"Taking inspiration from the overshadowing fog and storm clouds emulated in fall's fashion palette, Laura Mercier created the Stormy Collection. Eyes take center stage with shades of grey that are offset by inky ore-like metallic hues in the limited edition Eye Colour Quad and three new Kohl Eye Pencil shades. With intense shading on the eyes, lips are forced to surrender to minimal colour with the new Lip Colour - Creme shades. "

 

Jen Says: I have always been a huge fan of Laura Mercier and I love how their collections are always filled with items that work with trends from the current season but are colors that will work for seasons to come. The brights that are so popular this season come in the form of bright eyeshadow palettes and eyeliners. But all the coordinating shades, the charcoals, grays, and three fantastic lipstick shades in pink are the ones to stock up and keep for years to come.

"Discover the season's smoky intrigue.
Makeup takes a dramatic turn this season. Deep, smoky eyes. Richly glossed lips. And everything finished with luxurious, custom-fit lashes. All starring Fall's best new, and best-loved, formulas and shades, including NEW Colour Surge Eye Shadow Trios."

Melissa Says: Have you noticed? Glamour is front and center stage this season, and everyone wants to get in on it! This collection from Clinique looks to be no exception. Now, you may be beginning to wonder if this trend toward all things smoky and alluring means you have to suddenly begin to put on more makeup than you're comfortable with in order to follow the fashion. But, of course, that's not necessary. This collection from Clinique offers moderate degrees of the shades of the season, in its new Colour Surge Eye Shadow Trios paired with some of their other already popular products, including the highly-acclaimed Almost Lipstick in Black Honey and limited edition Black Raspberry for a comfortable, glossy shine.

See the entire collection and find out how to create the look at Cinique.

"Nars Fall 2007 smolders with a moody palette of warm metallics for a look of mythic sophistication and strength. Velvety eyeshadow textures impart a high-shine patina in a range of gold and rose hues, while lips captivate in shades of red, pink and beige for an overall creation of heroic beauty."

Melissa Says: Seeing as I just covered the fall trend of using a touch of gold shadow in your everyday look, I like how this collection from Nars definitely has some pretty options that fit into that look. Not only do they have a single shadow shade that is a subtly pretty gold, but several of the shadow duos have a hint of gold-hued sheen for that extra touch of glamour. The two lipstick shades (Flamenco - a "sheer candy-apple red", and Promiscuous - a "shimmering honey beige") both look luxurious as does the pink-hued Chantaco lip gloss, but I already know I'm completely sold on that fabulously pretty Tempest gloss. In fact, when I sat down to write this entry, I realized that while I was in Sephora this afternoon with my sister-in-law (without thinking about the fact that I would be giving an overview of this collection tonight) I tested Tempest on my hand and fell IN LOVE with that perfect peachy-rose with a hint of gold. I literally had it in my little basket, but then at the last minute fought temptation citing guiltily that I probably have about 30 or more lip gloss shades at home already and maybe I should wait to purchase this one.

Seeing it again now, though? I think perhaps if I end up there some day soon, and I just happen to wander over to the Nars display and that little tube happens to fall into my basket, I just might have to give it a home...

Check out the collection at NarsCosmetics.com or Sephora online, or go here to find a retail location near you.

Collection image courtesy of Sephora

According to September's issue of Glamour, glimmery shadow takes a surprising twist for fall - "One of the prettiest eye looks from the fall shows: a wash of gold for day. No worries, you won't seem discotesque; the shades are sheer."
Photo: Mark Leibowitz

 

Melissa Says: I'm pretty used to using shadow with a touch of shimmer during the day, but usually it's a wash of highlight over jewel-toned shadows, and the effect is more from silver than gold. This, however, is a really wearable daytime look, if you keep it toned down with subtly-lined eyes and a touch of peach-hued blush. I just happened to have what turned out to be a perfect subtle gold to use from the set of M•A•C Paint Pots I recently reviewed, Rubenesque, which, when applied with my fingertip, gave just a touch of pretty gold sheen.

 

We've been giving you the skinny on the hottest products and the biggest trends of the fall season. And now we want to hear from you! What is your favorite beauty trend for this season? What products are you using to achieve that look?

This season, find an unexpected treat at your Origins store or counter: two color collections designed to keep fall flawless. From the site: "Carry the season's coolest shades with you wherever you go with Origins new Fall Color Kits. Inspired by the horizon where day meets night, these crisp light and dark colors blend together for a look that's subtle but still sexy."

Continue reading The Face of Fall: Origins "Come Into the Twilight".

 

Seduction is a game of mystery...with a collection of extraordinary, luxurious products that evoke the intrigue of a glamorous past and the allure of absolute femininity. Exuberant plums, stunning pinks and gorgeous nudes allow each woman to create her most alluring look. The dark burgundy color prevalent in the collection and its packaging "brings to mind this mysterious setting I wanted to capture," says Gucci Westman. "It's very romantic."

Continue reading The Face of Fall: Lancome Mystery Game by Gucci Westman.

Jen Says: In seasons past, the hot look for eyes was smoky, and while I love the way it looks, for me it was a trend best saved for evenings out on the town. I didn't think there would ever be anything that bold that was truly wearable for both day and night with my light hair and skin tone, but it turns out with this recent trend that I've got a new look to love. Continue reading Can You Wear This Trend? Bold Eyeliner Edition.

Melissa Says: I have to be honest, both of these looks appeal to me, because of the emphasis on gorgeous glow-kissed skin and subtly-metallic, emphasized eyes combined with dewy lips that are lush and somewhat sheer. It's a hard choice, but I think if I had to pick a favorite, I'd go with Opulence for its everyday appeal. Then again...for any night out or special occasion I love the lined style of the eyes in Indulgence. Okay, so it's a toss up!

