Makeup on The Runway {Sarah Seven}

This years Lab Event was glamorous and full of lots of inspiring ideas-it exceeded all my expectations yet again. I had the pleasure of spending the morning with Julia from Gal Meets Glam, editor Angela Tafoya from Refinery 29, Anne writer at The City Sage, and Krystal writer of This Time Tomorrow. They were our runway models for the event, showing off some glittery pieces designed by Sarah Seven.

The inspiration for the bridal looks were clean skin, lined eyes and full lashes, bold lips, and top knots for the hair. It was a long day, so I used alot of primers and hairspray to ensure the girls looked like perfection for the entire party! I'd love to see more brides attempt this look this year-it's girly, refreshing, and fun!!! Of course, these looks are great for a night out with girlfriends-or even for a romantic dinner for Valentines!

Julia writer of Gal Meets Glam

Julia writer of Gal Meets Glam

Angela editor at Refinery 29

Krystal writer of This Time Tomorrow

Anne writer of The City Sage

Julia writer of Gal Meets Glam

Products to achieve runway status: 

1. On the Models Skin: Christian Dior Airflash Spray Foundation

2. On the Models Cheeks: Benefit's Dallas

3. On the Models Eyes: Bare Minerals High Shine Eyecolor in Gold Medal

4. On the Models Lips: YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick

5. On the Models Hair: Pantene Pro-V Anti-Humidity Hairspray


All photos were taken by the talented photographer Em The Gem


I will be posting more images from the Runway on my Facebook page too!

xoxo
Priscilla Francine  

Comfy and Glamorous!

Offer me a day of relaxation at anytime in the week...and I am all there! I'm not sure if it was ingrained in me as a child, but either way my father taught me to love tropical trees and my mother taught me a maxi dress is a staple in your closet. I have come to the conclusion I am definitely my parents daughter. Although I am a fan of glitz and glamour, I will always choose choose to be comfy. So the question is...How do you make comfort, glamorous?

Cotton Spandex Jersey Tube Dress in Imperial Purple {American Apparel}

Take for example, eyelashes. Some styles look heavy, and they feel heavy. It's one of the worst feelings to wear a heavy, plastic band that is forcing you to squint the entire night. The lighter the lash band the better to be comfortable. There are 3 options that are easy to apply and easy to wear... 

1. Individual lashes are great for someone who has never attempted to wear false lashes, may have sensitive eyes, or chooses to wear little makeup during "regular" life. You can add drama to the ends by applying them in a close bunch and slowing spread them out as you get closer to the inside of the eye. 

2. The Half-lash is recommended for those who desire to wear a fuller lash but may not have the desire to go all the way with a full band. This will pick up the ends of the eye and give ya a mini face lift. They are super easy to place on your eyes too! 

3. Want a full lash for more drama?! I am wearing the Audrey's by FAUX in this post. Their is a trick to blending your fake lashes with your real lashes...first curl your lashes and add 1-2 coats of your favorite mascara. Next, curl your false lash at the base before apply a small amount of glue to the band. I like to use an eyelash applicator (mine is from Shu Uemura). Always ensure the band is placed directly on your natural lash line for maximum comfort. Lastly, you can curl your lashes once more and than fluff them with your fingers.

Buxom Full-Bodied Lip Gloss In Yoo Hoo

Lip products come in all sorts of textures and flavors. Some like their gloss sticky and some can't stand it! I prefer a more hydrating gloss, one that will eventually absorb without leaving a film on the inside of my mouth. Here are a few lines I like: For a regular lip gloss try Dior Addict Ultra Shine Gloss collection, they are super shiny and still long wearing. I appreciate lip products that do more than just add color, and if you would like a lip plumper with out the tingle, try Bare Minerals Buxom Full-Bodied Lip Gloss.

Curled ends of hair with a 2" Iron {Hot Tools}

As for a foundation, it depends on your preference in formula and texture. Do you like cream? Liquid? Powder? or Minerals? For a comfortable creamy consistency, try the Benefit Play Stick (oily to normal skin type) or the Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick (normal to dry skin-type). There are SO many liquids I can tell you about, but lets start off slowly.... The Estee Lauder BB cream offers wonderful coverage with a light weight feeling (and it will do alot more for your skin in the long run), or try Vitalumiere Aqua Utra Light Skin Perfecting Makeup. MAC is sufficient for a foundation powder, with plenty of color options to choose from! Minerals are a girls second best friend...and if you like them in a loose formula I will always recommend Bare Escentuals. Yep, it's not a powder. It's creamy once you buff it into the skin (the coverage all depends on the brush.)

