Fall Into Beauty!

Professional makeup artists are always on the edge of their seats this time of year! The fall season begins right after New York Fashion Week ends and the beauty manufacturers are bringing out this seasons “must have” products!

The Pros here at IMPO love this time of year and can’t wait to get our hands on all the gorgeous colors the fall season brings. This is the perfect time of year to update our kits and personally rock the latest in lipstick, eye shadow, blush and eyeliner!

Just like a new coat of paint brings an instant lift to the walls of your home, a new season’s makeup collection can renew your spirits and revitalize your confidence. Here is what we love…

Jewel tones are all the rage this fall and holiday season. Think hues of purple, teal, and deep red, not only for your wardrobe, but incorporated into your makeup bag. Achieve that luxurious satin finish using a combination of matte and shimmer eye shadows; best seen in a smoldering smoky eye. Deep chocolates, pewter and soft grays compliment skin tones and are versatile year round.

Bobbi Brown’s Nude Eye Shadow Palette is perfection when it comes to the ideal warm neutral shades. The palette is divided into three matte shades and three corresponding shimmer shades with a satin finish. The darkest matte shade can also double as a liner. Chino is a neutral matte that can be used as contour color for cheeks and forehead.

Combine this palette with Nars lipstick in Fast Ride to complete the sultry "fall" look. The deep mulberry shade is a semi-sheer wash so the color is buildable. Layer it with one of Smashbox’s Nude Lip Pencils (medium or dark) for a darker, more matte lip.

Make sure you snag up that Bobbi Brown Nude Palette and in October, grab Bobbi’s Earth Metal Lip and Eye Palette as well from her Holiday 2009 Collection. Meshing both palettes together by combining the matte shades, shimmer colors and metallic’s will give you hundreds of eye-popping options along with gorgeous creamy lip colors that can be layered and blended together to create a custom look!

Smashbox has unveiled the Reign Collection, featuring two truly decadent eye shadow palettes with three shades, each in a matte and shimmer. These shadows can also be worn wet for a more intense application.

The Majesty Palette from the Reign Collection has a warm vanilla, deep burgundy, and a black shadow. For dual use, apply the burgundy shadow to the high points of cheekbones using a fan brush for a gorgeous blush color. Avoid burgundy eye shadows with too many red or orange undertones, as it will bring out the redness in your eyes. Steer more towards the berry shades.

Pump it up a notch by dabbing gold eye shadow on the center of the eyelid to make the look even more regal. Our favs: Goldmine and Amber Lights by MAC, Ambient by Smashbox, and the Cheyenne Duo eye shadow by Nars, which combines gold and plum in one compact. Add a touch of Lancôme Virtuose Black Carat Gold Mascara, it is a rich inky pigment that coats and curls lashes to spectacular lengths and the formulation contains tiny gold particles!

If you love wearing a dark lip color, try OCC Lip Tar in Plum or Vintage. The stain will stay on all day and you can apply a clear lip gloss for added shine and va-va-voom!

Pair the dark lip with another hot, seasonal trend: gray eye shadow. Mix a matte slate gray like Illamasqua’s Feline with a satin charcoal color like Drama or Incubus, from the same line. Complete the soft look with the new Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara from Yves Saint Laurent, which is gray mascara.

Insider Secret: If suffering from puffy eyes, apply eye shadow in a darker shade under your bottom lashes. Because dark colors recede, it will give the illusion of a well-slept, bright-eyed beauty!

The red lip never goes out of season, but this fall the colors have more of a red/blue undertone. Don’t know where to purchase the best red colors? Try Lipstick Queen! Feeling innocent? A sheer wash across your lips makes for a pretty pout, in colors Rouge, Wine or Red from the Saints lipstick collection.

Feeling a little more adventurous? Pick a matte finish lipstick from the Sinner collection in Rouge and Red and really step out in style by layering the Hard Core gloss to your pucker. It has an intense pigment and huge shine payoff. Red Sinner and Wine Sinner are our picks.

Lipstick Queen’s creator, Poppy King, says you don’t need much else when wearing a red lip. Opt for a sheer wash of foundation to conceal skin issues, powder to a matte finish, a little pink flush on the cheeks, tight-line the upper lash line only, add mascara and that is it!

The Pros love the look of a "teal" eye and can't wait to get our hands on the shades that Amanda Seyfriend is wearing in the September issue of InStyle Magazine. She has a classic smoky eye, but with a fresh mermaid twist; green! Create the look by using Cle de Peau Beaute Satin eye color in Emerald No. 109, which is a deep pine color that would be amazing layered over a teal Bobbi Brown eye shadow like Bash Metallic. Makeup Pro, Mariel Barrera says, "the key to this look is to blend to death! That way the two colors will melt together!"