Smashbox Fall 2007 Decadence: Indulgence "This Fall, intensely defined eyes look ultra-glamorous with sheer berry lips. Our DECADENCE Fall 2007 Color Collection is all about indulging your senses with the most luxurious beauty products. Smashbox makeup artists have outlined the steps to achieve this of-the-moment, bold and beautiful look." Click here for step-by-step instructions from Smashbox on how to achieve this look.

Smashbox Fall 2007 Decadence: Opulence "Go glamour this Fall with dark and mysterious eyes, lightly bronzed cheeks and lusciously nude lips. Our DECADENCE Fall 2007 Color Collection is all about indulging your senses with the most luxurious beauty products. Smashbox makeup artists have outlined the steps to achieve this dramatic look that's perfect for the ultimate glamour girl!" Click here for step-by-step instructions from Smashbox on how to achieve this look.

"Pump up the volume and go for something a little fabulous - Bobbi's way. The Metallics Collection features four different shade combinations of velvety, shimmering shadows that pack major punch."

Melissa Says: The thing I love about the trios of shadows Bobbi Brown is featuring this season is that they are WEARABLE. Though they pack a shimmery punch, the shades are flattering and ladylike. This is a metallic trend I can get behind without being afraid to look garish in the process. For more information or to order the four sets of shadows featured below, go to bobbibrowncosmetics.com


Click the pics to enlarge.

It's day one of fashion week, and M A C has issued their fist daily trend report! Here are some of the highlights:

• For Josh Goot's spring collection, makeup artist Phillip Chansel went for a nude look, even on the lips. The cheeks got a bit of contour and highlight, but the main highlights were on the nape of the neck.
• The nude look continued at the Grey Ant show with Make-up artists Tiffany Johnston. She went for a "plastic skin" look with a foundation that lies between matte and dewy. Then, in a turn from the natural look, she went for heavy false lashes with blacked out or blue eyes.
• At the Band of Outsiders show, artist Romy Soleimani broke out the navy eyeliner for their nautically-themed show. She continued the trend of full foundation with lightly contoured cheeks.

Read the full trend report here.

This past weekend, I visited some of the shows for the Fall 2007 Collections at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York to get an idea of what the trends is cosmetics and hair will be in the upcoming fall season. M.A.C. was on the scene as the make-up sponsor and Bumble and Bumble, although not an official sponsor, was connected to several of the runway shows. Fashion Week is still in full swing, but here's a summary of some of the things you can expect to see next fall.

 

 

Want more fashion week commentary including discussion of upcoming trends, runway reports and shopping guides? It's coming soon on DeLushStyle.com. Look for the announcement coming soon!

Carmindy is a nationally-renowned makeup artist (also from TLC's What Not To Wear), and last week she gave us her tips for making those lush Fall shadow and liner colors stay PUT. Today, you get to find out what her favorite trend for the season is.

So what IS Carmindy's favorite look for the season?

Carmindy Says: "The new gold. It is a pale soft gold that works wonderfully with winter skin and should be used under the brow, on top of the cheekbone and on the inside corner of the eye to highlight the face in halo light. It should be paired with a bare face for a modern twist."

Thank you Carmindy, for giving us tips during Fall is Fabulous! Visit her site here.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Here are some product ideas if you'd like to try Carmindy's advice: Stila All-Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer in shade 3, $20.00; Benefit Gilded Highlighting Pencil, $18.00; Becca Bird of Paradise Gloss, $35.00; Pop Beauty Pop Up Glow in Sunny.

technorati tags: Carmindy, makeup tips

Ultra-Dark Eyes

(Image credits l-r: Cannonieri & Fortis (Elle September 2006); Allure September 2006; David Slijper (Glamour September 2006).

Okay, it was inevitable that we had to cover this one. It's been all over the catwalks this season and featured in all of the magazines. Ultra-dark eyes - more specifically very bold and thicker than usual liner - is one of the most popular Fall trends in beauty this year. Melissa tried this look out in real life, to see if it was something she could actually wear and feel comfortable in.

"While this could potentially be too much for most of us in the daytime, it can be modified to be more subtle than what you'd wear for evening. I thought this was easy enough to pull off and still personalize to one's own tastes. Normally, I don't line the lower inner rims of my eyes, but for this I did. I also applied black liner below the lower lash line in the manner I normally would, and then retraced it to make it double the thickness than I applied before. On my lids, I decided to go with extra-dark shadow with some sheen on top for depth and a thinner line of eyeliner on the top lid."

(Click pic to enlarge shadow colors.)

What Melissa Used To Get This Look::

Bibo Shadow Box for Eyes from the Blackout Collection, the dark sparkle grey shade

THEN...
Revlon's Wet/Dry Shadow Quad in In the Garden, using the black shadow (no longer available in stores, sorry! but you can use another matte black shadow)

THEN...
Girlactik Beauty's Star Shadow in Satin (a favorite all-around shade to wear alone or to lay on top of color for a bit of sheen)

THEN...
Maybelline's Unstoppable Eyeliner in Onyx

AND FINALLY...
Top off with your favorite black mascara.

Lancôme's Fall color collection is called Luna Chic, which has three different variations: Twilight, Terra Light, and Red Carpet. Here's the rundown on the standout products for each look!

Twilight (Fall Chic)



Favorites:

Blush Subtil Mosaique in Stargazer

"This luxuriously silky powder blush uses a combination of distinctive colors for a perfectly natural finish. Multiple shades in one pan allow for definition, highlighting and contouring versatility. Oil free -- perfect for all skin types."

Artliner in Starshower

"This easy-to-handle, liquid pen features a uniquely shaped foam tip that lets you precision-line, shape and define your eyes.

Won't scratch, tug or skip. Also features a unique combination of two film-forming polymers that make every look last even longer. Rich, deep, luminous colour pigments offer the most intense- colour. The Result: A precise, professional look."

