4th of July Style: Our Top Tips for Sexy Summer Skin and Majorly Melt-Proof Makeup

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Image of Kim Kardashian Courtesy of Seventeen.com

What woman doesn't fantasize about having perfect skin? It is THE holy grail of the beauty world, but sometimes seems to be out-of-reach for the average gal-on-the-go... 

Then, disappointed with our lingering lackluster complexions, we go out and spend hundreds upon hundreds of dollars trying every foundation under the sun - with unsatisfying results... No foundation, no matter how amazing... how pricey, will give you perfect-looking skin if you don't take the appropriate steps to prep your face for makeup. 

Plus, why spend time applying foundation if it ends up wearing off within minutes?!?!

To put an end to the madness, I've put together this 5-step regimen to give you gorgeous-looking skin every time.  Follow it to the "T" and get ready to rock those 4th of July barbecues with fresh-faced, melt-proof HOTNESS!  5 steps may seem like a lot, but wait till you see the finished product...

1. Exfoliate

This may be the MOST important step of all. Exfoliation allows all of the rest of the products to do their jobs properly. Removing dirt and dead skin cells not only reveals fresh, new skin, it also allows for increased penetration of skin care products. Not to mention, makeup will apply oh-so-much better to your freshly exfoliated face. It is a MUST for great-looking skin.

Try: Princess Livia Honey & Almond Scrub with Bee Pollen 

2. Moisturize

Hydrating your skin prior to makeup application is also an important step. Hydrated skin looks smoother, plumper and has a radiant glow. It also ensures a nice, smooth makeup application. Look for one with antioxidants to help protect skin from environmental damage which can cause premature signs of aging.

Try: Madeleine Mono Act 3 Fountain of Youth Skin Rejuvenating Moisture Cream


 

3. Apply foundation

The right foundation should even tone and texture and minimize flaws while allowing your natural skin to show through. You'll find that after completing steps 1-3, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how well your foundation applies. For best results, begin in the middle of your face and blend outward towards the perimeter.

Try: Jean-Michelle Claire Teint Anti-Age Liquid Makeup

4. Conceal

Now that you've applied your foundation, you want to go back and cover any imperfections that are still visible. This includes blemishes, under eye circles and redness. Typically, a little concealer goes a long way so use it sparingly. For the best coverage, pat the concealer onto desired areas and pat the edges to blend if needed.

Try: Diandra Perfect Blend Concealer Duo

5. Set with Powder

Unless shine is a big problem for you, it's best to apply powder sparingly. Its main function is simply to set the makeup you've just applied. Using a large fluffy brush, dust a translucent powder over your entire face making sure to cover all areas where you've applied foundation.

Try: Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Translucent Powder

Now that you've got the perfect canvas, think of the fun you're going to have trying all of the fabulous new summer shades!  


Reaching foundation elation is as simple as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!  (Hey, we never said looking hot all the time was easy :)... 

With a little help from the complexion experts at Cosmetique!  

DRINK PLENTY OF H2O and DON'T FORGET THE SUNSCREEN.


HAPPY 4TH OF JULY, BEAUTIFUL GIRLS!

Beauty Editor's Pick of the Week: Sistina Magnifico Manicure Collection

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Sistina Magnifico Manicure Collection

This 3-piece manicure set (perfect for pedicures, too!) from Sistina is MAGNIFICO!  It includes our clear nail-strengther & base/topcoat (Fermezza), a formaldehyde-free, high-shine, long-wearing nail color in your choice of ten, mouthwatering shades (Ceramica Classica), AND our cult-favorite anti-aging, skin-smoothing hand cream - chock-full of naturally-derived Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids for smooth, silky, youthful-looking hands.

While we're talking nails... 

May I recommend my current summer shade?!?!  Red Glorioso (shown above) is THE perfect red for summer - bright and shiny, soft and shimmering...

Need I say MORE?

Get those paws in the swing of things this season with our fool-proof mani-pedi set from Sistina - MOLTO MAGNIFICO!!!

Be sure to by our BLOG, FACEBOOK and TWITTER pages for more great deals, steals, beauty tips & tricks, AND MORE!

Getting glam hands this summer is easy...

With a little help from your friends at Cosmetique!