Once you start playing around with new products you will find makeup can be comfortable, and simplicity is always best! Enhance your natural beauty ladies-don't cover it up!

XOXO
Priscilla Francine 

Flawless Skin

One of the most important things to learn about makeup application is how to achieve a flawless face. ModCloth employee, Molly, was a great face model so I'm going to walk you through the steps before eyes and lips with her. First things first, learn your skin type-Most women are a combination of oily and dry, so I use multiple products to prep the skin to compliment each concern:

1. Prep the skin with Laura Mercier's Secret Finish-Mattifying liquid gel, concentrating on the T-Zone, or wherever skin is the most oily.
2. Apply an invisible creamy gel, like Laura Mercier's Oil Free Foundation Primer or Hydrating Foundation Primer on the entire face to help foundation last longer and lay natural on the skin.
3. The next step is optional, but my favorite...I love the effect Laura Mercier's Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer adds to the dull, dark, or dry skin. (Especially in photos! It adds a beautiful glow to the skin!) I only apply this product under the eyes, maybe a little on the apples of the cheeks, or anywhere necessary to add life to the face.

4. Hide dark circles or any pigmentation on the face with Estee Lauder's Double Wear Concealer
5. Shake and than Spray Dior's Airflash Foundation on a flat, blunt-cut brush and buff onto the skin.

6. Add shape to the face by contouring under your cheekbone, top of the forehead, nose, chin, and under the jaw with a matte bronzer. 

7. Add a rosy hue of color to the apple of the cheek, overlapping the bronzer just a bit.

8. Highlight the inside of the nose and sweep Soft Tints by Smashbox over the blush and bronzer. *A great trick to add volume to your lips...dust the shimmery powder in the bow of your upper lip!

9. Highlight under your eyebrow to lift and open up the eye, using Highbrow by Benefit.

10. Softly blend into the eye with a cream shadow brush, or your fingers.

Wedding Season is here-and ModCloth spent all of last week indulging it's readers in Momentous Marrry-ment! I was a guest artist, featured on their blog for the special occasion. Now that you have read all about the first steps to beautiful skin, check out my updated version of Pretty Pastel makeup to finish your look. It's a great look for any bride, bridesmaid, or wedding guest! 

xoxo
Priscilla Francine

Taylor & Joey's Engagement Photos

Back in the day...Taylor and I met each other while working at Abercrombie & Fitch. She was my manager, and she will tell you my only flaw as an employee was that I wore way too much makeup! Little did we know, I would be doing her makeup for her wedding one day.

Over the years, I have perfected the "Taylor" look: She has always favored bright pink gloss over anything else, and she loves having a little wing to her eyeliner. On the day of her engagement session, Taylor came prepared for her makeup application with an image she wanted me to recreate. My first instinct after seeing the images, was to apply Sasha Lashes by FAUX. Definition is super important in photos, and the blend of black and brown makes Taylor's eyes stand out even from afar! Online classes in cosmetology are available if you want to learn more tricks, tips, and trends.

To see more images, visit Style Me Pretty

My main goal was to give Taylor clean, flawless skin. You too can achieve perfect skin with these simple steps:

1. Primer was essential since the shoot was in San Francisco, so I first prepped the skin with a pea size of Laura Mercier's oil free foundation primer (entire face).
2. For a soft glow, I blended Laura Mercier's Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer in Natural Radiance on her cheeks, under her eyes and a bit on the T-zone. 
3. I used Benefit's Play stick like a concealer and foundation.
4. To brighten under the eye, I used YSL's Touche Eclat #2
5. To perfect the skin, I pressed Dior's Airflash over her cheeks and a bit on the nose. (application demonstrated here.)

Photography by Ashley Batz

Since we went bold with the lashes, I kept the eyeshadow classic and sophisticated by using neutral tones.

