rocking some fierce fake lashes. I’m not going that route just yet, but I’ve got some amazing new mascara that’ll do the trick just fine. Prescriptives False Eyelashes plush mascara is my current favorite thing. It’s thick without being too clumpy, lengthens without making my lashes hard and spiky, and leaves my lashes looking super long, thick, and sexy. Plus it removes easily, which is a big plus for the laziest gal in town.
How does this mascara stack up to the hundreds of others on the market, price wise? Pretty well, I think. It’s 19.50, so it ain’t cheap, but it isn’t insanely expensive. Oh, and if you’re not sure what Prescriptives mascara you need, check out Lash Finder, which suggests a product based on your needs.
Do you want a taste of holiday glamour? Well then bella, I’ve got a giveaway for you! As soon as one ends, another begins I tell ya. This one’s pretty sweet if I do say so myself — the Body Shop’s Metallic Eye and Cheek Palette. It’s simply gorgeous. The little kit comes with five gleaming metallic shades. Use a little for daytime, and a lot for nighttime dazzle. Body Shop makeup artist and consultant Chase Aston is feeling me on the eye drama. “Women should be a little more adventurous with shades and textures but be sure to enhance just one key feature. For holiday, it should be all about the eyes!” says he. I agree!
He advises you go for a nude lip (for bellas with darker skin tones, I think a sheer pink gives that perfect barely-there pout), a sheer pink with shimmering silver highlighter for cheeks, then smudge metallic washes of gold and bronze around the eyes. Compliment with liquid liner, and you’re holiday glamorous. Want a fabulous Body Shop metallic eye and cheek palette of your very own? Of course you do!
Leave a comment below that begins with the sentence – I want that holiday glam! And tell me what you go for when you want to look extra special for a night on the town. I’ll close these comments on Monday night, and pick five lucky winners next week.
Happy Friday!!
Niki
I want that holiday glam! Like you, Bella, I have had a fascination/fear of false eyelashes. I think I want to finally give them a try after jealously coveting this woman’s lashes at the nail salon. Holiday parties are the only place you can truly get away with lots of sparkle and shimmer, so I always sweep a gold or silver-tones eyeshadow to add that touch of ‘bling’ to my hoiday makeup. Also super-shiny, touch-o-frost lip glosses make me look great in all the photos people take this time of year.
Storme
I want that holiday glam!!!
I’m a pretty natural bella…fake eyelashes scare me and I don’t really do much else aside from your basic black eyeliner and sheer/pink lip gloss on a day to day basis.
When I’m looking to give my looks a little umph I’ll opt for some gold shimmery shadow or do a nice smoky eye with a shimmery light brown to add a little sparkle. Lips are always simple, so I’d use MAC’s lip gellee in slicked pink or opt for a nice lip liner blended on the lips to give them a slight brown tone with clear lip gloss over top.
I must say that Ms. Rojane looks quite fabulous in that picture, I wish I had the eye shadow skills to pull that off. That is truly a diva look, and I love it. One day… 🙂
KimPossible
Gotta have that holiday glam gir
I am going to have to try that MESS make-up line you were speaking of. I love it! You are keeping me looking good and informed. Rojane looks FAB in that picture her make-up is flawless. You should do make-up classes? Have you ever thought about that? Like, online make-up classes through You Tube. You could show women how to apply make-up, keep us up to date with the latest and newest brands, colors, and trends. Girl, check up on it!!!
HAPPY FRIDAY!
Visit my blog today…interesting topic!
KimPossible
EcuaFina
I want that holiday glam!
Whenever I want to look glam, I always focus on my eyes. It’s all about the eyes…that picture of the Brazilian model proves my point. For my birthday I decided to go for a wash of turquoise up until the crease and then blended it with a shimmery sand color on the brow. No matter what color I choose for the eyes, I always MUST have my lashes on point, and I do that by using Dior Show mascara. It’s the best, never smudges never clumps. It makes me look like I have on false lashes. I generally use black or dark brown eyeshadow as a liner, I am still trying to master the liquid liner look. I dust a little rosy pink blush, fill in my eyebrows with some brown eyeshadow, and use a clear pink gloss from C.O. Bigelow. (Mentha Lip Tint to be exact!) When I feel extra glam, I apply my MAC bronzer and rim the inside of my eyes with a deep jewel tone pencil liner. Just writing this makes me want to take out my makeup bag and glam myself up! I think I’ll put some liner and gloss on now!
Katrina
ME ME MEEEE!!! I WANT THE HOLIDAY GLAM!!! I’m new to the eye shadow world. I always do the simple mascara, powder and lip gloss! I try and concentrate on my eyes with just mascara and eyeliner…boooring yes I know. I just recently started playing in eye shadow now when I go out. I would love to see what look I can create with the Holiday Glam!!
Yanna
I WANT THAT HOLIDAY GLAM!!! As a dark skinned woman, I’ve always felt limited to my make up options. It wasnt until recently that I began to explore the notion of using more vibrant colors so your piece is very timely! What’s even better is I look similar to the model in the pic, minus the glamour of course. So Afrobella, UPGRADE ME!!! Choose me for the eye and cheek palette so I can spice it up for the holidays!
Olivia
I want that holiday glam!