Terralight (Dramatic/Sultry)



Favorites:

Colour Focus Quad in Terralight (Designer)

"Go for the glamour with this palette of four colour-coordinated shadows to colour, contour, highlight and line your eyes. Patented Jetfine technology produces fine shadow for outstanding blendability and exceptional long wear. Use wet or dry to achieve various intensities. Custom applicators help create the perfect look."

Le Rouge Absolu in Nova

"Smoother. Fuller. Absolutely replenished lips. This advanced lip color provides 6-hour care with continuous moisture and protective Vitamin E. Features plumping polymer and non-feathering color to define and reshape lips. Choose from an array of absolutely luxurious shades with a lustrous pearl or satin cream finish."

Red Carpet (Glam)



Favorites:

Potion of Love in Vin Celeste

"Like a tattoo for lips, this felt-tip liner with a delicious "mango" flavor lines lip contours and leaves like a stain on lips. It can be used alone, or under lipstick or gloss for a longer-lasting lip look."

Juicy Tubes Smoothie in Vanished

"Add power to your pout with brilliant shine. Dial up the glamour with shimmering color. Discover a favorite shade and flavor for every mood. Lancôme now offers a fun way to choose Juicy Tubes based on coverage and finish, giving your lips the high impact shine and color you desire.

Juicy Tubes Smoothie shades offer medium coverage with a burst of color. Lips glisten with an ultra-glossy formula that glides on easily with its tube-tip applicator."

See the entire lineup for Luna Chic here.)

It's all about achieving a glamorous glowy look with this season's touches of shimmer and sheen. The benefit of utilizing these products is that you can add some dimension and a healthy radiance to your skin with some very strategically-placed application. You can use an incredibly light hand and still achieve a pretty result that is so subtle that most people won't know quite why you're glowing. On the other hand, you can apply a bit more for extra emphasis (especially on the eye area, near the inner corners and just under the eyebrows), if you're looking to create all-out glamour.

Liquid highlighters tend to be a bit more on the subtle side, creating a "glow-from-within" look, while illuminating powders can range from barely-there to gorgeous gleam. Regardless of which you prefer to use, you can easily add some radiance to your look - WHO says you need a tan to glow?

There's no shortage of products out there right now made just for this purpose, so here are some of the hot ways to harness the power of illumination:

Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer
"What it is: A lightweight, tinted moisturizer infused with a hint of shimmer and a protective SPF 15. What it is formulated to do: This multipurpose beautifier does triple duty: It acts as your moisturizer, sunscreen, and luminizer to provide sheer coverage that makes skin appear flawless, and its super hydrating ingredients and protective SPF 15 will keep your skin protected."













Bobbi Brown's Gold Shimmer Brick
"Anyone can wear gold as an accent. Wear it with your regular colors to make your look special," says Bobbi. The latest addition to our best-selling Shimmer Brick Compact Collection features five different shades of ultra-luxe, pearlized pigments that blend together to create a soft golden glow. Perfect paired with the limited-edition MINI FACE BLENDER BRUSH."











LORAC Oil-Free Luminizer
"This 100% oil-free and fragrance-free luminizer adds an incandescent sheen to brighten the face, providing an instant pick-me-up. Mix with foundation or wear alone."



















Nars Highlighting Blush Powder
"This truly versatile highlighting product may be worn on its own or layered over other color products for added highlight and dimension. The soft shimmering color will add instant radiance to any complexion, and may be used on the face and body."














Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener
"Photo shoots often start at the crack of dawn when even models and celebs don’t look their best and dark circles loom. That’s why we created this innovative under eye brightener that immediately wakens and brightens skin while adding moisture to prepare for concealer application. Contains lots of skin-boosting ingredients too, like Vitamin C, red wine extract, peptides and marine collagen, to help fill in those nasty little wrinkles."

(Melissa will be publishing her review of this new serum in October after her 21-day trial.)

Read more about Advanced Night Repair Concentrate by clicking the link below:

Continue reading Hot Product News: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate Has Made Its Debut.

Carmindy is a nationally-renowned makeup artist (also from TLC's What Not To Wear), and last week she told us about her favorite new Fall products. Today, she answers another question!

DeLush Asks: Fall is a great time to enjoy lush eye colors. Many of our readers talk about having great difficulty making shadow and liner stay true and not smudge off during the day. Do you find that primers really can fix this? Any other suggestions?

Carmindy Says: I swear by Paula Dorf Transformer liquid to keep shadow liner in place. As far as eye shadow on the lids staying put you just need to apply a bit of foundation then powder to the lids and there is your primer. In the case of really oily skin adding a bit of mattifying gel on the lid before applying foundation will help control the greasies.

Thank you, Carmindy! Visit her site here.

technorati tags: Carmindy, makeup tips

Lips are a VERY strong focus on this season's faces, as seen on runways, in magazines, and more. More specifically, it's all about lipstick again. So we want to know: If you've already started using one of the new lipstick shades (or an old favorite that fits with this season's color trends), which is your absolute favorite? If not, which one are you DYING to try? Share your fantasy Fall lipstick color with other DeLush readers!

M.A.C.'s always got a wide array of new products at any given moment. They're constantly innovating, and adding new shades and packaging as well. This season it's no different! As a fan of M.A.C. personally, I'm pleased to share with you some of the new products that stand out to me from M.A.C.'s new lines.
-Melissa

The Line: UNTAMED

"This fall, the feather in your cap: the soft pinks, restless plums, downy beiges and wild-spirited plumage of this unique colour collection. In life, love, style and spirit: Untameable."