The latest edition of Allure Magazine says "cobalt" eyeliner is hot for the fall season and the Pros love this look combined with dark brown eye shadows and a nude pink lip. This eye look is sultry and sexy, which means a filled-in, sculpted brow would be essential. Try Giorgio Armani Beauty’s Smooth Silk Eye Pencil in #3-Blue. It is a silky formula that allows for precise and easy application. Use to fully line both the upper and lower lash line!

Bump up that gorgeous blue eyeliner or a classic black liner by layering Givenchy’s Parad’Eyes Fluid Eye Liner in Elegant Pearl. It is a soft metallic color that will make your eyes bewitching! This is an eye opening liquid with major pigment and it contains a sprinkling of mother-of-pearl particles! Long-lasting intensity that will not run or flake!

Peach cheeks are a must and will work with any of the above mentioned eye looks. This season a bold eye or lip is all the rage, which means a toned-down warm cheek color is necessary to avoid looking overly made up!

We love Julie Hewett’s Cheekie + Shimmy Duo in Peachie/Goldie! This product is so versatile and can be used to highlight your face, eyes, lips and body. Gives a sheer hint of color that will warm your cheeks and freshen up your face. You can apply with your finger; sponge or the Pros recommend using Julie Hewett’s Chubby Cheekie Brush for perfect blending ability!

Don’t forget those nails! The IMPO Pros fell in love with OPI’s deep purple Black Cherry Chutney and shimmery pewter, My Private Jet. Go bold and wear navy blue, purple, gray and even taupe polish.

Whatever products you choose to add to your current collection don't forget that jewel tones add sparkle to any look. They are deep pigments of color not neon or bright! Purchase the right colors and your look will be up-to-date well into the upcoming Holiday Season!

PRO TIPS AND TRICKS:

Our "tip" for this post is to make certain that our readers see The September Issue! A film by R.J. Cutler featuring Anna Wintour and the making of Vogue! "Fashion is a religion, this is the bible!" "Juicy...A great on to watch," Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times, "Immensely enjoyable," Krista Smith, Vanity Fair. Don't miss it!

STAY TUNED:

Up next on IMPO: It's "back to school" time so listen up!!! You are purchasing new clothes and school supplies, but how about new cosmetics and skincare? It is time to clean out and throw out those nasty products that are "so last year!" Get your teen in tip top beauty shape and help boost her confidence at the same time!

Spotlight - SAMPAR!

Living in the fast paced world of the entertainment industry can be…overwhelming! This Pro relies daily on major technology to make life easier. My computer houses everything from bank account info to a list of groceries for tonight’s dinner, to research for an upcoming shoot!

My iPhone feels like it is attached permanently to my body and my heart actually stops beating when I dig through my purse in hopes that I did not leave it in my car because that is precisely the time a client is going to call in desperate need of my professional makeup services!

Twitter, Facebook and my electronic calendar keep me up-to-date on family, friends, clients and blog associates. And with an “app” for just about anything, why do I still feel as if life is just one step away from complete chaos?

Just when I think I need a break from life or at least a little vacation, in comes my saving grace, my secret beauty savior...enter SAMPAR!

According to their website, “SAMPAR is a unique skincare treatment manufacturer that combines nano-technology, aromatherapy and highly concentrated high-tech active ingredients, which forms the basis of the SAMPAR URBAN ACTIVE family of products. These products create an effective shield to protect the skin from environmental pollution while restoring balance and fighting the signs of cutaneous and extrinsic aging!” Now that is the type of “technology” this Pro loves!

For the past several months, the Pros of In My Professional Opinion has been using and testing a ton of SAMPAR product. Specifically focusing on using these treatments during times when we knew our skin would need extra help; before and after travel, during “that time of the month” and during seasonal changes.

In conducting our research prior to using their products we learned that SAMPAR creates each formula using the URBAN ACTIVE complex, which is a “hand-made” blend of 3 high-tech and all natural active ingredients: Shea Butter Extract, Mint Leaf Extract and Plant Sugar and Lactate Extract.

Shea Butter is an incredible moisturizer, but we also discovered that SAMPAR includes it in their product line because it is a “powerful free-radical scavenger and detoxifying ingredient.” Shea Butter has been known in the medical community as an anti-inflammatory and SAMPAR says that it also “neutralizes the iron and lead found in polluted air.”

