Getting Started: 2011 Met Ball Looks

Celebs attended the 2011 Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on Monday, May 2nd. This year’s MET Ball, themed “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty,” was hosted by Anna Wintour, Stella McCartney and Colin Firth, with Francois-Henri Pinault and Salma Hayek as honorary co-chairs. The annual event, dubbed “The Fashion Oscars,” attracts the most stylish and influential in the entertainment and fashion industries.

Here’s a roundup of some of the amazing looks (and products)…

Kate Hudson & Almay

Almay Global Brand Ambassador, Kate Hudson, complemented her dazzling dress with smoldering eyes and a subtle lip at this year’s annual MET Ball. To get Kate’s look, Almay recommends the following products:

Almay Wake-up Hydrating Makeup: Almay’s wake-up makeup instantly hydrates and soothes to keep skin looking well-rested and feeling energized all day. ($12.99)

Almay Smart Shade Blush – Berry: Almay’s Smart Shade Blush instantly transform on application into a shade that perfectly complements your unique skin tone, ($8.99)

Almay Smart Shade Bronzer – Sunkissed: Almay’s Smart Shade Bronzer contains a liquid cream formula unlike any other bronzer that provides a sheer, natural color that builds to your desired intensity.

Almay Intense i-color Shadow – Trio for Green Eyes: Almay’s Intense i-color Shadow is formulated with light interplay technology that brightens and intensifies eye color and blends smoothly for all day wear.

Almay Intense i-color Eyeliner – Rich Mocha (for green eyes): Almay’s Intense i-color Eyeliner brightens eyes while adding definition and dimension and features a built in smudger for a customizable look.

Almay One Coat Get Up & Grow Mascara – Black: Almay’s first anti-breakage, pro-vitamin formula instantly lengthens the look of lashes and defends against breakage so lashes can grow to their healthiest, longest, and shiniest.

Almay Hydracolor Lipstick – Flushed: Almay’s Hydracolor Lipstick combines rich color with hydration and nourishment that refreshes lips with over 100x more water than regular lipsticks.

Jessica Alba & Revlon

Revlon Brand Ambassador, Jessica Alba, complemented her sparkling dress with simple and sophisticated makeup, playing up her eyes with shimmery shadow while keeping her lips and cheeks neutral. To capture Alba’s look, Revlon recommends the following products:

Revlon PhotoReady Makeup and Concealer - Lightweight, creamy texture blends seamlessly and contains photo-chromatic pigments which bend, reflect and diffuse light to help erase flaws.

Revlon Cream Blush in Rosy Glow - Revlon’s Cream Blush formula blends easily into skin, adding a sheer wash of color to your cheeks.

Revlon CustomEyes Shadow in Naturally Glamorous - The silky, lightweight formula containing jojoba and shea butter glides effortlessly on lids and blends easily to offer the greatest versatility to achieve any desired look.

Grow Luscious by Fabulash in Black - Patented formula of unique fibers and phytopeptide complex to help condition and strengthen lashes, complimenting the natural growth cycle by helping to prevent premature breakage.

ColorBurst Lipgloss in Pink Ice - Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss uses Elasticolor™ technology to distribute rich color pigments evenly over lips while conditioning and improving the texture with moisturizers and antioxidants such as sweet almond oil and vitamin E.

ColorBurst Lipstick in Icy Nude - Brings a burst of rich, true color that is virtually weightless on lips. The technology distributes rich color pigments evenly over lips and allows the formula to move comfortably with lips - like a second skin

Top Speed™ Fast Dry Nail Enamel in Sheer Cotton - The patented fast dry formula with built-in top coat that rises to the surface to form glossy, ultra smooth manicure with strengthening power.

Penelope Cruz & Fekkai

Renato Campora for Frederic Fekkai created tousled tresses for Penelope Cruz

Inspiration: A modernized Sophia Loren; a super chic do

The Look: A side part, full of volume and texture

How To Get The Look: Campora applied Fekkai Coiff™ Strong Hold Volume Mousse throughout and then formed a side part. He then used a ½ inch curling iron, pinning the up to let it cool. Once cooled, he took the hair out of the bobby pins and brushed the hair using the Fekkai Classic Brush to form the shape. To set the look, he sprayed Fekkai Coiff™ Sheer Hold Hairspray.