Standout Products:

Take Wing and Well-Plumed Eyes shadow quads, $35.00 each

The Line: The Long-Anticipated VIVA GLAM VI

"Rockin' out with support from its four new spokespeople, M·A·C VIVA GLAM VI Lipstick and Lipglass! As always, every cent of VIVA GLAM VI goes to the M·A·C AIDS Fund to support people living with HIV/AIDS."

Products:

VIVA GLAM VI Lipstick, $14.00
"VIVA GLAM VI, the newest member of the VIVA GLAM family, is a warm terracotta-plum with pearl finish. Wear it alone or finish it off with a coordinating coat of VIVA GLAM VI Lipglass."

VIVA GLAM VI Tinted Lipglass, $14.00
"A soft neutral pink, in Lipglass's hi-shine gloss finish. The first VG shade to be translated into a Lipglass! VIVA GLAM VI, the second Lipglass in the VIVA GLAM family, is a subtle warm terracotta-peach with white pearl and ultra high-shine finish. Wear it alone or over its namesake Lipstick."

The Line: ROCKOCCO

"Gloriously gilded: a modern rock baroque-cracy. A glorious display of reds and fuchsias embellished by delicate gold and pink pigments. Imperial in its mood, rocking in its majesty: a masterpiece of pigments, attitude and art."

Standout Products:

Lipstick in three new shades (Gel, Overdone and Rockocco), $14.00

Fluidline in sumptuous Fall shades (Brassy, Rich Ground, Macroviolet and Ostentationus), $14.00
"Ultra-smooth, Fluidline’s gel formula provides the precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish. Goes on “foolproof” with a brush in an easy dip-and-stroke action. Long-wearing. Smudge-proof."

The Line: TECHNACOLOUR

"Eyes go vibrantly "technacolour," as new long-wear propelling liner, Technakohl, and Velvet Eye Shadow's vibrant gem-tone colours match or contrast to line and shade your eyes! Limited edition."

Standout Products:

Technakohl Liner in nine standout shades, $14.50
"A new mechanical pencil-style liner. In formula, soft and creamy, with an intense, rich, colour deposit. Blends on application: dries quickly to a long-wear, non-smudge finish. Versatile. An easy way to line the top and lower lash line of the eye. When applied at a 90 degree angle, provides a thin precision line. For thicker application, apply at a flat angle."

Technacolour Eye Shadow, $13.50
"Highly-pigmented powder. Applies evenly, blends well."

A lot of the beauty and fashion trends we've been seeing for this Fall season are borrowed from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, but this particular trend has root that go much further back. You've all seen paintings from the 1700s with the well-to-do wearing powdered hair or wigs. At that time, the white powder may have just been a fashion statement, or maybe it was just a way to keep their hair fresh after days of wear. At any rate, the hair powders they used then and the powders available today have predictably come a long way.

What is hair powder?
Hair powder is a gritty powder used to help absorb oils in the hair and provide texture for the hair. Some hair powder products, like the Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder product, are based on cornstarch as the main ingredient. The hair has increased volume and holds style more evenly due to the added texture, and the oil absorption allows the wearer of hair powder to decrease the frequency of shampoos.

How do I use it?
Apply hair powder at the roots and work into the hair until the powder is completely dissolved. Allow the powder to dry completely, and then brush through the hair to help spread the powder to the ends of the hair and remove any excess. At that point, style the hair or tease roots for lasting body and style.

Who should add this to their beauty routine?
Those who live in high humidity or have naturally oily hair, those with thin or fine hair who want to add body and style.

Carmindy is a nationally-renowned makeup artist (also from TLC's What Not To Wear), and last week she told us how to very easily change our makeup look for Fall. Today, she answers another question!

DeLush Asks: Do you have any newly-discovered favorites from the new Fall lines?

Carmindy Says: I love the new Stila "Fall in Love" collections. They come in great packaging and have different shadow and cheek/lip combinations in great fall colors. Also I have rediscovered a very old line that was forgotten but LaFemme Sparkle Dust are the best loose shimmer eye shadows.

Thank you, Carmindy! You can visit Carmindy's site here

technorati tags: Carmindy, makeup tips

(Alissa)
Polish Used: Living Nightmare Black Nail Polish

(Jamie)
Polish Used: Cover Girl “Boundless Color” in Midnight Magic (#610)

(Toya)
Polish Used: Rimmel Lasting Finish Lycra Wear in Black Satin

(Jen)
Polish Used: CHANEL Black Satin (color available in department stores)

(Melissa)
Polish Used: Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear in Black Out

This week's Face of Fall focuses on Estee Lauder "Mythical Beauty", their color line for Fall 2006. The colors in this line aren't as dramatic as some of the other looks we've seen this season, but the rich colors and illuminators give a glowy, rich look that fits right in with the chocolates and plums that are popular right now.

-- Jen

Platinum Illuminator
All-Over Powder

Want to know Estee Lauder's secret to beautiful, glowing skin? This illuminator is the key to their Mythical Beauty look for Fall 2006. This is one of the limited edition items in the Fall collection, so if this is something you can't wait to try, visit your local department store to get some before they run out! Toya will be reviewing this item in upcoming weeks, so check back to see the DeLush Review.

Retail Price: $40.00

Pure Color
EyeShadow

Even if you're not trying to achieve the Mythical Beauty look, you might want to add these pigment dense eyeshadows to your beauty shopping list for fall. The Mythical Beauty shades are Smokey, Berry Ice and Onyx, but be sure to visit the Estee Lauder counter near you for other pretty shades. Toya, Jamie and I will be reviewing these on Friday, so be sure to drop by to get the downlow on these hot eyeshadows!

Retail Price: $17.50

Pure Color Crystal
Gloss

If you're a fan of glosses like me (who isn't?), Estee Lauder has added some new colors to their glosses for Fall to coordinate with the Mythical Beauty look. The colors, White Chocolate, Platinum Rose, and Plum Wine can be used by themselves or overtop the coordinating lipstick shades for more intense color. These glosses will be reviewed during Fall Is Fabulous in upcoming weeks.