Mint Leaf Extract is used to soothe and calm the skin and SAMPAR says that it helps with “pollution-induced inflammation and stimulates the production of “pleasure hormones.”

Plant Sugar and Lactate Extract is, according to the SAMPAR concept, “a natural element, which helps to develop beneficial bacteria that restores the skin’s equilibrium, cell regeneration and enables the skin to repair itself.” And that statement is what got our attention! We couldn’t wait to get our hands on this skin treatment line fast enough!

The SAMPAR product line is available in four types of skincare treatments:

Essentials – balance and moisturize – six products include; Velvet Cleansing Milk, Skin Quenching Mist, Equalising Foam Peel, Ultra Hydrating Fluid, Nocturnal Lifting Mask, Good Weekend Kit. This treatment combines floral water, essential oils and plant extracts that calm, balance, protect and restore the skin.

Pure Perfection – purify and matify – four products include; Daily Dose Foaming Cleanser, Barely There Moisture Fluid, Clear Solution Mask and Prodigal Pen. These products purify and matify the skin when hormonal variations or atmospheric pollutants that can cause breakouts and imperfections unbalance it. Rich in essential oils, these products restore balance and harmony to the skin.

Age Antidote – revitalize and fortify – three products include; Lavish Dream Cream, Vivid Radiance Serum, Splendid Eyes Elevation. These products contain natural active elements such as peptides, walnut and chestnut, which help diminish the signs of aging.

City of Light – lighten and clarify – three products include; White Velvet Cleanser, Serum Luminescent, Spot Lighter. Over time the sun and hormone changes create little brown spots on the skin. These products are replete with concentrates of bioflavonoid, citrus, enzymes, shea butter and chamomile, which give clarity, even skin tone and bring brightness to the complexion.

Here is what we have been testing:

Velvet Cleansing Milk – used product morning and night on our face and neck before and after travel and during seasonal weather changes. What we noticed was that this product was lightweight and did not make our skin feel “tight” after rinsing. Washed away all traces of makeup and helped to repair any dry patches.

Quenching Mist – used on face both morning and night this product was an immediate boost to the skin! As suggested on SAMPAR’s website, we used this product on our eyes by soaking a cotton pad and applying as a compress. Noticed decreased puffiness around the eyes within 10 minutes.

Equalizing Foam Peel – used product in the morning twice a week for two weeks. Lathered onto the skin in a massaging motion over our entire face, avoiding eye area. Left on for the recommended two minutes and then removed by rinsing with water and by wetting a cotton pad, which we gently smoothed over our face to ensure all product was removed. Noticed that our skin felt soft and appeared to be more radiant – reminded us of the same effect as right after a facial.

Hydrating Fluid – applied immediately after cleaning, after mist and peel to lock in moisture and re-moisturize areas of our face that felt dry or dehydrated from travel. Fluid was easy to blend into the skin and it felt as if our skin “drank” in this fluid because of lack of hydration.

Nocturnal Lifting Mask – used at night only after proper cleansing and after Hydrating Fluid. Removed in the morning per instructions. Skin felt very toned and firm.

Prodigal Pen – this product was used during our "time of the month" when we are prone to break outs due to hormonal changes. Helped to diminish unsightly and large pimples. After 2-3 days of use 4 times per day the pimples on our face were completely healed with no scaring effects.

Eye Rule – used to repair and hydrate the skin around our eyes. This product helped reduce fine lines, wrinkles and dark circles around our eye area and diminish puffiness. This became our “go to” product while traveling and for everyday use. Applied to the orbital bone area in a small circular motion, we used this product several times during airplane travel over and under makeup. We placed this product in the refrigerator, which gave our skin a refreshing experience (and maybe helped diminish the puffiness under our eyes faster!).

Good Weekend Kit – we will never be without this kit when we travel! This set contains small vials of the entire SAMPAR beauty ritual and easily slips into your suitcase so that you can continue your treatment while traveling for business or pleasure!

SAMPAR is a French cosmetic brand. The research and development department, the laboratory and the production are all based in France. They do not test their products on animals. Products are evaluated through clinical studies on a panel of volunteers.

All products are non-comedogneic and have a high concentration of natural ingredients. SAMPAR’s line is formulated to limit the risk of allergy and while most of the SAMPAR product line is completely safe to use during pregnancy, they do recommend avoiding the following products during the first 3 months:

Lap of Luxury Sea Scrub

Dew it Again Shower Gel

Equalizing Foam Peel

Prodigal Pen

To purchase SAMPAR products please visit www.samparusa.com or www.sampar.com to place an order online or to find the nearest retailer or spa.

