Dupe this Look: Jessica Szohr (New Years Eve Edition)

I would be lying if I said I missed Vanessa Abrahms on Gossip Girl, but I'll be damned if her alter ego, Jessica Szohr, isn't an all out smokeshow! The former Gossip Girl actress was the inspiration for my New Years Eve party look with her aqua blue smokey eye and liner. Even peaking out from behind her messy firnge, those eyes are piercing! I started with my usual primers (Too Faced Shadow Insurance and Nyx Black Bean Jumbo pencil) and patted Urban Decay's Deep End eyeshadow onto the lids. Using my MAC 217 brush, I blended out Urban Decay's Ace in the corner and out v of my eye (on top of Black Bean) and Urban Decay's Half Truth in the crease. I  lined my entire eye with Clinique Cream Liner in black  and just like Szohr's smokey eye, swiped on Urban Decay's Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Air Guitar under my lower lashline to create a dramatic blue outline. Who doesn't want to sparkle during the holidays, right? I found the fluffiest, most lush lashes I could get my hands on (Miss Ardo falsies in 100) and finished my look with a nude blush ( Rock and Republic's Foreplay) and nude lipstick (MAC's Bare Again Sheen Supreme lipstick). The aqua blues and violets would look exceptionally beautiful on girls with blue/grey eyes like Jessica's. What did you rock this New Years Eve? Leave your thoughts in the comments. 

Faces by the Honey B: Halloween Peacock

This year for Halloween, I decided to ruffle some tail feathers and dress as a peacock. Of course, this called for me to do an elaborate bird look for the evening. Armed with my favorite golds, greens and blues,  I went to work on my bird eyes. I started with the gold pigment from my MAC Surf Baby Surf the Ocean stack. For the green in the inner crease of my eye, I used my Sugar Pill Midori eyeshadow and patted After Party in the outer crease of my eye. I took Urban Decay's Flash and blended it into the brow bone along with Urban Decay's Midnight 15. Using my NYX Milk jumbo pencil, I drew white dots to mimik the pattern of feathers around my eyes. After letting my eyeshadow set, I drew on Urban Decay's Heavy Metal Glitter liner in Metal Head on top of Flash eyeshadow and Air Guitar on my lower lashline. I extended my MAC Blacktrack Fluid line up as far as i could wing and also drawing an inner wing in the inner corner of my eye to create a birdlike effect. I then added Miss Ardo lashes in #112.  I bronzed my cheeks with MAC's Refined Golden Bronze and added Rock and Republic's Kinky on the apples of my cheek. Keeping the lips simple, I put on Nars nude lippy, Pago Pago and finished my look by gluing on some craft feathers with Ardell's eyelash glue.  Just to add an extra peacocky feel, I put on amber contacts to make my eyes pop. Picture below is my Halloween FOTD. Did you dress up last night? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Dupe this Look: Nicole Richie

I loved this Mod 60's inspired look Nicole Richie rocked on the Oscar's red carpet in 2010. If anyone knows mod inspired style, it's Ms. Richie. The twist on this version of the smokey eye is the great little wing at the end. It really draws a nice line from your eyes to accentuate that sexy feline look. I started by separating my eyelids in half by drawing a black curved line with an angled brush and MAC's Carbon eyeshadow. Next, I patted the lower lid with Sugar Pill's Tako eyeshadow and blended it in an upwards sweeping motion. With my trusty MAC 266, I blended the Carbon line I drew with more black eyeshadow pulling upwards as well. A thick black  line of cream eyeliner is key to this look. I used MAC's Fluidline gel eyeliner in Blacktrack. Don't to wing it out at the end as well. The rest of my look is fairly simple, using Rock and Republic's Foreplay blush and MAC's Angel on my lips, topped off with Chanel's Insolence lipgloss on top. And of course, no Mod look is complete without a dramatic set of false eyelashes (mine are Miss Adoro #5- my current favorite!). Below is my Nicole Richie inspired look. Do you rock the Mod inspired cat eye? Leave your thoughts in the comments. 

