Archive for the ‘Makeup How-To + Demos’ Category

I know how much you love natural & organic makeup…and I know the one thing you don’t love is when it doesn’t last or look as good an hour after you’ve applied it.  While I’ve heard some great tips (some listed here), I’ve also heard, and tried, some not-so-great ones that just didn’t work.  Here are the five things I’ve found make the biggest improvement in the overall performance of your natural and organic makeup:

1. Always start with clean, properly hydrated skin and always wait at least 5 minutes (after applying your moisturizer) before  applying any makeup. Clean, moisturized skin is the best canvas for makeup.  Apply too soon and the moisturizer may prevent the makeup from staying put.

2. Prep the face, neck and lids with a base layer.
If you have fine lines or uneven texture, use a smoothing primer like Vapour Organic Beauty Stratus Instant Skin Perfector.
If your application tends to go all shiny after a couple hours, prep with a mattifier like Amala Purifying Mattifier.
If your color always seems to evaporate or absorb after a couple hours, use a durable base layer like Vive Sana Solar To Polar Ultra.

3. Use blotting papers after applying oil or wax based products –they’ll lift the excess oil but leave the color.  These work surprisingly well on cream eyeshadows too!  If you have the time, experiment with a layering technique – apply cream shadow, blot, apply a tiny bit of powder over the cream, blot, apply more cream shadow, blot.  It sounds more step-y than it is.  If you need extra long eyeshadow wear for a special occasion, give it a try!

4. Always set powder with a facial mist to avoid looking chalky.  A fine mist will form microscopic water-color capsules and create a naturally dewy airbrushed effect.

5. Reapply!  No one here is going to tell you that reapplying isn’t part of the natural makeup routine.  Without icky synthetic fixatives and colorants, you’re not likely to get  24 hour wear but with nourishing, skin-loving  natural ingredients instead of harsh, disruptive ones, you can think of every touch-up as a pampering beauty treat, not a chore!

What tips and tricks have you discovered with natural makeup performance?  Share them with us on Facebook!

This is the perfect low-maintenance makeup look for an elegant dinner party (especially one you’re hosting!) because the eyes make the statement, while the lips are free to nosh and gab!

TIPS:  The key to this classic, elegant look is expertly applied liner.   The most common mistake with this look is going too neutral with the cheeks and lips.  While you really want the eyes to pop, you still need a touch of color on your cheeks and lips to avoid looking washed out.
TOOLS: Nvey Eco Eyeliner & Brow Brush #7, Nvey Eco High Definiton Cake Eyeliner, Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation, Kjaer Weis Cream Blush Compact, RMS Beauty Lip Shine.

The Classic Vamp look will never go out of style and is always appropriate for black-tie formal affairs.

TIPS:  The key to getting  this look just right is finding the perfect hue and depth of lip color – not too dark, not too bright, and right for your skin tone.  Imagine Julianna here swapping lip shades with Julianne – not quite the same is it?!  You’ll also want to strike the perfect balance between the lips and the rest of the palette – too much eye and you’re more clown than gown.  Too little and your lips might wash out your face, making you look 5 years older.

TOOLS: For deep warm tones, try RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek in Rapture or Ilia Pure Lip Care in Arabian Nights.  For fair porcelain tones, try Vapour Organic Beauty Siren Lipstick in Ravish or Revolution Organics Freedom Lip Gloss in Freedom.  For light to medium olive tones, try Vapour Organic Beauty Aura Multi Use Stain in Impulse or Lure.

You don’t want to show up at the office party looking like a different person.  Make your co-workers jealous by looking like you just had a vacation instead!

TIPS:  The key to this sexy, understated look is great skin!  If you’re fortunate enough to be able, consider getting a professional microcurrent + oxygen facial (see: Ildi Pekar or Joanna Vargas in NYC) or DIY at home with the Tata Harper Skin Care Mini Facial Set.

TOOLS: Rose Marie Swift, the makeup magician behind RMS Beauty, is the queen of creating this glowy look so it should be no surprise you can get it using entirely RMS Beauty products. RMS Beauty “Un” Cover-Up – only as needed – let the skin glow, RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek in Muse, Promise or Smile, RMS Beauty Cream Eye Shadow in Lunar, and the Hallmark of natural radiance: RMS Beauty Living Luminizer.

If there’s ever a time to play with color, why not New Year’s Eve?!  Try something you’ve always wanted to but never had the guts – the experiment may even embolden you in the year ahead.

TIPS: You can be wild and still pretty but wild can go too far.  Pick one area to play with color (lips, cheeks or eyes), but leave the others in the natural realm.
TOOLS: For Jennifer Hudson’s look, try a metallic eye with Kjaer Weis Eye Shadow in Onyx and Divine or RMS Beauty Cream Eye Shadow in Magnetic and make the lips pop with Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm in Blushed.  For a look like Olivia’s, neutralize the lips with Kjaer Weis Lip Tint in Dream State or Nvey Eco Advanced Care Lip Colour in 356 and make the eyes come vividly alive with Alima Pure Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow in Aubergine and Amethyst and Vapour Organic Beauty Mezmerize Shimmer Eye Treatment in Lyric.  For a slightly down-played (unless you are getting an MTV Award) kaleidescopic eye like Katie’s, play with Vapour’s Vapour Organic Beauty Mezmerize Shimmer Eye Treatment in Dream, Stealth & Night.