PRO TIPS AND TRICKS:

SAMPAR’s Prodigal Pen was used on a very large and swollen dock spider bite that our Makeup Pro suffered from while on a recent vacation. Used after proper cleaning and disinfecting the essential oils in this product helped to heal and reduce swelling and itchiness. Spider bite was completely healed after 4 days.

STAY TUNED:

Up next on IMPO: The Fall Season is coming up fast! That means it is time for IMPO’s Fall Must Haves! Discover what we can’t live without this season!

Get the Look - Girl Next Door!

This Pro is a lover of old black and white movies from the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s! Who doesn’t love the glitz and glamour of Greta Garbo, Betty Davis, Joan Crawford, Sophia Loren or Vivian Leigh? But, my favorite is the innocence of characters created by actresses such a Judy Garland (Wizard of Oz), Joan Fontaine (Rebecca), Jean Parker (Little Women), Grace Kelly (The Country Girl) Lena Horne (Stormy Weather) and Debbie Reynolds (Singing in the Rain).

The classic “girl next door” look has been created and recreated over and over again throughout movie making history. Sissy Spacek, Cybill Shepherd and Farrah Fawcett had the “all-American” face and today actresses such as Zooey Deschanel, Anne Hathaway, Zoe Saldana, Reese Witherspoon, Gong Li, Jessica Alba and America Ferrera are considered the quintessential “girl next door,” but with a modern, sexy twist!

Back in the glory days of Hollywood, studios would “groom” starlets to fit a certain “type.” For instance, Judy Garland, who was born Frances Ethel Gumm in 1922, was signed on to an extremely long-term contract with MGM at the tender age of 13.

She was older than most traditional child stars, but the studio knew that Judy was going to be their big money-maker and they were right! “Raised” properly and photographed in a certain light with hair, makeup and wardrobe befitting a young, innocent girl, the studio marketed her image to the world and reaped a huge profit in return!

But, did you know that Judy literally “lived” on the MGM Studio lot most of her young life? Attending school with Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner and Lana Turner and growing up on a sound stage exacerbated her insecurities to the point where she was forced to wear caps on her teeth and rubberized disks to reshape her nose. I guess it didn’t help that the Studio Chief, the famous Louis B. Mayor, nicknamed her “the little hunchback!” She was “cute” and her looks did not exemplify a glamorous persona. She was a tiny little “girl” at 4 feet 11 inches, but had a voice as tall as a mountain!

Fast forward to the 1960’s when a gorgeous blonde beauty born Cybill Lynne Shepard beacame a “star” by appearing in The Last Picture Show as Jacy. She captivated our hearts and sky rocketed as a model when the trend changed from Twiggy-type waifs to more curvy “real woman” images!

Enter Breck Shampoo circa 1968 and you will discover Cheryl Tiegs, Jaclyn Smith and Christie Brinkley were among the most memorable “girls next door.” Or how about Marcia Brady? C’mon! It’s okay to admit that you wanted to live next door to the Brady family and have Marcia be your best friend, only because you had a crush on Greg and thought that by being Marcia’s friend, he would take you to the Prom! Or maybe you were a Partridge Family fan?

Our nation’s "all-American" look definitely was more defined by women (or girls) who were blonde-haired and fair-skinned, but fast-forward to the 1980’s and you will discover Molly Ringwald. She was born in a quiet little town just outside of Sacramento, California when she got her “big break” playing the role of Molly Parker on the Facts of Life.

However, her most memorable performances are portraying moody, awkward teen characters in Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink, which were written specifically for her by the late John Hughes. She was a freckle-faced, red head with a spunky attitude, but none-the-less, she looked more like the “real” girl next door, then that of a super model. She was believable and we as young girls in the 80’s completely identified with her and the emotional characters she brought to life.

In today’s world, our society is a melting pot of gorgeous "all-American" women with ethnicities that scream “modern world” instead of “middle-ages!” We embrace beauty regardless of skin color and are inspired by all shapes and sizes of women!

You can sport the “girl next door” look everyday! It is a simple as putting your hair in a ponytail, pulling on a pair of Levi jeans, a white t-shirt from the Gap and a pair of cowboy boots!