Normally I don’t wear alot of make-up but I am learning as I go along. With the Holiday Season here, there will be plenty of parties & get togethers with family & friends. And my family know say I try with makeup but this time around I’m ready to work it! I’m ready to dance and have my slice of rum cake too! lol
nyc/caribbean ragazza
I want that holiday glam!!!
I agree with you, the Prescriptives mascara is excellent. I have a goldish eye shadow from Trish McEvoy that looks great on dark skin. If I go heavy on the eyes I keep my lips low key or visa versa.
AJ
I want that holiday glam!!
I love eye make up and colors, and I’m ordering that mascara asap!!
Great post Bella!
tanmitch
I want that holiday glam! I’m still learning about eye make-up, but when I want to feel glamorous I attempt a creme liner (you know the kind you apply with a brush but not the liquid) on the upper lid. Since I rarely feel that it’s successful, my back up is to emphasize my assets and go for CLEAVAGE! A good bra and a little shimmer goes a long way.
chinwe
I want that holiday glam!!!
i love the prescriptives line…its perfect for me because i have serious combination skin…on a normal day i usually stick with concealer and lip gloss, but when i really want to glam it up i go for a dark smudge on the lid, with a little shimmer, or ill play with some color..tis the season to be jolly 🙂
trecia
I want that holiday glam! A newly Inspired eye make up fan… well just thought i’d try… since i’m newly inspired and I have no make up yet…(i need to go to some make up store, but only in Canada you got to spend hundreds of dollars…to experience) Since i look like a teenager and my best feature is my eyes and DARK lips… My look consists of bringing out my eyes since they are HUGE. I never look the same I love the natural look, And i thought it would be a great idea to mix the natural and a touch of color which reflexes my personality…
Willandra
I want that holiday glam!!!!
This is my first comment on here by the way…I just started checking out this site recently. I love it!
Anyway, I am a pretty basic chick when it comes to make up I love my eyes and lips so for a special evening I am definitely going to enhance my best features. Either a smoky eye w/ lots of black mascara (I am eyelash-challenged) or swipe of gold across the lids are perfect for me. I love lip gloss so something subtle and pretty is perfect for me. It doesn’t hurt to have some sexy lingerie on underneath the clothes either 😉
Auragirl
I want that holiday glam! Since I’m a student, I don’t really get glammed up often, but when I do I like to use a shimmery glip gloss, eye liner and a splash of color on my eyes! I would love to try more daring makeup applications in 2008…I think that model and her eye is absolutely STUNNING!
Thanks Bella! 🙂
Jazzy.
I bought some of those ever so lovely Shu lashes not to long ago and they look fabulous! I am a die hard fan…but I have only been able to apply them perfectly once, which pretty much sucks.
LISA
I WANT THAT HOLIDAY GLAM!!!!
I LOVE makeup and these products look like “fa la la la la la la la la!!!” They look FABU…. I just started wearing prescriptives and I love it. The holidays r the perfect excuse for me to look like I need 2 have paparazzi taking my pictures……
TJ
I use the false eyelashes by prescriptives. Love it!! 🙂
T.T.
I want that holiday glam!
I just started wearing makeup and I am having some what of a difficult time in trying to figure out exactly what I need! In the past, I have used mascara and lip gloss only, however I am starting to experiment with eye color and at least tinted lip gloss. LOL. Pick me!!!
Denise
Ooohhh, ooohhh, ooohhh, I WNAT THAT HOLIDAY GLAM! When I want to set it off for the holidays or any other time, I usually use metallic shades. Not over the top, but subtly (i used to have silver mascara, but I’ve toned it down a bit, LOL). I jsut love the sparkle that silver shades can give and I love the warmth and radiace that bronze and gold tones provide. I would love to use the Body Shop products to add more to my collection. I’ve been a big Body Shop fan for so long b/c it’s a socially conscious spot. Who says you can’t look cute and be kind to Mother Earth at the same time:)
Cheers.
T.N.Thomas
I want that holiday glam! I am one of the 3 black girls in my graduate department, and unlike other people I love to dress up! But I don’t get the chance to do it as often as I would like. So when I do glam up, I like to go all out! Help me glam up for my departmental holiday party!
Misalexis
I want that holiday glam! Of course being a charter member of Broke Phi Broke, I get invited to a lot of parties at school, and friends and family. I would like pretty shimmery makeup to complement my outfit and make me feel extra special when stepping out!!
thecla
I want that holiday glam!!!
my best feature to put with is my eye.i have small eyes and i think those bright colours will pop them out for me.would like to give it a try.thank you.
JoyBella
I want that holiday glam!
Estelle is just gorgeous with those lovely long eyelashes that I would like to rock just like her!
Very nice video and song.
Soulestrella
– I want that holiday glam..Thinking back on how makeup can enhance ones best asset and how I would experiment with different looks including purple,gold, black lipstick dont ask! However that sense of adventure in different makeup has washed away to leave a sleek sophisticate that deals with browns/coppers/golds tones with light lip gloss. I realised I have fallen into a rut that i need to get out. Any advice is necessary!!
Nika
I want that holiday glam- and to get it I always experiment with colors on my eyes. My eyes are big and brown so colors make them pop, especially now that I have a twa. Moreover, I concur…bright colors are simply beautiful on brown skin! I also always like to wear something shimmery or shiny. It’s scream new, fresh, and vibrant. I usually love to add shimmer when I highlight around my cheek and eye area.