For more custom color reccomendations, tips, tricks and advice, hit up one of our beauty-obsessed product specialists on Live Chat today!

Have you ever seen a beautiful bright , funky, shiny or sparkly makeup color and been too afraid to wear it? We asked Green Makeup Artist Rebecca Casciano to show us how this year’s hot, bright natural makeup colors can work in real-life, on real women, while looking glam and gorgeous, NOT kooky or clowny!  Real Model: Jenny Sansouci, Health Coach www.healthycrush.com Real Colors: Face: Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation in 130 Eyes: Nvey Eco Eyeshadow in 161 Cheeks: Nvey Eco Blush in 957 Mascara: Nvey Eco Mascara in Black Lip: Nvey Eco Organic Lipstick in 360 Real Model: Wendy Hope, Photographer www.wendyhopephotography.com Real Colors: Face: Nvey Creme Deluxe Foundation Eyes: RMS Beauty Cream Eye Shadow in Seduce and Alima Pure Eyeshadow in Venus Mascara: Nvey Eco Moisturizing Mascara in Black Cheeks+ Lips: Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm in Blushed Real Model: Betsaida Velez, Educator Real Color: Face: Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation in 135 & Nvey Eco Erase Concealer in Deep Beige Eyes: RMS Beauty Cream Eyeshadow in Spark Mascara: Nvey Eco Moisturizing Mascara in Black Cheeks + Lips: RMS Beauty Lip 2 Cheek in Smile

Real Model: Christina Pearce, Yoga Teacher Real Color: Face: Nvey Creme Deluxe Foundation in 871 Brows: Alima Pure in Java Eyes: Nvey Eco Eyeshadows in 156 + 160 Mascara: Nvey Black Cheeks: Nvey Eco Bronzer & Blush in 957 Lips: Nvey Lipstick 355

Aren’t they beautiful!? The next time you see a color you’re drawn to but afraid to wear, just do it! For more brilliant makeup tips and tricks, or to book a consultation and green beauty makeover with Rebecca in NYC, go to:

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If you want a safe, simple way to look tan without the sun, bronzer can be a great addition to your beauty routine. It’s easy to apply, to remove, and can be used to sculpt features and rejuvenate the look of the face. This is the best time of year to get into bronzed, glowing skin so have fun with it!  On our fair beauty, Glenda, we show you the top 3 reasons why bronzer is a summer staple:

1) It “warms” up your face instantly by adding a sun-kissed glow with color and luminosity. For a natural glow, choose a bronzer about 2 shades deeper than your natural skin tone. Matte will give a more subtle look, as seen here on Glenda, but shimmer bronzer can be gorgeous too, especially in the evening.

2) You can fake a tan by adding bronzer to the high points of the face, where the sun would normally hit first: think forehead, cheekbones, and top of nose. If you wear sunscreen on your face but get a bit of color on your body, bronzer helps to match the face to the body. You can also add it to the neck and chest with a big, fluffy brush like Nvey Eco’s Powder Brush #3.

3) Bronzer can be used to contour the face. Contour adds a dimension that is especially flattering in photograph or video, but can also be worn everyday. Choose a matte (no shimmer) powder bronzer, 2-3 shades deeper than your skin tone. Use Alima’s Blush Brush #17 to apply product to the cheekbone, forehead and jawline, if desired. To contour eyes and nose, use a smaller brush, such as Alima’s Large Shadow Brush #39 and Blending Brush #37. Apply powder bronzer/contour sparingly with a soft, fluffy brush and remember to blend well!

What we used:
On Face: Vapour Soft Focus Foundation in 110, RMS Beauty Un Cover-Up #22, Nvey Eco Bronzer in Natural Bronze to contour and Alima Satin Matte Bronzer in Mauna Loa for allover glow.
On Eyes: Alima Pure Satin Matte Eyeshadow in Java
On Brows: Nvey Eco Mascara in Black
On Lips: Vapour Plumping Lip Gloss in Vivid.

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To schedule a pro makeup lesson or green beauty consultation with Rebecca, visit her site www.RebeccaCasciano.com or email beauty@rebeccacasciano.com.

Spirit Beauty Lounge order fulfillment fairy extraordinaire, Katie Turner,  is lucky enough to share her beautiful porcelain coloring with the magnificent Anne Hathaway.  When our friend, natural makeup artist and wellness consultant, Rebecca Casciano stopped by to stock up on supplies, we talked her into making this transformation!

What She Used:

On Face: Vapour Organic Beauty Stratus Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector 902, Nvey Eco Erase in Medium & Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation in S100
On Cheeks: RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek in Smile and Modest
On Eyes: Nvey Eco Cake Eyeliner in Brown (also on brows) with Nvey Eco Organic Mascara in Black, RMS Beauty Cream Eyeshadow in Solar, Vapour Trick Stick in Star and Nvey Eco Blush in 956 (on eyes!)
On Lips: RMS Beauty Lip 2 Cheek in Modest & Vapoour Elixir Plumping Gloss in Tease

Brushes: All Alima Pure and Nvey Eco

For expert natural makeup application instruction and color consultations, contact Rebecca Casciano today!