Products: Coiff™ Strong Hold Volume Mousse ($24), Fekkai Classic Brush ($95) Fekkai Coiff™ Sheer Hold Hairspray ($24)

Demi Moore & Fekkai

Duffy for Frederic Fekkai styled the locks of Demi Moore

Inspiration: Philip Treacy Head Dress

The Look: A juxtaposed style; up but down

How To Get The Look: On wet hair, Duffy applied Fekkai Coiff™ Strong Hold Volume Mousse throughout and blow-dried the hair giving the roots volume. He then let the hair fall into it’s natural part and curled the hair with a 1’ barrel curling iron, using special technique to give it a broken look. Next, he applied Fekkai Coiff™ Océanique Tousled Wave Spray and teased the hair with a wide tooth comb to break the curls and created 3 sections in the hair. He then took the left and right section and tied the hair as if you were tying a knot in a shoe lace to create two separate knots. Then, to refine the shape he bobby pinned the knotted pieces and the middle section together and secured with Fekkai Coiff™ Océanique Tousled Wave Spray to finish the look.

Products: Coiff™ Strong Hold Volume Mousse ($24), Fekkai Coiff™ Océanique Tousled Wave Spray ($24)

Margherita Missoni & Fekkai

Anthony Sorenson for Frederic Fekkai tended to the tresses of Margherita Missoni

Inspiration: A Nubian Princess

The Look: A soft take on and edgy look

How To Get The Look: He started by prepping the hair with Fekkai Coiff™ Bouffant Lifting & Texturizing Spray Gel to create texture and loose waves. Next, he pulled hair into a ponytail and secured at the top of the head. He then split the hair into two sections and applied Fekkai Advanced Full Blown Volume™ Styling Whip creating two fishtail braids leaving the edges of the hair out spraying with Fekkai Coiff™ Sheer Hold Hairspray. To finish the look, he twisted the braids together and pinned the hair to the top of the head.

Products: Fekkai Coiff™ Bouffant Lifting & Texturizing Spray ($24), Fekkai Advanced Full Blown Volume™ Styling Whip ($24) Fekkai Coiff™ Sheer Hold Hairspray ($24)

Jessica Szohr & KeSARI and TEMPTU

Jessica Szohr Preps Skin with KeSARI and TEMPTU AIRbrush Makeup for Flawless, Dewy Skin at the 2011 MET Ball.

Inspiration: Celebrity makeup artist Talia Shobrook says “Essential to red carpet ready beauty is having flawless skin from all angles in three dimensions, and blending makeup seamlessly with a minimal amount of product for the most skin-like, dewy finish.”

KeSARI Triphala Radiance Firming Serum to nourish and firm the skin: We prepped the skin with this serum as this gave a great base for the flawless skin that is needed and required for being red carpet ready, it is firming and brightening, while adding moisture.

TEMPTU AIR pod Foundation in Golden for the base and then contour with Espresso

TEMPTU AIR pod Highlighter in Champagne applied to the eyebrow bone and the cheekbone for highlight

TEMPTU AIR pod Bronze in Warm Glow: “No red carpet look is complete without attention to the body. I used TEMPTU Bronzer on her shoulders and décolleté to add shimmer and glow to her skin.”

Michelle Alves & Kerastase, FHI, Aquage, and KeSARI

Marcelino Gonzalez Tended to the Tresses of Michelle Alves for the 2011 MET Ball

Inspiration: Old Hollywood Glamour, sleek with a touch of a wave to compliment the gorgeous Abed Mahfouz sheer gown

How To Get The Look: Create a deep side part on wet hair and apply Kerastase Reflection Chroma Protect Polish for a polished shine and smoothness, then blow-dry the hair using the FHI Heat Nano Salon Pro 2000 Dryer with the Creative Brushes Creative Jumbo Ceramic Ion Thermal Brush. Using the FHI Heat EPS 1" Flat Iron, straighten the hair for a super silky straight look. Then take 2 inch sections and create a wave with the FHI Heat Platform 1 1/4" Styling Iron. Spray Aquage Finishing Spray for light hold and ultimate humidity resistance and brush out hair. Apply KeSARI Indian Oil Hair Serum with Triphala Radiance™ Silk Complex for added shine and frizz-control