1. Truth by Bare Escentuals (seen here)
2. Bobbi Brown's Gel Liner (seen here)
3. White eyeliner in the water line (like this one)

I love this girl SO much...and I am so happy she is marrying Joey-He is one of the sweetest guys I know. I cannot wait for your wedding... thank you for allowing me to share in your memories on this special day.

XOXO
Priscilla

My very own "Special Issue"

I randomly pick up magazines while at the grocery store. I keep saying I am going to get a subscription, and while it will save me money I prefer to pick and choose what magazine and issue I want to read. Obviously, when I saw Allure's October "Special Issue" on the Best of Beauty, I bought it! So here is my own "Special Issue" of the week. A girl can dream to be a Beauty Editor of a fancy magazine-right????

1. Dallas-Benefit 2. Media Lipstick-MAC 3. Waking up in Vegas-Deborah Lippmann nail color

Intense Exfolikate-Kate Somerville

5. Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil-Organix 6. They're Real! Mascara-Benefit

7.235 Split Fibre Allover Eye Brush-MAC 8. Feathers-FAUX Lash

Enjoy
XOXO
Priscilla

Day at the Delta

Normally, I am "working" a wedding...well this last weekend I was able to be a "guest" at a wedding. There are many reasons why I love weddings, as you all know, I find pleasure in the details. The bride had so many cute things to see...fans for each guest to cool off, ink pads to sign your fingerprints (it was a drawing of a tree, and your finger prints were the leaves!), and this vintage ribbon with their names wrapped on the centerpieces. Oh, and definitely being by the Delta water was a plus!!!

Nail Color-Waking up in Vegas-Deborah Lippmann

I did my hair at home, and did my makeup in the car as we drove to the Delta. Ever since Rachel Zoe came back on Bravo (yes, I am watching the Kim Kardashian episode as I type...)I have been wearing a cranberry, very-vampy,luscious lip. MAC's Lip Liner in Currant and Lipstick in Media makes me feel sexy, not overdone. Don't be afraid to pair this deep lip with an intense eye...I used Bobbi Brown's Gel liner in Black Ink as a eye lid base, and set it with MAC's eyeshadow in Carbon for a softer look .

XOXO
Priscilla

electric eel

Taylor Sterling recently asked me to participate in a Summer Makeup post for Glitter Guide. I was ecstatic to join in on the fun. Out of the 3 looks I did, this was the most fun to create. It is the epitome of Summer Fun...

Stella & Dot Bamboleo Necklace

To create this eye follow these steps:

1. Apply MAC's Paint Pot in Painterly on entire eyelid

2. Blend Benefit's High Brow under your eyebrow

3. Apply Laura Mercier's Metallic Creme Eye Color in Gold, stop at crease

4. Use a pony tail brush to softly blend Dior's 1 Couleur Eyeshadow in Gold Torch #546 at the outside corner of eye

5. Press a black liquid liner on the lash line to intensify lashes

6. Use YSL Volume Effext Faux Cils Noir Radical Mascara

7. Wet Smashbox Double Ended Smudger Brush #20, and mix with MAC's Electric Eel eyeshadow and line bottom lash line

Make sure you check out my Summer Makeup Trend Tutorial on Glitter Guide and sign up to receive all the "glittery" updates

XOXO
Priscilla

Easter Essentials

When I was a child I looked forward to family gatherings and Holiday parties, I always planned my outfits with precision and thought long and hard about what I was going to wear for the occasion. While writing my blog, I realize not much has changed...getting dressed and doing your makeup is an art, it's how you want to present who you are to the world.

Easter is the perfect time to wear white, soft yellows, and pastel floral prints, it's the time to be excessively girly...but what about your makeup? Try picking light lavender shadows, go easy on the eyeliner and just spend a little more time on your lashes. Curl, prime, and apply 3 coats of mascara. Choose subtle pink hues for your lips and cheeks-Remember, you always want to match your lips and cheeks for a natural look. To see an example of these colors click here. Don't forget about your fragrance and nails, which are your greatest accessories!!