Retail Price: $20.00

Pure Color Lipstick

And speaking of coordinating lipsticks, Estee Lauder has expanded the color range of their award-winning lipsticks for Fall 2006. The new shade in their Pure Color Crystal Lipstick is Berry Truffle. They've added two new shades to their Long Lasting Lipstick, Fig and Platinum Rose.

Retail Price: $22.00

Graphic Color
EyeShadow Quad

What better colors to go with your Mythical Beauty look than a collection of Vintage Violet shades, perfect to coordinate with the lilacs and plums of the season? If you're picking up the gloss in Plum Wine, be sure to pick up this quad of coordinating shades!

Retail Price: $37.00

Pure Color
EyeLiner

Estee Lauder is recommending this eyeliner in black to coordinate with the other items in the Mythical Beauty look, but after seeing this eyeliner in blue, I am more excited about trying out the dramatic blue eye look that Melissa highlighted last Friday.

Retail Price: $22.50

Pure Color
Nail Lacquer

The new shades of the nail lacquer, Plum Cassis and Platinum Twilight, are a perfect way to round out the collection, and provide a nice contrast to the bright colors and blacks that we've seen in other places this season. The Plum, in particular, looks like the perfect coordinating shade to the other items in the Mythical Beauty Collection. Melissa will be reviewing the lacquer in Platinum Twilight later this month during Fall Is Fabulous.

Retail Price: $18.00

With all of the luxurious, lovely-hued choices this season, there's lots of room to play with eye color. How can you incorporate this trend into your makeup routine? For the most part, if you play up your eyes with color it's best to leave your lips and cheeks neutral and subtle. The easiest way to add just the right touch of surprise color is with eyeliner. But you can also use shadow close to the lash line or on the lid up to the crease over neutral beige shadow that covers the entire lid. Here are some of my favorite hot eye colors to use this season.

-Melissa

The New Blue
All sorts of bad 70's images of blue shadow come to mind when you think of putting anything blue near your peepers. But blue has truly changed. In rich, jewel-toned, sheer, and color variations such as azure, teal, and more...blue has become a hot accent color for eyes. A smudge of one of the new blues can make your eyes pop.

Some options to try: New M.A.C. Technakohl Liner in Auto-de-Blue and Smooth Blue, Smashbox Color Wash Eye Pencil in Azure, Nars Duo Shadow in Demon Lover (yes, it sounds scary, but the colors look gorgeous), Maybelline Roller Color Loose Powder Shadow in On the Ball Blue, and the New Laura Mercier Mineral Eye Powder in Asteroid.



Green Gaze
When used in moderation along the lash line, green can add a gorgeous "something special" to your eyes. Especially the dark, rich, gold-flecked or irridescent greens paired with a neutral brown or beige on the lid. If you've got a more adventurous side, try the brighter emerald greens as liner.

Some options to try: theBalm Shady Lady Shadow/Liner in Jealous Jordana, Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Spruced Up, New Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner in Illume, Maybelline Line Stylist in Jade Flash, and Pout Eye Pencil in Eye Miss You.



All Shades of Purple
Long my personal favorite all-time eye enhancer, purple always adds a lush, rich quality to your eyes. It's also very versatile. While you can go dark and smoky on your entire lid or just along the lash line, you can also be more subtle with lighter purples, even venturing into lilac, for a brighter look. In all its shades, this is a color you can feel free to experiment with.

Some options to try: Clinique Quickliner for Eyes in Violet and Grape, Broujois Liquid Liner in Prune Stylist 24 (plum), Smashbox Eye Shadow in Camera or Venus, Tarte Eyeshadow Compact in Electric Slide or West Egg, and Revlon Colorstay 12-Hour Eye Shadow Quad in Blushed Wines.

Nationally-renowned makeup artist Carmindy (also from TLC's What Not To Wear), has been gracious enough to give us another interview! Each Thursday during Fall Is Fabulous, we'll feature a tip from Carmindy just for YOU from our conversation. Enjoy!

DeLush Asks: How do you like to update a makeup look for Fall?

Carmindy Says: Put away your bronzers and choose a Fall makeup trend that will work for you. My favorite universally-flattering look is the new romantic. It is soft brown eye shadow swept over the lid and paired with a soft rose lip and cheek.

Thank you, Carmindy! You can visit Carmindy's site here.

* * * * *

(Want to try out this look? Some shadow options include: Nars Single Eyeshadow in Sophia, Lorac Eye Shadow in Cappuccino, Laura Mercier Matte Eye Colour in American Coffee, and Maybelline Roller Color Loose Powder Shadow in Spin Around Brown.

For lips, you can try: Laura Mercier Crème Lip Color in Tea Rose, Becca Lip & Cheek Creme in Petal, Vincent Longo Velvet Riche Rejuvinating Lipstick in Sexy Lady, Clinique Long-Last Soft Shine Lipstick in Bamboo Pink, and Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Ginger Rose.

Finally for cheeks here are some options: Nars Blush in Mata Hari, Becca Lip & Cheek Creme in Petal (as with lips), Lancôme Magique Blush in Plum Fantasy, and Cover Girl Classic Color Blush in Rose Silk.)

Dark berry-stained or bold red lips, gold-shadowed eyes, luscious plums, warmed-up nudes and more...from bold and bright to mysterious and dark, this year Fall's shades give you lots of room to play.

So now, DeLush readers...you've seen the magazines. You've strolled past the new products. Tell us: What hot Fall shade have you fallen head over heels for - the one that you know you won't be able to resist? And also, WHERE are you dying to put it? Lips? Eyes? Cheeks? Discuss.