Weddings by the Honey B: Bridesmaids Edition

Glamming up Gaby

A few weeks ago, I was asked to do bridesmaids makeup for three lovely ladies attending a July wedding. Janet, Gaby and Rosie were in the wedding party of a good friend of theirs and each individually wanted a unique look for themselves. Janet wanted a gold and blue smokey eye to match their long navy and yellow dresses. I had a lot of fun using my MAC's Surf Baby pigments on her, especially the golden pigment on her lid. I blended in MAC's Meet the Fleet navy eyeshadow on the crease and Moonlight's Reflection in the inner corners of her eyes. I went pretty simple with the rest of her look using Rock and Republic's Seduce on her cheeks and MAC's Bombshell lipstick on her lips. Gaby is a light makeup wearer and did not want anything too dramatic or drastic. We kept the tones cool to match her auburn hair and neutral but smokey to bring out the warm brown in her eyes. I used pigments from MAC's Tartan Tale collection on the inner corners of her lids and blended in MAC's Satin Taupe and Smut to her crease and lid. I swept on Rock and Republic's Call Me on her cheeks and when she said she liked mauvey pink tones for lipstick, I broke out my go-to wedding lipstick, Viva Glam V. Rosie was our resident retro girl and wanted something that would make her look like a modern day pin-up. She also loves dramatic eyelashes so to interpret Rosie into a Dita Von Teese look-a-like, I used Urban Decay's Virgin all over the lid and Dark Horse shadow in the crease. The key essential to Rosie's look was a pin-perfect winged eyeliner, achieved with MAC's Blacktrack Fluidline and a steady yet dramatic hand. Top off her look with MAC's Springsheen blush and Heartless lipstick for a pin-up finish. Pictures are my three beautiful bridesmaids and their own uniquely sexy looks. What's your favorite look to rock as a bridesmaid? Leave your thoughts in the comments.  

Janet, Gaby, and Rosie

Janet, Gaby and Rosie

Dupe this Look: Barbie

After buying that new Sugarpill palette at IMATS last weekend, I just had to do a Barbie look. The Sugarpill Sweetheart palette has the most amazing and most pigmented pink called Dollipop, which was an inspiration to dupe a look from the most fabulous Doll around. I started with a Stila paint pot in Kitten to prime my eye. Then filled the inner corner in with Tako, the white eyeshadow and patted on Midori (the green) on my lid. I packed Sugarpill's loose pigment shadow in Darling over Midori to really bring out the teal. I blended Dollipop in the crease and MAC's Blanc Type on the brow bone. I used 1 and half sets of false lashes- one set on my upper lashline and one cut in half for my lower lashline to really make my eyes doll-like. I dusted Rock & Republic's shocking pink blush in Kinky on my cheeks and finished off with MAC's Pink Nouveu and Chanel's Pink Pulsion on my lips. What do you dolls think? Did I do Barbie justice? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Dupe this Look: Taylor Momsen

I love vintage Jenny Humphrey. You know, back before she went a little too heavy on the Jack Skeleton eyeliner? Right at her turn from Gossip Girl princess to grunge queen, Taylor Momsen walked the fine line between edgy punk and stylish. The look (picture left) was a gorgeous combo of a smokey eye and bold lip. Nothing too drastic, just enough to look tough and glam at the same time. To interpret this punk rock look, I started with a golden smokey eye using MAC's Carbon in both corners of my eye and Antiqued in the middle of the lid and blended duochrome Club in the crease. I didn't skimp on the black eyeliner and false lashes either. I contoured my cheek with MAC's Billionaire Bronze stick and topped off with Rock & Republic Seduce blush on the apples of my cheek. While Taylor is actually wearing NARS Schiap lipstick in the photo, I opted for a more subtle pink since my eyes were heavier than hers. I slapped on MAC's Spitfire lipstick and Athena's Kiss lipglass. Pictured below is my best impression of a not quite grunged out Taylor Momsen. 

Weddings by the Honey B: Bridal Shower Makeup

I love wedding season! And I'm not talking strictly about attending the ceremony; I am talking about the entire journey to the wedding. The events leading up to the wedding (like the bridal shower, the wild bachelorette party, the rehearsal dinner) are just as much as the wedding itself. For a bridal shower I attended this weekend, I wanted to create a look that was fun and colorful. The bridal shower was held at a lovely restaurant in Pasadena, so I went for a colorful, silvery smokey eye. I started with a dark base using my NYX jumbo pencil in Black. Using my 239, I patted on the silver pigment from my MAC Surf the Ocean pigments. I blended MAC's Carbon eyeshadow into the the outer v of my eye and Cranberry in the crease for an interesting pop of color.  I used MAC's Bamboo in the browbone and lined my eye with MAC's Blacktrack Fluidline. I blended in my MAC bronzing stick in Billionaire Bronze to contour my cheeks and topped it off with Rock & Republic's Seduce with MAC's MSF in Light Flush as a high lighter. To finish my look, I used MAC's All Mine lipstick and Chanel's Glossimer in Wild Rose for a rosey mauve lip. One set of Ardell Wispy lashes for a dramatic yet subtle look and I was ready to go! Picture below is my Bridal Shower FOTD. 