Products: Kerastase Reflection Chroma Protect Polish ($37.99 on www.kerastase-usa.com ), FHI Heat Nano Salon Pro 2000 Dryer ($92 on www.FHIHeat.com ), Creative Brushes Creative Jumbo Ceramic Ion Thermal Brush ($19.99 on www.creativehairtools.com ), FHI Heat EPS 1" Flat Iron ($120 on www.FHIHeat.com ), FHI Heat Platform 1 1/4" Styling Iron ($90 on www.FHIHeat.com ), Aquage Finishing Spray ($18 on www.Rickysnyc.com ), KeSARI Indian Oil Hair Serum with Triphala Radiance™ Silk Complex ($26.50 on www.hsn.com )

Rachel Roy & Kerastase, KeSARI, and Rusk

Elad Bentov of Valery Joseph Tended to the Tresses of Rachel Roy for the 2011 MET Ball.

Inspiration: Elad Bentov wanted to create a fresh, young, simple updo to complement Rachel's dress and beautiful décolleté.

How To Get The Look: On wet hair, apply Kerastase Mousse Volumactive and blow dry hair using fingers in order to create texture. Apply KeSARI Indian Oil Hair Serum with Triphala Radiance™ Silk Complex to dry hair, starting at the ends and working up through the hair to leave hair with extraordinary shine and frizz-free all night
Finger-comb hair back into a ponytail at the middle of the head and secure with an elastic
Diffuse roots with hair dryer attachment for added volume and a tousled effect
Then twist hair into the shape of an S down to the nape of the neck to achieve the texture of the messy bun. Finally, secure the look by adding Rusk W8less Plus Extra Strong Hold Shaping and Control Hairspray to provide texture, natural shine and long lasting touchable support all night.

Products: Kerastase Mousse Volumactive ($37.99 on www.kerastase-usa.com), KeSARI Indian Oil Hair Serum with Triphala Radiance™ Silk Complex ($26.50 on www.hsn.com), Rusk W8less Plus Extra Strong Hold Shaping and Control Hairspray ($12.99 on www.Rickysnyc.com )

May Monday Marvelousness: Kate Hudson and Almay - and a Sweepstakes!

This past weekend was complete laziness, and the weekend before was holiday madness. Maybe it’s time for something in-between for the coming weekend. Maybe a girls’ day at the movies? Or maybe a trip to the drugstore beauty aisle? Or both?

“Something Borrowed” opens this weekend, and starting today you can enter to win a trip to the Hamptons by visiting Almay’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/almay).

Something New, Something Blue…
Something Borrowed – From Kate Hudson

Borrow Almay Brand Ambassador Kate Hudson’s Beauty Looks from her New Movie, Something Borrowed

Almay Brand Ambassador Kate Hudson plays the beautiful and vivacious Darcy in the new romantic comedy Something Borrowed, from Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros. Pictures, opening nationwide May 6, 2011. Living in New York City, Darcy has it all – a close circle of friends, including best friend Rachel, a gorgeous fiancé and enviable style. With flawless makeup and effortlessly chic style, Darcy (like Kate!) is a girl worth borrowing from… and while fans of the movie can’t borrow Darcy’s friends or her fiancé, they can borrow her gorgeous beauty looks with tips, how-to videos and products from Almay.

Almay, Hudson and Warner. Bros. have teamed up to help fans capture and recreate three of Kate’s favorite beauty looks from the film. Fans can choose from her day look, which features luminous skin with intensified eye color, her night look, which includes a sultry, smoky eye, and her gorgeous, pulled together professional look, which can be created in just 5-minutes.

Almay has partnered with renowned makeup artist Daniel Martin to create exclusive how-to videos for Almay’s Facebook page that give step-by-step instructions and expert tips and tricks on how to successfully ‘borrow’ Kate’s looks from the movie. The videos will launch on April 18th. And beginning May 2nd, Almay will have dedicated displays in-store with product recommendations for each look, as well as instructional pamphlets for easy application.

Almay is also offering consumers the opportunity to not only look the part of Darcy, but enjoy a taste of the character’s lifestyle by giving one winner the ultimate beach weekend at the summertime hotspot where Darcy and her friends enjoy the summer -- the Hamptons, New York. The sweepstakes will be held starting May 2nd on Almay’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/almay).