THE "COLOR" THEORY: What Your Eyes Say About You

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Photo Courtesy of Foodcourtlunch.com

Eyes are probably the most communicative of our facial features and they speak volumes even when no words are used.  Their movements and expressions are vast, and scientists, doctors and behaviorists have long studied the correlation between the movements of the eyes and the workings of the brain.  Some say the eyes are the windows to the soul.

But, have you ever thought about your eye color?  Every year people spend their hard-earned cash on colored contacts…but to what end?  Do people really form opinions of you based on your eye color? According to a 2002 survey conducted by CyberPulse, a division of Impulse Research Corporation in Los Angeles and commissioned by CIBA Vision, they do.  The survey polled over 1000 women ages 16-35 in the U.S., and found that many people associate certain eye colors with specific personality traits.

Here are the three main eye color categories and their most commonly associated traits.  Keep in mind, we've focused on the positive - as always :)

BROWN EYES

You think you’re so smart, don’t you?  Turns out, other people think so too!  34% of people surveyed associate brown eyes with intelligence.  Other qualities associated with brown eyes include trustworthiness and kindness.



BLUE EYES

Hey there sugar!  42% of those surveyed see those with blue eyes as being super-sweet, while 21% saw them as exuding sex appeal.  In third place we have kindness at 10%.



GREEN EYES

Is it hot in here? Green-eyed babes are perceived as being the sexiest with a whopping 29% of those surveyed making that connection. They are also thought of as being tremendously creative (25%.)

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Photos Courtesy of Instyle.com

Our FUN-IN-THE-SUN Pick of the Week: Cadette Colorwave Liptints

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Nothing says summer like shiny, moisture-drenched lips in one of this season's hottest hues!  Enter Cadette Colorwave Liptints...  Infused with hydrating ingredients and a pop of sheer color, these liptints are among my favorite summer pick-me-ups.  You'll see why when you check out the gorgeous colors and try our lip-perfecting formula for yourself. 

EXPERT MULTI-TASKING TIP:  Get an uber-coordinated look like Eva Mendez (above) by swiping your chosen liptint shade onto apples of cheeks, too. Blend up and out towards temples for a gorgeous, dewy flush.

The options:

Seashell Pink

Plum Paradise

Admiral Red

Coral Reef

Maritime Mocha

Need we say more?!?!  Have fun in the sun and look good doing it with our perfect-for-summer, lip-conditioning Colorwave Liptints.  For more beauty tips, tricks and all the latest from Cosmetique, be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter!

XOXO,

Cosmetique

Here Comes The SUN! Our Expert Tips for a Sizzling Summer

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I could NOT be any more excited that summer is almost here!  It is absolutely, hands-down, my favorite season and I’ve been looking forward to it since LAST summer!  Now, it’s time to forget about covering up with sweaters and jeans, and time to start thinking about baring it all in sundresses, shorts and bathing suits…Yikes!  There are some simple, easy ways to prepare yourself for less clothing and more fun…and they’re all right here!  Read on for tips on how to get gorgeous, and stay gorgeous all summer long…

Step 1

Time to slough off that dead winter skin and get ready to get your glow-on!  The first step is a nice thorough body exfoliation which should be repeated approximately twice a week.  Rub a natural salt scrub gently in a circular motion over your entire body for glowing summer skin.

Step 2

Moisturize! You should moisturize regardless of season but the thought of showing more skin seems to make this step all the more compelling…For fast-absorbing, fragrant hydration, try Arabella Stuart Belle Fleur Fragrant Body Lotion.  It is packed full of skin-conditioning ingredients, and smells like summer itself!

Step 3

This is the MOST important step for health reasons…You must wear sunscreen all over! As you probably know, options abound.

You should opt for a waterproof formula if you’re going to be active/swimming.  Look for an oil-free version if you're acne-prone.

Don’t forget your lips!  The skin on lips is very sensitive and should be protected from the elements.  Try a nice tinted lip balm - Just be sure it has at least SPF 15.

Step 4

Shave up!  I’m not gonna lie, I may have skipped a shave here and there over the winter. It’s hard to get motivated when you’re wearing long pants everyday, but those days are over!  It’s shaving season and I have one excellent multi-tasking tip for you.  Try using body lotion as your “shaving cream.”  It provides excellent slip for the razor and contains ingredients that are great for your skin!  I like Garden Botanika Fresh Mint Body Lotion for shaving because of its conditioning properties and its awesome, chilly scent.