Faces by the Honey B: Janet

When the beautiful Janet (pictured left) had requested me to do her makeup for a wedding, I jumped at the chance. She was attending a California spring wedding and was wearing black and gold lace so we decided on a gold and black smokey eye for the occasion. Janet has some gorgeous brown/hazel eyes so I used a gold eyeshadows (Urban Decay's Half Baked and MAC's Tempting eyeshadows) to really bring out the green in her eyes. We darkened up the outer V of her eyes with MAC's Beauty Marked and filled in Smut in the crease. To open her eyes a bit, I used Urban Decay's Sin in the inner corner of her eyes and MAC's Blanc Type on the brow bone. Janet wanted to really pull out the gold undertones in her skin so after contouring her cheekbones with MAC's Refined Golden bronzer, I used Rock and Republic's blush in Call me to warm her up face. I used MAC's Angel lipstick and Nymphette lipglass. Of course, no look is complete without a full set of falsies, which made Janet's already beautiful eyes really pop. Pictured below is Janet's sexy and glammed up smokey eye look. 

Dupe this Look: Mila Kunis

As an up and coming rising star, Mila Kunis has been everywhere lately. Her cover of Cosmopolitain was downright inspirational! Her soft and smokey brown eye is a look that is perfect for a night on the town. The incomparable Nic Chapman of Pixiwoo has done a video on this look, so I decided to post my interpretation of this as well.  I obtained this look by using my trusty Urban Decay Naked palette (Virgin on the lid, Smog in the crease and Darkhorse in the outer V) and paired it with a thick winged eyeliner (MAC's Blacktrack fluidline) which I smudged on the bottom lashline as well (MAC's eye kohl in Feline). I kept the cheeks neutral with my go-to sexy blush Rock and Republic's Seduce and brushed MAC Refined Golden Bronze bronzer on my cheekbones. I got to whip out my new (and favorite) Chanel Rouge Coco Shine lipstick in Evasion which the perfect glossy pink. Finish with a set of false lashes. Now, if only I had those same sultry, killer hazel eyes!

How to Take A Good License Photo

After losing my driver's license this last weekend, I enlisted a little help from the beauties over at Makeup Alley to compile a list of tips to get the best look in what is often your most unflattering photo (that you show ALL the time!). I guess I will know how well these tips worked out when I get my replacement! Here are a few tricks of the trade to get a glamorous-as-possible picture. 

• Avoid makeup with SPF. The unnatural light of the flash can wash you out.
• Stick to mattes! This goes for eyeshadow, blushes, and foundation. Anything shimmery will reflect light and make you look too shiny and no one wants to look like the Tin Man in their ID picture.
• Wear a pretty and soft lip color. Try to avoid anything too bold or too trendy to keep from looking clownish.
• Keep your brows natural and soft.
• Define your eyes, and maybe more than you normally would. It won't look cartoon-ish in the photo.
• Think of something funny when you smile- it will create a genuine grin on your face!

Pictured below is my FOTD for my date with the DMV. I kept it really simple, using a dark brown eyeshadow from my Smashbox artist palette and MAC eyeliner in Feline. I used a matte peachy blush (Rock and Republic's Bedroom) and swiped on Makeup Forever's lipstick 32 with Chanel's Star glossimer on top.

Cold Nights, HOT Pink

Just because it's winter doesn't mean you can't be hot! A nice way to warm up these chilly winter nights is to break out the hot pinks! This is an attention-grabbing shade and when worn right, can bang out versatile looks from flirty to punk rock to all out glamorous! My favorite shade of lipstick to wear on nights out is hands down bright pink. And who doesn't feel just a tad more confident rocking a shade like this? Listed below is a list of some of my favorite hot pink shades. Do you wear hot pink? What's your favorite hot pink product? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

• Eyes: MAC's Sushi Flower, MAC pigment in Fuschia
• Face: Rock & Republic Kinky, Smashbox Radiance
• Lips: Chanel Glossimer in Pink Pulsion, MAC's Gladiola, NARS Schiap, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Anime

Dupe this Look: Taylor Swift

With her new album, Speak Now, dominating the charts this country cutie has a perfect look easy enough to duplicate. Taylor Swift's signature cat-eye paired with a red lip has been her go-to look lately. Not only is this look extra glamorous, but Taylor still manages to make it look so sweet! Using my NYX jumbo pencil in Black, i winged and blended a cat-eye, blending upwards towards my brow. I softened the harsh black pencil with the black shadow from my Stila Blockbuster palette. Then, I patted on the neutral shimmery colors from the same Stila palette, placing the color on the lid of my eye and underneath. I used L'oreal's liqued liner to run over the lid and applied black falsies. As for Taylor's sultry red lips, I used MAC's lipstick and lipglass in Heartless and Wicked Ways. Finish with a light dusting Rock and Repbulic's Bedroom blush and squint eyes for effect.