About “Something Borrowed”: In the romantic comedy “Something Borrowed,” Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) is a talented attorney at a top New York law firm, a generous and loyal friend, and, unhappily, still single…as her engaged best friend Darcy (Kate Hudson) is constantly reminding her. But after celebrating her 30th birthday, perpetual good girl Rachel unexpectedly ends up in bed with the guy she’s had a crush on since law school…who just happens to be Darcy’s fiancé. When Rachel and Darcy’s lifelong friendship collides with true love, it leads to unexpected complications and potentially explosive romantic revelations.

Golden Globes: Elaine Irwin and Almay

Here’s Elaine Irwin at her first event since she and John Mellencamp separated…

Elaine Irwin Celebrates The Golden Globes At The Weinstein After Party

Elaine Irwin celebrates at the Relativity Media and Weinstein Company Golden Globes after party presented by Marie Claire in Los Angeles.

To capture her glamorous look, Almay recommends the following products:

FACE:

Almay Bronzer in Sunkissed: Exceptionally light powder has a velvety texture which applies smoothly and evenly to your face.

Almay Smart Shade Smart Balance Pressed Powder in Medium: Utilizes Almay’s patented technology to transform your ideal shade upon application and keeps your skin balanced with a soft matte finish and light coverage that minimizes the appearance of minor flaws and imperfections.

Almay Smart Shade Anti-Aging Makeup in Medium: Uses shade sensing beads that transform to match skins exact skin tone and works to instantly reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

EYE:

Almay One Coat Get Up & Grow Mascara in Black: Almay’s first anti-breakage, pro-vitamin formula instantly lengthens the look of lashes and defends against breakage so lashes can grow to their healthiest and longest.

Almay Intense i-Color Smoky-i Kits for blue eyes: Lightweight powder formula blend effortlessly with its velvety, suede-like texture and expertly coordinated combinations instantly intensify your unique eye color bringing out its natural brilliance.

LIPS:

Almay Ideal Lipstick in Bronze: Infused with peppermint for a refreshing, minty sensation upon application.

FASHION:

Dress: Marchesa / Shoes: Barneys Co-Op shoes / Jewelry: Lorraine Schwartz

www.almay.com

Green-Eyed (Beauty) Monster (quick review/redux)

My weekend was wonderful! I feel renewed!

And, oh my goodness today is hectic!

I had actually planned to spotlight these items last week (what with it being Earth Week and all); but I got sidetracked by other ideas and items. So while it's still Spring, still Earth Month, and I'm still feeling renewed; I thought I'd share a few of my favorite green eye-tems (uh oh, cracked myself up again).

Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

To keep the delicate skin around your eyes soft and pretty. This is a wonderful, soothing hydrating eye treatment (and yes, it's green).

Almay Intense i-Color Mascara (in "Black Emerald")

This is more of a greenish-black. But I wanted to include something from the mascara category. Almay has a great formula; and for those of you who are sensitive, it's nice to have something other than plain old black.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (in "Mildew")

This is one of their new colors. It's a lovely forest green with gold flecks. My other UD green favorites are "Covet" (peacock green), and "Stash" (er…Oregano).

LASplash Glitter Eyeliner (in "Kryptonite")

I couldn't find a solo image, but it's the one in the middle. “Kryptonite” is a deep, forest green (almost black) with flecks of green glitter. They also make a gorgeous Lid Splash.

Stila Smudge Pot (in "Jade")

This olive green with glints of gold looks amazing as both a liner and a cream shadow. And the creamy, long-lasting formula is one of the best.

Dior 5 Color Palette (in "Mystic Jade")

I got one of these last year and used it all the time. There's a pale green, a deep olive, and an irridiscent brownish green complemented by a peach and a blue shadow. It's absolutely amazing for spring.

Stila Eye Shadow Pans (In "Cha Cha")

A delicate, pale, seafoam green. Looks great with my dark brown eyes; but I think this is another universally flattering color.

This idea isn't entirely off the wall and frivolous. Green is actually a very flattering and versatile shade, and it's perfect for spring.

Must...rush...Happy Monday!
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