Step 5

Don’t forget the pedicure!  Summer provides an excellent opportunity to experiment with bold colors on your toes.  My favorite is Diandra Nail Color in Ruby Kiss.  It adds a show-stopping pop of color, and dries to a brilliant shine.

Be sure to stay tuned for more fun-in-the-sun beauty tips, makeup tricks and the very latest in red carpet fashion!

Getting glam in time for summer is easy...

With a little help from your friends at Cosmetique!

The Eyes Have It: Diandra Urban Chic Eyeshadow Palette

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Create beautifully captivating eyes with Diandra Urban Chic Multi Eyeshadow Palette, which includes the most gorgeous silky-shades...





With eight easy-to-blend shades, you can go from daytime chic to all-out evening glamour with just one go-anywhere palette.  In all of this season's hottest hues, these fabulous eyeshadows are silky-smooth and easy to apply.  Our pretty palette also features a large mirror and dual eye shadow applicators for a picture-perfect application every time.

Still not sure how to wear 'em? 

Try some of these user-friendly EYE-deas:

-Highlight brow bones and inner corners of eyes with one of the pale shimmering shades. 

-Create lust-worthy lids by choosing an eye-popping shade, like the brilliant royal purple or the smoky, shimmering brown, and sweeping it from lash line to crease. 

-Smoke out eyes for evening by using one of the deepest shades to define upper and lower lash lines, in lieu of pencil or liquid eye liner.


-Use only the lightest shades to highlight and define for the perfect, no-makeup makeup look.


-Highlight bone structure by applying one of the light neutral shades to the tops of your cheekbones and the bridge of your nose.


-Get a subtle moonlit effect by patting one of the lightest shades onto the center of lids only.


-Create dramatic contours by pairing the lightest (for lids, browbones and inner corners) and darkest shades (crease and liner) and skipping mid-tones.

The list goes on and on...  Whether you like it subtle or smoldering, this palette truly offers a multitude of eye-enhancing EYE-deas for the makeup artist in all of us.  Channel your inner siren and get your glam-on this spring... With a little help from the Diandra Urban Chic Eyeshadow Palette and of course...

Your friends at Cosmetique!

MTV MOVIE AWARDS 2012 ROUNDUP: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly ;)

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Ahhh...  the MTV Movie Awards.  We laughed... We cried... And, then we broke down and started talking about how everyone looked on the red carpet.  In an effort to share our thoughts and wisdom with our favorite beauty buddies, we've rounded up the most "notable" looks we saw on the red carpet, and put them into 3 self-explanatory categories :)
  
THE GOOD

 

Holland Roden in Mandalay

 

 Emma Stone in Martin Grant

  

 Charlize Theron in Lanvin

 

Shailene Woodley in Stella McCartney

THE BAD

Ellie Kemper in Dolce and Gabbana

 

 Kristen Stewart in Guishem

 

Julianne Hough in Sally LaPointe

AND, THE UGLY... (We won't tell you who they are or what they're wearing because we don't want to reinforce bad behavior ;;;)))

 

  

That's our take - Who would make your best and worst dressed lists?  Are we way off, or spot-on?!!?  WE WANT TO KNOW!

Stay tuned for more fashion hits & misses, beauty tips, how-tos and MORE!  

Keeping up with the latest red carpet trends is easy...

With a little help from your friends at Cosmetique!

All Images via MTV.COM 

Beauty Editor's Glow-Getter of the Week: Madeleine Mono Viva Diva Duo Blush

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Madeleine Mono Viva Diva Duo Blush - ONLY $15.00!!!

DOUBLE THE FUN!  Madeleine Mono Duo Viva Diva Duo Blush gives you 2 amazing cheek colors in 1 travel-friendly compact.  With a cool rose and a warm, glowing bronze, you can choose a shade based on what you're wearing, or swirl the 2 together for a neutral, radiant flush... Either way, this gorgeous, go-anywhere set will have you blushing in no time!

EXPERT TIP:  For the most natural-looking, sunny flush, begin by sweeping the bronze shade onto cheekbones, temples, jawline and decolletage - blend well.  Finish the look by dusting the rosy shade onto apples of cheeks - only.  You'll end up with a gorgeous glow most gals only get on vacation!

Enjoy the remaining days of spring... And stay tuned for more red-hot summer tips, tricks, picks and MORE!!! 

We can't wait!  CAN YOU??!

XOXO,

Cosmetique <3