Faces by the Honey B: Pocahontas

Happy Halloween! For my last Halloween post, I decided to do a playful yet glamorous take on Native American legend Pocahontas. I wanted to do something different, but stick to browns and golds as to not stray very far from my costume's color palette. I used most of the browns and golds from my Urban Decay Naked palette (including Dark Horse, Smog and Half Baked) and winged out my liner very drastically. I also used my new Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner in Baked to line underneath my eyes and cover a small portion on my lid. I finished the eyes with a row of full and lush falsies. I dusted my cheeks with Rock and Republic blush in All Nighter and kept my lips simple in MAC's lipstick in Underplay. To complete the look, I stuck on some yellow and white war paint. Below are some shots of my makeup up close and of course, a group shot of me and my tribe, Tribe Slappahoe. Have a Gruesome, Ghoulishly FUN Halloween!

Buzzworthy: MAC's A Tartan Tale and Beauty Deals of the Week

Today, MAC Cosmetics launches their newest line for their holiday 2010 collection, A Tartan Tale. Adorned in classic plaid, the collection introduces us to several holiday kits which include lipsets, eye palettes, cheek palettes and even brush sets- all which come with a cute plaid travel bag. The line also includes limited edition lipsticks, dazzleglasses, 2 new blushes and 6 new eyeshadows that are stamped in plaid and retail for $19.50. Yes, the price is a little steep for eyeshadows, but these come in the Mineralized Eyeshadow pans so there is more product for what you pay for. Nordstrom is also offering exclusive sets and kits. The standout of this collection seems to be the Pearlglide eyeliners that come in 5 dazzling colors. I have my eye on at least 3! What will you be picking up from this collection? Or are you passing this one up? Leave  your thoughts in the comments.

...And now for our Beauty Deals of the Week:

• Paula Dorf, Biotherm, and Lorac on Hautelook.
• The Holy Mud Company and Pierre Fabre on Beauty Story.
• The Freddric Fekkai Salon for Dallas and Melrose on Gilt Groupe
• Senna Cosmetics on Beauty Ticket
• Rock and Republic Cosmetics using RockCosmetics code and/or a referral on Rock and Republic

Faces by the Honey B: Halloween Kitty Cat

It's that time of year- a make up artist's favorite holiday! I love Halloween and one of the looks that I've done a million times is the sexy kitty. Paired with a bow tie and some kitty ears, I decided to do a dramatic cat eye, extended on both ends of the eye to make the look very feline. I used MAC's Mauvement pigment all over the lid and highlighted the corners with Urban Decay's Uzi. I really wanted to emphasize the playfulness of the cat so I used a lot of pinks on my cheeks and lips, including MAC's Briar Rose Beauty Powder and Rock and Republic's Tease on the cheeks and Viva Glam Gaga lipstick and lipglass for my pucker. Keeping the whiskers simple, I used Maybelline's Gel Liner in Black and highlighted the whiskers with Uzi again. Stay tuned for more of my Halloween looks this week. What will you be dressing up as?

Faces by the Honey B: Jaqueline

Today I had the extreme pleasure of helping Jackie get ready for a charity event in Pasadena. Jackie wanted a smokey and dramatic eye to match her black cocktail dress. For the formal event, I wanted to give Jackie a look she wasn't used to wearing. To bring out Jackie's beautiful brown eyes, I used my trusty Urban Decay Naked palette to give her a smokey eye with purple and brown undertones. Jackie is also blessed with amazing eyebrows so I darkened them up a little with my Anastasia brow kit to really let them stand out. To tone down a little redness in her skin, I put on Mark's Tinted Moisturizer and finished with Origins pressed powder to matte down her skin. For a little shimmer, I brushed MAC's Her Own Devices beauty powder on her cheek bones and down the bridge of her nose and topped it off with Rock and Republic's Call Me on the apples of her cheeks. To give Jackie a fuller lip, I plumped hers up with NARS Bonero lip liner and MAC's Viva Glam V lipstick. To finish the look, I topped MAC's Nymphette on top of the lipstick. And of course, no look is complete without a set of false lashes.

