Benz on a budget: Lela Rose for Payless

They're finally here!  The wedges that I practically passed out over on the Lela Rose SS2012 runway are finally in stores.  I bought these puppies today for $54.99.

Giveaway: Win Emma Stone's Favorite Products from Davines!

I’ve said over and over again that Emma Stone is one of my geeky girl crushes for her roles in movies like The Help, but she is also widely known for her shiny red locks. The kind folks at Davines are giving one of my lucky readers the opportunity to win some of Emma’s favorite products that she uses to keep her hair in tip-top shape.  Emma has gone on record saying that she’s a fan of the LOVE smoothing shampoo and the NouNou conditioner, and now you have a chance to try them as well! 

Emma was recently quoted as saying “I need a lot of moisture for my skin, but not for my hair. I have the opposite problem with my scalp as I do my face. This clarifying shampoo doesn’t weigh down my hair, and the conditioner is great for baby fine hair. It also smells very good, too.”

One lucky winner will get both the Love smoothing shampoo and the NouNou conditioner.  The opportunity to win these fab products is easy as 1, 2, 3. 

1. Like the Davines Official Facebook page
2. Follow Davines on Twitter
3. Comment below with your email address (must include so I can contact you if you win!) and Twitter handle.  Feel free to comment on why you deserve to win or what your favorite Davines products are if you’d like. 

That’s all there is to it.  Like, Follow, and Comment to win.  The contest will start now and will end on Friday, February 10^th at midnight EST.  Winner will be picked at random and notified via email if they win.  This is open to U.S. residents only.  There is no limit to how many entries (comments) you can leave, so comment and tweet away. 

Good luck! 

Benefit's new Hello Flawless foundation

Whenever Benefit Cosmetics launches a new product, I'm one of the first in line to try it out.  They're always fun and effective products that take a little of the fear that people have about choosing makeup.  HELLO FLAWLESS OXYGEN WOW ($34) is their new brightening liquid foundation that can build from light to medium coverage depending on your needs, but still give you a natural looking finish.  

Now let's talk about this Oxygen Wow business... Oxygen Wow is a hydrating complex in the foundation with Vitamins C & E to boost cell turnover in the skin and protect against environmental stressors.  So even if you're a young one who doesn't necessarily think about anti-aging properties just yet, you are still getting the benefits of an anti-aging complex in your makeup.  Whether you're into anti-aging formulas or not, the oil-free foundation still has amazing light-diffusing properties, hydrating benefits, and SPF 25 protection, without feeling heavy or cakey.  The formula is light as air on your skin. 

If you already know your Benefit Hello Flawless powders, your shade should be super easy to choose because the liquid foundation comes in the same range.  There are 9 shades (3 light, 3 medium, 3 deep) from Ivory to Nutmeg.  

You'll have to wait just a little bit to try this out.  The product is online February 15th and in stores in March.  But if you're tuned in to HSN on February 2nd you'll get a chance to try these products out early!  

Get the look: Paula Patton at the Golden Globes

Photos courtesy of Zimbio.com

Hair: Robert Steinken for Moroccanoil.

What Robert had to say about the look:

“…I envisioned a style with the sophisticated sexiness of Brigitte Bardot, but modern and sexy without looking retro. I also gave the hair a sleek, shiny and luminous look that was soft and full of movement.”

 How to:

-Robert started with damp hair that he sprayed with Moroccanoil Frizz Control ($32) hydrate and, of course, prevent frizz.

-Next he used Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream (one of his favorites!) to give texture and soft hold, but still allowing for movement. 

-He then blew the hair dry in 2-3” sections using a round medium-size Moroccanoil Ionic Ceramic Brush, letting each section cool for about 10-15 seconds after removing the heat to set the hair.  (A great tip for eliminating frizz when blowdrying your hair!).

-After the blowout was complete, Robert used a 1” curling iron to wrap the sections of hair in a spiral shape. He held each section for 15-20 seconds, then pinned the curl and allowed them to cool, spraying with Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray ($21).  After cooling her unpinned and brushed the hair out. 

-After creating a center part, Robert backcombed the hair at the crown for height, starting 3-4” inches back from the hairline (spraying with more Moroccanoil Luminious Hairspray as he went).

-The final steps were to section hair behind the top of each ear, bringing both sides together in the back and pinning in to a twist.  He finished the style with Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray ($25.80) for some extra shine. 

Get the look: Charlize Theron at the Golden Globes

Photos courtesy of Glamour.com

Hair: Enzo Angileri for Moroccanoil.

What Enzo said about the look: 
“I wanted her hair to have a casual feeling, very soft, almost as if she had pulled it together herself.”

And a great tip by Enzo for if you’re considering wearing a dramatic hair piece like Charlize’s:

“Charlize wore a dramatic Cartier diamond headband and when you have such an important piece of jewelry, it can become too much, almost old-fashioned, if you have slick, over-styled hair. I wanted to create an updo that combined a bohemian, romantic, and casual mood, but was strong enough for the red carpet.”

How to:

-Enzo started with already dry hair, and curled small sections with a 2” curling iron. He used the larger iron because to refine the natural wave and texture, not to try and curl the hair.

-After using the curling iron, he lightly misted the hair with Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray ($25.80), waited a few minutes, and then completely brushed through her hair with a Moroccanoil Ionic Ceramic Paddle brush.

-Next Enzo swept the hair to the left, making three sections. He rolled the first two into a loose bun and pinned them, using with Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray ($21) to control the hair.  Then he wrapped the last section under and around the bun, and pinned it in place. Then to make the bun seem more unstructured, he freed some of the strands from the bun, leaving little wispy pieces out.