Lola Fragrance By Marc Jacobs

Estee Lauder Long Lasting Nail Lacquer in Wicked Green

Benefits Dandelion Brightening Face Powder

Bobbi Brown: Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks in Powder Pink

Happy Easter my friends!

xoxo
Priscilla

blushing champagne

For Valentines Day and my Birthday we headed to Napa to celebrate. It was so nice to get out of town and get rejuvenated. The first night we dined at thee most chic restaurant, Tyler Florences' Rotisserie and Wine. I fell in love, from the wine barrels made into chandeliers all the way to the cornbread that melted in my mouth. The second day, we traveled to Yountville, and ate at the famous Gott's Roadside(Formerly known as Taylor's Refreshers.) My favorite winery was Mumm's. We enjoyed a fabulous champagne tasting, sat for a few hours enjoying the view, and finished our tour in the art gallery. Photographer Art Rogers told a sentimental story, thought provoking, and so family oriented. I was captured by the empty chairs...

Prepping before a trip is essential for a beauty addict. I tanned at the booth a bit, covered my precious face, and used my Dior sunless face tanner after. When we travel, I always try to choose my makeup carefully, bringing colors that could pair with any outfit. This trip, I pulled out some old friends... Dallas from Benefit, gave me a great outdoor glow. My lip trio was an assortment of Smashbox: Pro lip liner, Flawless lipstick, and reflection high shine lip gloss. The colors were simple, feminine, and I was able to make it just the right amount of sexy!



I had a fabulous Valentines Day, and I thank everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday.

xoxo
Priscilla

Elite and High Culture Brows

My first healthy relationship with cosmetics began with a line called Benefit. Benefit had so much personality, we always had fun together so when I moved into a more mature cosmetic relationship I had high standards that needed to be met.

I still have my assortment of beginners products...I just can't seem to let go of those past memories. The "IT" Stick, Dallas...and my all time favorite product High Brow.

High Brow is like a past love letter that will never get thrown away, it's just too good to be true and you'll never find anything like it again.

Highbrow is synonymous with intellectual; as an adjective, it also means elite, and generally carries a connotation of high culture. I would say Benefit gave this Brow lifting pencil an appropriate title.

To use, draw a line under your eyebrow. To blend, use a cream shadow brush or your fingers if you must. This pencil blends with all skin tones, and will hide any out of place hair. It's great alone to open up the eyes, or used as the finishing touches to fade out a smokey eye.



It's a makeup must have for only $20 (You will need a dual pencil sharpener)

Click here for a tutorial for the perfect brows!

Don't forget to check out their blog
or facebook page for exciting offers, new launches, or tutorials.

Valentines preview

Valentines is soon approaching. Here are a few products that will make you feel sassy for your man-or just for yourself!


1.Obviously you can tell Lippmann is my choice for nail color, so if you are craving some bling this Valentine Day try her divine diamond shimmer which contains Virgin Diamond Powder for your lady fingers.
Deborah Lippmann's "BRING ON THE BLING" nail color $20.00

2.If love had a scent, it would smell like philosophy's unconditional love...plus it firms up the body, no work out needed!
philosophy's "unconditional love" perfumed firming body emulsion $34

3.If you can find one, try to...make your home smell like chocolate covered strawberries without indulging in the calories.
Godiva Chocolate Strawberry Rose Candle (Limited Edition)

4.Tantalize the room with O-gloss lip plumper and be ready to pucker up after! It conforms to your lip color, so every gal will experience a different hue.
Smashboxs' O-PLUMP INTUITIVE LIP PLUMPER $24

5.Bobbi Brown's Pretty Powerful campaign is quite liberating...and her limited edition palettes are too cute!
Bobbi Brown's "Pretty Face Palette" $60

6.I choose Miss Dior Cherie as the perfect Valentine Fragrance, because I wore this on my wedding day-all fragrances carry memories...what does your fragrance say to the world?
Miss Dior Cherie Eau De Parfume $95

7. Most likely you'll be showing some legs, so perfect them with a little glimmer to erase any imperfections.
Benefit's "take a picture...it lasts longer..." a silky glimmering body balm $28

8.Love spell is a classic, but have you ever tried the Shampoo or Conditioner, I promise men will sniff you out and ask to smell your hair if you do.
Victoria Secrets "Love Spell" Shampoo $9 and Conditioner $10


Sweet Monday Dreams Readers
XOXO
Priscilla