Purple is Power: Spirit Day 2010

In an effort to stand up to bullying and send a message to the youth of America October 20, 2010 was declared Spirit Day, and everyone was asked to wear purple to show support. Once upon a time, in a hive far far away, this Honey B was just another awkward teenage girl struggling to fit in. Thank God for makeup and art as an outlet of expression! So to give another voice to the It Gets Better project, I have pulled out all my best purples in honor of Spirit Day. Purples are such a lovely, flattering color on every skin tone, and I especially love purple colors to bring out the warmness in brown eyes. The makeup in my purple arsenal may not exactly be violet, but they do have lavender undertones, which can be so girly and playful. On my look below, I used my favorite purple shadows in MAC's Parfait Armour and Stila's Smudge Pot in Violet as a base. I also used MAC's mineralized eyeshadow in Love Spell and highlighted with the lightest shade of my Romantic Mauves Avon quad. My lipstick is a pinky lavender MAC lipstick in Fashion Mews and my cheeks are Rock and Republics lavender mauve color, Tease.

As a lover of makeup, I am someone who stands up for individuality. Be true to yourself. To learn more about the It Gets Better Project, you can click the link.

 

Weekend Haul: Rock and Republic Blush, Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick and Glossimer

Am I a lucky girl or what?! This last friday, my boyfriend surprised me with two goodies from the Chanel Holiday 2010 collection! I happened to drop subtle hints about how crazy I was about the new Chanel Rouge Coco lipstick in the limited edition shade Magnolia and he bought it for me the very next morning! The limited edition lipstick is a perfect shade of pink for all skintones because it doesn't lean too warm or too cool. The lipstick goes on so creamy and is a beautifully subtle shade of milky pink. For $30 a tube, this is not an inexpensive lipstick- but in my opinion you pay for the quality of the product and Chanel always delivers quality. I would purchase this lipstick again (better hurry if you want it, as it is limited edition) but probably only on a day where I've saved up some of my pennies! I'm pretty thankful that my boyfriend has such good taste in makeup because he picked out the Chanel Pink Pulsion Glossimer ($27) all by himself! This lipgloss, also limited edition, is a dazzling display of shimmer and PINK. As a glossimer, it does go on semi-sheer but the color is beautiful to wear on lips alone and can be used to glam up any lipstick. Paired with the Magnolia lipstick, Pink Pulsion is pure glamour!

I also placed an order for two more Rock and Republic blushes to add to my growing obsession collection! Seduce and Lust are the latest blushes to come in straight from the Rock and Republic website. The hockey-puck sized blushes are on SALE right now on RockandRepublic.com when you use the code RockCosmetics so hurry before the code expires! Both Seduce and Lust have shimmer and lean towards bronze-rose colors. I was wearing Seduce today and not only has it lasted all day but it gives the most gorgeous warm glow! I do swear by these blushes- the quality, size and uniqueness of the colors are really something I stand behind. While Call Me is a fan favorite, X Rated is definitely my personal favorite! Picture below is Seduce (right) and Lust, along with the Chanel lipstick and lipgloss swatches. Will YOU be checking out the Rock and Republic sale or the Chanel Holiday collection?  Leave your thoughts in the comments. 

Buzzworthy: Avon Eyeshadow Quads in Romantic Mauves and Earth Tones

I've been hearing good things about the Avon eyeshadow quads for a while now so I found it an opportune time to check them out since there was a special going on. I bought these two Avon quads for $8.99 (a two for one special) so at $4.50 a piece, I thought this was a great deal! The packaging is a pretty and sleek black plastic compact with a mirror. The look of the compact does remind me a little of how the Chanel quads look. The quality of the shadows is nice- definitely not as nice as Chanel, or even Urban Decay or MAC for that matter, but they are pigmented and blend nicely. I will say that the colors in the catalog look slightly different than they do in person. Over all, I do like these quads and think they are great quality for an even better price.

I did a look with the earth tones quad that I think came out nicely. The eyeshadow stayed on all day at work, which I love. I'm also wearing Rock and Republic All Nighter blush and the Cremesheen lipglass I bought from MAC, Ever so Rich. For those of you wondering about the cremesheens, they are very very sheer. I do love this look worn alone (perfect for a smokey eye), but this is the kind of lipgloss that looks best while trying to mute down a stain or lipstick. The cremesheens also feel super soft on the lips and is not as sticky as the regular lipglasses. But if you are looking for high pigment and shine, this is not what you're looking for.