Gather your supplies:

Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer

Concealer

Setting Powder

Neutral Eye Shadow

Bronzer

Peach Blush

Mascara

Eyeliner

Nude Lip Pencil

Lipgloss – pink, peach or nude

Product recommendations and how-to:

This Pro always recommendations prepping your skin properly before applying any cosmetics. Using a great skincare and primer is a must in achieving the “girl next door” look, which begins with clean, clear, radiant skin.

Pro Tip: This is not a “heavy” or “made-up” look – each product should be lightly applied and blended to achieve a natural face!

Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer/Concealer – begin by examining your skin in the mirror and deciding if you need a full coverage foundation, tinted moisturizer or maybe you just need to conceal a few problem areas. I love Laura Mercier’s Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer. It is a great bang-for-your-buck giving you three products in one, moisturizer, SPF and foundation.

If you like the coverage of a foundation, try using Visiora Powder Foundation which is heavier on the skin, but may cover your skin issues eliminating your need for concealer and a setting powder. Visiora also has more of a pink undertone, which can create a natural flush to your skin possibly ruling out the need for blush color.

This Pros concealer recommendation is Benefit Cosmetics, Realness of Concealness box, which contains every possible product you could possibly need to conceal a skin flaw! This little kit has a mini collection of Benefits’ most coveted concealers such as Boi-ing, Lemon-Aid, Ooh la Lift, High Beam and Lip Plump.

Setting Powder – it is a makeup “rule” that you must set any crème product before applying a powder product. If you do not follow this step you will most likely look like a “streaky” mess. Tricia Sawyer Beauty’s Sheer Diffusion Cotton Powder is an amazing loose, colorless setting powder made of finely milled cotton. It is formulated to control shine throughout the day making for less touch ups!

Neutral Eye Shadow – This Pro loves Bobbi Brown’s newest take on nude makeup and it is a Fall Season “must-have!” Bobbi’s Nude Eye Palette will effortlessly take you from day to night with universally flattering selections of nude shadows. With three different textures; soft matte, lightly pearlized and metallic shimmer.

To achieve a "girl-next-door" eye begin with the lightest shade of Navajo eye shadow as an all-over wash from lid to brow. Add Chino in the crease and use to line the lower lash line right at the waterline - blend. Finish with a wash of Beige Linen Shimmer all over and blend.

Eyeliner – to complete your natural eye look use a super soft eyeliner pencil. iNuovi Cosmetics makes a great waterproof liner called Fluid Liner and this Pro loves the color Café. This is a perfect liner in pencil form for the “tight lining” technique of the upper lash line area. It is smudge-proof and gives a high pigmentation of color. This product contains Jojoba and cottonseed oil making it very easy to blend. Once set, this liner will last all day with no need for touch up!

Bronzer/Blusher – using a bronzer to enhance your cheekbones and give the illusion of a tanner skin tone, I recommend CoverFX Bronzed FX because they come in an amazing range of color making it easy to achieve a healthy, sunkissed look. Apply lightly under cheekbones and temples across forehead and chin.

On the apples of your cheeks use a gorgeous and warm peach-toned blush like Chiffon from iNuovi Cosmetics. This product line comes in an array of colors making it easy for women of all skin tones to find a peach colored blusher just right for them!

Mascara – you can use either brown or black mascara for this look. This Pro recommends embracing CoverGirl Lash Blast, what could be more "all-American?" Not only is it a fantastic formula that makes your lashes full and lush, it is a drug-store item, which means your wallet will love you!

Nude Lip Pencil/Lipgloss – Smashbox Cosmetics makes an amazing Nude Lip Liner that is ultra creamy! In Fair, Light, Medium and Dark, you will be able to find a match to your lip tone creating a natural, defined look. This product works with any lip color and will make your gloss last for hours.

NARS Cosmetics is this Pro’s favorite when it comes to lipgloss! Complete your look using colors such as Striptease, Stolen Kisses, Sunset Strip, Supervixen or Sweet Dreams!

Following the above instructions will give you a fresh face, wholesome, "all-American" look of the "girl-next-door!" One that will make even Hugh Hefner stand up and take notice!

PRO TIPS AND TRICKS:

Groomed eyebrows are an important part in creating a clean look. Make sure you pluck, wax or thread away any stray hairs. Keep them in place with an eyebrow gel and fill in with a matching eyebrow pencil or powder if they are sparse or if you have over plucked!

STAY TUNED:

Up next on IMPO: step into the unique world of nano-technology, aromatherapy, high-tech ingredients and discover SAMPAR! Learn how to treat and change the effects of environmental pollution on your skin!