For those of you who subscribe to DeLush Delivered, you've already read some ways that you can brighten your fall look with lipcolor. This is a trend we at DeLush have been seeing again and again on the runways and in the pages of our favorite magazines, and here's the rundown on some of the best ways that you can put the emphasis on lips in your beauty routine.

Shiny Red Lips

Pick your favorite red lipstick and paint those lips! The Chanel lipstick reviewed earlier today is a good choice for our fair-skinned readers, but any good red lipstick will certainly do. Although the look this season calls for less meticulously shaped mouths, I find that with bright reds, mistakes are more glaring. For this reason, it's good to exfoliate the lips first to give an even surface for the color, apply red lipsticks on well-moisturized lips, and use a matching lip liner to define the border and keep the red from bleeding. Once your lips look great, blot them well and then apply a thick coat of a super-shiny gloss. Two glosses that work well for this are MAC Lip Glass and Urban Decay XXX Shine.

Purple or Lilac Lips

This trend may be a take-off of last season's lavender eyeshadow trend, once they discovered that everyone looks good in the right shade of violet. When looking for a purple-tinged lipstick, it's important to keep skin tone in mind. Try on a few at your department store counters to get a feel for which purple looks best on you. Be sure to wear some color with the lighter, lilac shades, since they tend to wash out most skin tones.

Red Stained Lips

This may be the hottest trend of them all: stained lips ruled on the runways for Fall 2006. The colors become more muted in the stains, but the look is anything but drab. Pick out bright, vibrant colors and layer them on to get the amount of color you prefer. The benefit of lip stains is that they don't transfer easily and last a really long time, so they're perfect for long meetings in the office. This is one trend you don't want to miss out on this fall!

Hot Pink and Red

This is the season to put away the nude colors and the sheers from months before and bring on the color. The new lines from each of the major cosmetic companies are pushing bright, rich colors, and that means fushia and red are back in action. Use them to brighten up the darker colors of your Fall wardrobe and bring focus to the face.

For ideas on products to implement these trends, read today's reviews below or check out the DeLush archives!

For the Fall 2006 fashion season, there is no line I am more excited about than that of Chanel. In a season filled with black, Chanel brings bright accent colors that would -- at first glance -- be appropriate for resort season, but instead are a perfect complement the darker clothes of fall. The emphasis in the fall Chanel line is on pink and shades of purple. These are no light pastels, though; each of the colors in the collection is rich and vibrant and anything but drab.
--Jen

EXCLUSIVE CREATION PINK LAMÉ

The Pink Lame eyeshadow appeared in the fall preview of just about every fashion magazine this year, and it's a product I lusted over for several weeks before I finally gave in and bought my very own. The color of this product is much brighter than what you'd expect, so it's a terrific way to spark up your fall wardrobe. It's seems to be sold out in several places, even on the Chanel site, so if you are looking to purchase this "it" beauty product for fall, now is the time. Visit DeLush on Thursday for the full review.

Retail Price: $40.00

ROUGE HYDRABASE CREME LIPSTICK

There are four shades for fall in this popular creamy lipstick from Chanel. Red Dream delivers a red plum shimmer; Ingenue, a lilac rose pearl; Morning Rose, a rose peach pearl; and Splendeur, a bright raspberry pink creme. My pick? Splendeur, the brightest of the bunch -- and a perfect match to their nail lacquer.

Retail Price: $24.50

ROUGE ALLURE LUMINOUS SATIN LIP COLOUR

Chanel also introduces two colors in the newest lipstick in their line, Rouge Allure. Stir up a luxurious raspberry creme colour with Romantic, or make your lips a subtle centerpiece with the pink champagne pearl of Crazed. Both the Rouge Allure lip color and their lip definer will be reviewed tomorrow on DeLush.

Retail Price: $29.00

IRRÉELLE DUO Silky Eyeshadow Duo

Another of the highlights of the Fall collection at Chanel is the new color combo available in their eyeshadow duo, Flash-back, featuring hot pink and black violet to deliver a brightening backdrop for lashes and a general splash of color to the fall face. Apply dry for subtle shadowing or slightly moistened for a more vibrant look.

Retail Price: $38.50

LES 4 OMBRES Quadra Eye Shadow

Or, if you'd like more options in your make-up wardrobe, Chanel's other new eyeshadow collection will give you even more color options. Sparkling satins wash smooth, light-catching colour over the eye in pink sparkle, silver, black sparkle and golden beige. Use a light touch, or layer on the color for more dramatic results.

Retail Price: $55.00

LE VERNIS NAIL COLOUR

If you're already a fan of Chanel nail color, you'll love the three new additions to the color catalogue. Announcing the little black dress for nails: rev up your manicure with Black Satin, a limited-edition creamy black nail colour that will revamp your love of burgundy. Expand your pink horizons with Splendeur, a bright raspberry pink cream, and finish off your new nail wardrobe with Pink Satin, a baby pink pearl that will enliven your french manicures. We'll be covering both Splendeur and Black Satin during Fall Is Fabulous @ DeLush -- stay tuned!

Retail Price: $18.00

As the leaves are changing, the nail polishes that line the shelves change color, too; deeper reds and plums fill in the spots where the corals and pinks of spring and summer used to reside. I find these deep colors to be absolutely irresistible, and while I am changing out my closets, I like to change my polish wardrobe as well.

I read in a magazine at the start of fall that the new trend was to wear these deep, dark colors on your fingernails and leave the sheer nudes to your toes. I've done just the reverse for many years, but this idea makes a lot of sense. Unless you're living somewhere very warm, your toes aren't seeing much daylight these days. You might as well paint them a nice, neutral shade that looks clean and manicured but that is really easy to maintain. The darker shades will show chips more easily, and who really wants to spend a lot of time thinking about their pedicure when it's basically hidden most of the time?