-To finish the look Enzo sprayed the hair with Moroccanoil Frizz Control ($32) to make any flyways disappear (great tip for when you’re trying to pull off a wispy, ethereal ‘do!), before placing the Cartier diamond headband into the hair.

Golden Globes best of beauty

With all the Best Dressed talk out there, I figured it was time to acknowledge all the great hair, great makeup, and great skin that was seen on the Red Carpet.  Here are my faves of the night:

Best glow: Jessica Alba skin was radiant last night.  

Photo courtesy of Zimbio.com

Best Beauty Risk: Nicole Richie's pumped-up pony by Suave Professionals was the epitome of rock-n-roll chic.  This is the kind of thing we wait to see on the Red Carpet...the kind of beauty risk that gets us talking! 

Photo courtesy of Glamour.com

Best eye makeup: Emma Stone was smokin' hot.  She's been my inner-geek's girl crush since Zombieland/Superbad, but her role in the movie adaptation of my favorite book, The Help, elevated her to Dream Girl status in my mind.    

Photo courtesy of Glamour.com

Best you-give-us-all-hope look: Elle Macpherson is what we all want to look like when we "grow up".  Hell, we all want to look like her NOW, much less when we get older.  

Photo courtesy of Zimbio.com

Best bed-head: Reese Witherspoon was looking effortlessly sexy last night.  No doubt about it.  

Photo courtesy of wireimage.com

Best Overall: Charlize.  Because even though she was sick, she looked flawless.  The skin was perfect, and the finger waves looked effortless.  She is definitely providing inspiration for all of us!  

Photo courtesy of Glamour.com

Get the look: Evan Rachel Wood at the Golden Globes

Photo courtesy of NARS cosmetics

Makeup: Toby Fleischman for NARS Cosmetics. 

Face: For that perfect peachy-pink flush, Toby used 2 different types of NARS blush on Wood.  First she used a new Spring 2012 color, Gaiety, on the cheeks, and then used the blush in Angelika to give a little shimmery highlight.

Eyes: Toby used the new Parimaribo Duo Eyeshadow (spring 2012) for a gilded effect on Wood's eyes.  

Then Toby used Almay One Coat Nourishing Mascara on the lashes to finish the eyes.

Lips: Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Sex Machine was used to define Wood's lips.

The look was completed with Nars Larger Than Life lipgloss in Como.  

Hair: Marcus Francis of The Wall Group

Prep: Marcus began prepping Evan’s hair a week before the Golden Globes with a regimen of René Furterer KARITÉ intense nourishing oil before each shampoo, followed with René Furterer KARITÉ intense nourishing mask.

What Marcus said about the look: 

“We wanted the hair not to compete, but rather compliment her overall look. We wanted to keep her hair classic Hollywood, of course, with Evan’s signature modern edge.”

How to:

-Starting with wet hair, Francis sprayed Phyto Phytovolume Actif from roots to ends before blowing the hair out.  For a little more hold, he also used the Phyto spray with Living Proof Full Thickening Mousse, and applying it to the entire head, this time blow-drying with a ½” round bristle brush.

-Using a ¾” curling iron, Marcus wrapped medium-size sections on the top of the head to set in the volume. 

-Next he gently brushed back the top and molded the shape, connecting hair at the sides and back, while making sure to keep the volume in the front. To give a little edge, he used Davines Glossy Modeling Putty to rake back the sides with his fingers and to polish the back.  He pinched horizontal sections with the Putty to emphasize the texture.

-To complete the look and have it last all night, he lightly sprayed hair with Oribe Superfine Hair Spray.

Get the look: Piper Perabo at the Golden Globes

Photo courtesy of NARS cosmetics

Makeup: Troy Surratt for NARS Cosmetics.

Inspiration: Surratt said "The look is very ethereal. It’s dewy and glowing with a gorgeous sparkly pink lip, which was the perfect look to complement her bold dress. For me, it was a classic approach with a subtle balance of attention paid to all points of the face."

Face: Troy started with Clé de Peau Beauté La Crème to prep her skin. 

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation ($42) was used to smooth out skin tone.

 

Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer was used to cover any imperfections.

On the apples of her cheeks Troy used a Yachiyo Kabuki Artisan Brush to warm up Piper's face with  Gilda blush.  

Eyes: Troy used the icy pink side of Douce France Trio Eyeshadow (new for Spring 2012). 

He created a thin line of black along her entire lashline using the Nuits Blanches Eyeliner Stylo ($27). 

Larger Than Life Lengthening Mascara ($25) was used on her lashes for definition. 

Brows were filled in with Jodphur Eyebrow Pencil ($21) to make them appear fuller, then Shiseido Translucent Brow Shaper was used to set the pencil.

Lips: The natural lip look was defined with Rosebud Lipliner Pencil, then filled in with Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Frivolous.  The look was finished with Lip Lacquer in Baby Doll, just in the center of the lips to create the effect of fullness.  

Get the look: Claire Danes at the Golden Globes

Makeup: Matin Maulawizada, Global Artistry Director and Brand Ambassador for Laura Mercier. 

Face: Matin prepped Claire’s face using Laura Mercier Foundation Primer ($30).

Matin then used Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Foundation in Sunny Beige ($50) to even out her skin tone.
The Shimmer Bloc in Golden Mosaic ($38) was applied to Claire’s cheekbones for a natural glow.

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in SC3 ($28) was used to conceal any darkness under Claire’s eyes.
The skin was then set with Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder in Translucent ($34) to create a soft-focus effect for the camera.

Lips: Claire’s statement lip was created by layering a few coats of Laura Mercier Crème Lip Colour in Seduction ($22).

Eyes: Matin used Laura Mercier Tightline Cake Eye Liner in Black Ebony ($22) to line Claire’s eyes (both upper and lower rims), and finished with two coats of Laura Mercier Waterproof Mascara ($20).