I chose Revlon's Colorstay Always On Nail Enamel (Walgreen's, $5.99) for my toes in Stay Neutral. I liked that the shade of pink was very close to my skin color, and I also liked that it has subtle sparkles in it to give it depth. I've used this on my toes twice now, and while I do really like the color, I am not in love with the enamel.

It dries really quickly, which may be a blessing for those who have skills with the nail polish. I, on the other hand, need a few seconds to work out the kinks in my application. With this polish, by the time you've moved on to the next nail, the previous one is half dry. Any attempts at fixing something will lead to obvious clumps and bumps that can't easily be ironed out. At the same time, it doesn't dry fully for quite some time, definitely greater than 20 minutes. You'll regret touching them even lightly at this point.

It does last for a long time, definitely longer than the 5 days promised on the bottle. The polish loses its shine quickly, so you'll want to reapply the supplied top coat regularly. Since their supplied top coat isn't as shiny as I would like, I recommend using Sally Hansen's Mega Shine Topcoat to refresh.

As disappointed as I am with Revlon's new nail enamel, I am absolutely in love with Rimmel's Lasting Finish Lycra Wear Nail Polish (Walgreen's, $2.99). The color I chose, Celebrity Bash, looks nearly black in the bottle, but goes on as a deep blood red.

I generally have a difficult time getting my nails to look as good as they do at the nail salon. Part of it is pure impatience, another large part is a general absence of hand/eye coordination. If you're like me, this polish is for you. It goes on so smoothly. It doesn't drip or clump when you're applying it. Even before I applied my top coat, the color had depth and was super shiny. This is one drugstore nailpolish that really rivals OPI for the great color and quality, all at a very reasonable price.

Other fall manicure tips:

With a color this dark, you've really got to trim your nails down so that the tip barely extends beyond the end of the finger. If you've got longer nail beds like I do, you might have to leave a little more length.

In order to prepare your nails, you'll need to do a little more now that you have in the summer months. When you're applying moisturizer to your hands at night, apply some to your fingernails and cuticles. It will keep your cuticles healthy in the cooler air, and keep your fingernails from splitting as well. Solar Oil is another great way to moisturize your cuticles and nails.

In the cooler and drier weather, it's also vital to use a base coat when you're applying a dark color to your nails. If your nails are parched, they will drink in the color and leave your nails looking yellow when the polish is removed. If possible, give your nails a couple of days of rest every 7-10 days so that the pigments from the nail polish have less time to do damage to your nails.

Revlon ColorStay Nail Enamel:

Rimmel Lasting Finish Nail Polish:

(...but keeps it wearable)
Want to see how I went from this....to this?

Click below to find out!

Continue reading Melissa Vamps It Up.

Following up with my review today, I want to pass along these absolutely GORGEOUS looks from Shiseido for the season as well as their new Holiday Look. Click on the pictures below for more information about how to apply them yourselves (once you're on their site, click on the bar links on the top right - Base, Framing, Coloring, and Touch Up) or use these amazing looks as creative inspiration for your own makeup routine!

"Glamorous"
"Natural"
"Holiday 2005"

Tell us how you fight off dry air inside and cool wind outside. Some people swear by their mothers' ritual of applying vaseline all over; others have their own tried-and-true formulas for keeping their skin from turning into a pasty, parched problem. Tell us...what is YOUR sure-fire way to keep skin healthy and hydrated, especially when things turn cold?

I love almost everything about fall - the smells, the colors, the warm sweaters...and the lush new makeup. Here are some new products that I REALLY want to try.
Melissa

M·A·C Treasures: 3 Lip/Warm in the new Holiday/Luxuries collection.
What They Say: "A teal blue floral jacquard petite clutch detailed with tassels and faux croc trim, filled with a rich selection of two Lipsticks: Rich Reserve, a caramel with frost, Hug Me, a neutral pink and one Tinted Lipglass, C-Thru, a neutral beige with frost. Embellishing each case – the ornate floral motif found throughout M•A•C Holiday. To complete the set: a teal blue lacquer-stained, wood-handled 316SE Brush. Limited edition."
Retail Price: $30.00 (maccosmetics.com)


Laura Mercier Liquid Crystal Lip Glace
What They Say: "Smooth, luxurious color mimics the brilliance of quartz and opal crystals. Apply a sheer layer for subtle, shiny lips or build for a more intensely rich mouth."
Retail Price: $22.00 (saks.com and other department stores)




Philosophy Cinnamon Buns Body Souffle
What They Say: "New for the holidays, philosophy brings you the long-awaited companion to its best selling shower gel, cinnamon buns, with cinnamon buns body soufflé. This highly indulgent treat is designed to soothe and moisturize the body, giving you world-class, silky smooth skin from head to toe. This dreamy formula will nourish the driest of skin, leaving it smelling and feeling absolutely heavenly!"
Retail Price: $25.00 (nordstrom.com and other department stores)


Guerlain KissKiss Lipstick
What They Say: "Lipstick is like a girl's best friend, her accomplice in seduction. Both luxurious and beautifying, it's also an essential everyday accessory. An ultra modern jewel-like talisman that provides radiant color for lips. With a name so evocative of all that is fun-loving, sexy, and provocative, Kiss Kiss Lipstick is the perfect choice for every look imaginable. Housed in a polished gold lightweight metal case, it's the ultimate in modern luxury."
Retail Price: $26.00 (sephora.com and select department stores)


Laura Mercier Ambre Passion
What They Say: "An authentic reflection of the amber note, Ambre Passion radiates amber from the center and is surrounded by smaller sparkling notes of geranium, vanilla, tonka beans, labdanum, sandalwood, patchouli, musk and cedarwood."
Retail Price: $65.00 (nordstrom.com and other department stores)

Run, Don't Walk...
I am a ha-UGE fan of M·A·C products, and I'm thrilled to tell you that their holiday collection is availabe starting today. Rich, lush colors and fab, pretty packaging - are you as excited as I am? Go to maccosmetics.com to browse and shop or go HERE to find a store that sells M·A·C products near you. Happy Shopping!
Your DeLush Diva,
Melissa

When new colors arrive, the women working cosmetics counters are on the prowl for fresh "makeover meat". But hey, sometimes they do really good work, right? Well, now's your chance to tell us about your experience in THE CHAIR. Which product counter were you at? Did you schedule your appointment or were you just walking by? Did you really learn some great tips? Or did you walk away looking like BlushZilla?

Share your makeover experience with us!

You've seen it in every fashion magazine: models with dark, smoky eyes, defined and dramatic. I don't usually wear a lot of dark eye make-up. I've got pale, pale skin and blonde hair, so using so much black and gray on my eyes, I really thought I would look like a ghoul. But I found no shortage of photos in magazines where the subject was fair like I am, so I thought, hey, if they can do it, so can I.

I was getting ready for a concert. I had on a tiny little black top, skinny jeans and 4-inch heels, and thought, "this outfit was made for the smoky eye look." And I started experimenting.

(Tip #1: Don't experiment with this look when you actually are planning to be somewhere at a specific time. The third time you get out the eye makeup remover, panic will set in and your makeup application skills may suffer.)

Starting with a clean face, I applied moisturizer and eye cream and followed with concealer, foundation, and bronzer. InStyle magazine recommends starting with a base of moisturizer with some light powder pressed in as a base around the eyes to hold the eyeshadow in place. You're going to be wearing an awful lot of dark eyeshadow and you don't want it all over your face.

Next, I applied white eyeshadow (Revlon ColorStay 12 Hour Eye Shadow in Pure Pearl) over my whole eyelid, all the away up to my eyebrows. This gives your eyebrows a lift and really brightens up the whole eye area.I followed with the lighter pink and plum shades from the Sterling Rose eyeshadow quad (pictured right), also Revlon ColorStay. This is all pretty normal for me; I wear this look to work all the time.

After the lighter shades were applied, I started applying some gray eyeshadow in about a 1/4-inch line above my top eyelash line. I blended it in more around the inner corners of my eyes, but left the line wider and darker at the outer corners of my eyes.

(Tip #2: No matter how dark and smoky the undereyes look in a photo, don't try to emulate it using shadow, especially if you are as pale as I am. You will look like a ghoul. Trust me.)

I then applied my Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner all the way around my eyes from corner to corner. You want the line to be pretty thin and well-defined so that your eyes really pop. After the gel liner, I decided I wanted something even more Jet Black, so I applied a second outline with my Blinc Kiss Me Eyeliner.

(Tip #3: Patience is the key here. Your eyes are the focal point of your face tonight and it's easy to pick out mistakes if your line is smudgy or wobbly.)

The final step is mascara, and you need something ultra-dramatic. I used Urban Decay's Skyscraper mascara over top of the Maybelline XXL mascara's lash primer for extra volume. Curling your lashes is an absolute must.

(Tip #4: Apply your dramatic mascara to the top lashes only. On the bottom lashes, use a lash tint if your lashes are blond or leave the mascara off entirely. Mascara on both the top and bottom lashes when you're wearing that much other eye makeup will not make you look sexy and mysterious, but rather more like Tammy Faye Baker.)

All of the tips I've offered to you are the result of major tactical errors when I was trying out this look. I found it easy to be too heavy-handed, which lead to multiple uses of my eye make-up remover. And still, at the end, I thought I looked less like I belonged in a magazine and more like I belonged in Kiss Army. It seemed like a bit much at first, but it grew on me every time I looked in the mirror. Which was something like every 5 seconds.

When my friend came by to accompany me to the concert, my look was met with rave reviews, so I decided to give this trend a full field trial, first at an upscale martini bar, then at the late-night concert. The smoky eyes were at home in both places; even at the small bar where the concert was held I didn't feel out of place.

You want to know the best part about the whole thing? As my mascara went under my eyes a little and my eyeliner smudged, it didn't mess up the look at all, in fact it may have added to the smoky look as the night progressed. Thr picture on the right was taken near the end of the night, after I'd worn my make-up for nearly 8 hours!

I was doubtful, but I think this is a look that you can pull off even if you are as pale as I am. A little patience and a little experimentation, and this may be a trend you can pull out of your bag to accessorize all of your Saturday night outfits.

Revlon ColorStay Eyeshadow:

When those big thick fall fashion magazines start coming in the mail, I know my credit cards will be coming out in full force! Here's just a sampling of the products that I think look intriguing this season:

Listed on Glamour's list of top products that beauty editor's horde, this terracotta bronzing powder is just starting to get major press. It was created in 1984 and now sells at a rate of one very 30 seconds. Bronzer is a great way to get a nice glow in your skin when the days are short.

I saw this in just about every fashion magazine this year, and kept thinking, "It's gorgeous...what is it?". Well, it's a limited edition eye and blush palette inspired by the intricately designed Coromandel screens owned and adored by Mademoiselle Chanel. Instructions for application can be found on the Chanel web site.

Fake eyelashes are everywhere this year, and more often than not, magazines like Marie Claire are pointing to Shu Uemura for extraordinary fake lashes. Even when I go to the drugstore, I see that new false lash products every few feet in the make-up aisle. I'm pretty terrified about gluing things to my eyelashes, but you know, if it's trendy, I'll give it a shot.

One of the greatest mascara's of all time is now available in clear! In Style Magazine says that it works like hairspray to hold your lashes in place. It also works as a brow gel. For $6, this is definitely something to pick up!

--Jen