How to Wear Hot Pink Lipstick

Photo Credits: 1, 2, 3

   Hot pink lips have been a growing beauty trend lately (seen on the catwalks & among the celebrity set) & they only seem to be increasing in popularity this summer.

   But as with all daring beauty looks seen on the runways, it may seem like this isn't a look that's suitable for everyday wear. However, if you take the right steps, I think it's absolutely possible to rock hot pink lips without looking completely over-the-top!! Want to learn how?? Read on!!

   8 Tips for Wearing Hot Pink Lips:

   Such a vibrant lip color can be pretty difficult to pull off, but if you're bold enough to take the plunge, here're a few things to keep in mind:

   1. Stick with white or black for your eyes!!! When you're wearing hot pink lips, stick with a white, beige or black eye shadow for your eyes.

   2. Keep your skin warm. Please don't allow your face to look pale with hot pink lips!!! I've seen this happen a bit too often with women of all shades.

   3. Skip the blush.

   4. A hot pink lipstick with a non-glossy finish is a great color accent when you're heading out for a glamorous evening on the town.

   5. Remember the important thing is balance, balance, balance. You can do a light eye, bold lip or even a balanced bold lip with a bold eye, but keep the rest of the face clean.

   6. If you decide to do the bold eye/ bold lip combination keep the eye makeup simple, maybe just some eyeliner smudged around or a simple smokey eye. Don't try to match your lipstick & eye shadow!!

   7. Skip the lip liner pencil & apply bright pink lipstick with a precision lip brush or even your finger. You don't want the look to appear too harsh. Forgoing lip liner will give your lips a more youthful appearance & if you want to enlarge the look of your lips, apply a bit of dewy gloss in the center of your lower lip!!

   8. Apply the color to the back of your hand before applying it to your lips with a lip brush. You'll achieve a subtler effect!!

   Hot Pink Lipstick Picks

   If you think this is a look you'd like to try out, think about selecting one of these shocking shades:

Top: Lancome Rouge in Love in Midnight Rose, MAC Girl About Town, MAC Hollywood Nights, MAC Impassioned, Bottom: MAC Lickable, MAC Lovelorn, MAC Lustering, MAC Pink Nouveau, Revlon Cherries in the Snow

   Is this a trend you're willing to embrace or do you think this look is too 'out there' to be worn in day-to-day life? If you've already tried this look out, how did you wear it? Any colors you personally recommend? Do you prefer a hotter, bolder, fuchsia-like pink or is a softer bubblegum Barbie pink more your style?? Let me know!!

Challenge: Have fun With Makeup

   I don't know about y'all, but I tend to do the same things over & over with my makeup; every day it's lip gloss, eyeshadow & mascara & if I'm feeling fancy I'll throw on a little eyeliner. Where's the fun in that???

   Doing something unique with your makeup is an easy way to change the feel of your overall look: it can make a basic ensemble look quirky or a casual outfit feel fancy!! Before we're all bogged down with term papers & studying for finals, why not have a little fun with your face & bask in looks of admiration you're certain to receive??

   Ready to take on the challenge?? Read on for ideas on fun ways to play with makeup!!

   Fun Makeup Ideas

   Give Turquoise Nail Polish a go

   It might seem weird at first, but turquoise nail polish can look absolutely amazing with any casual outfit. Try light colors if you just want to test the waters, light blue for fair skin, teal on medium toned skin & turquoise for darker skin tones.

   Consider Super Bright Lips

   Celebrities such as Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj & Rihanna have been rocking bright pink lips lately & I think they're a perfect way to welcome in warm weather!! Keep the rest of your makeup simple to keep the focus on your pout.

   Try Hazy Purple Eyeshadow

   Purple eyeshadow looks amazing on olive & darker complected skin & can be a less harsh color to build the perfect smokey eye with. Lavender hues look great with brown eyes & deep purple looks amazing on green eyed girls. Really fair girls should try lilac tones.

   Rocked the Challenge?? Send me Your Photos!!

   Did you do something daring & fun with your makeup this week?? Take a few snapshots & send them to glossandmagic AT gmail.com along with your name, age, some tips & tricks you might have for rocking your look & the URL of your blog if you've one. I'll feature photos here to inspire other G&M readers!

   Do you stick to a 'makeup uniform' or do you like to change it up every day?? Do you wear makeup every day or just for special occasions?? What is the 1 product you can't live without??? What're some unusual or daring things you like to try with your makeup???

6 Quick Beauty Tips for on-the-go Girls

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   1. On your marks. Get set..GO!!..because in a hurry is like you were running in a competition.

   Still, regardless the situation, a girl should always have at hand tricks that can save her, whether it's her hair, makeup or skin care routine. Cleansing is good as long as you don't abuse. Cleansing your skin in the morning can be really refreshing, yet unnecessary since you again have to remove all that dirt & those free radicals that affect the skin throughout the day. Well, this, of course, is alright if you cleanse it the night before. Therefore, you can save yourself a few minutes by splashing lukewarm water.

   2. Moisturizer?? Check. Foundation?? Check. SPF?? Check.

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   These're 3 crucial steps in the entire beauty routine representing the base of your makeup. Therefore, skipping them wouldn't be such a good idea. However, those days're long gone as now we have tinted moisturizers. What's a tinted moisturizer??? Well, it's a magic product that evens out your skin tone & hides flaws just like your foundation, but in the same time it nourishes the skin & offers sun protection.

   3. When waking up with a tired look & wishing to instantly bring some luminosity & radiance on your face, imagine that with just one swirl of the brush you can brighten up your skin.

   Use a bigger brush & apply a highlighter on the cheekbones, temples, under the eyebrows & on the chin. Instant glow & light-catching gleam! When time doesn't allow you to, you can wear it alone, but if time permits, also over foundation.

   4. It's the best undercover agent ever that can save you even from the most dangerous & disastrous situations.

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   I'm talking, of course, about the already famous concealer. When sleepless nights give you those 'sexy', mysterious panda eyes, a great concealer can make wonders. It takes a few seconds to apply it. Keep in mind that a creamy texture doesn't emphasize fine lines & wrinkles, yet it manages to cover dark circles.

   5. Now, if you don't have a problematic skin that requires too much makeup in order to camouflage unwanted imperfections, there is 1 product that can upgrade your appearance in no time: red lipstick.

   Too bold you say?? Not at all. Choose one to suit your skin complexion, with a matte texture or a glossy finish & get ready to add some drama to your look!!! Fabulous & head-turner not just for evening events, but also for a casual look.

   6. Bad hair days.

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   Yes, we all have experienced these terrible moments at least once in our lifetime. However, you don't need a stylist in these critical situations. Just invest smartly in some styling tools such as hot rollers or a curling iron. Besides, a hair accessory, like a pretty headband or a stylish hat will help you get through a bad hair day with the smile upon your face.

   What're your tips for on-the-go beauty??? Do you like the look of the tinted moisturizer?? Do you use highlighters or concealers??

Box Office Beauty: Inspired by- Kahaani

   I went to see Sujoy Ghosh's film 'Kahaani' over the weekend & the high-intensity sequences weren't the only thing that popped off the screen: Vidya Balan's hair & makeup packed some serious cinematic punch, which inspired this post.

   Below, I'll show you how to recreate the hair & makeup looks seen in Kahaani, with style breakdowns for Vidya Balan.

   About the Film

   BollyGraph explains the plot & premise behind 'Kahaani'.

'Sujoy Ghosh's Kahaani is laced with an authoritative central character that is appealing & instantly grows with the viewer. The story & the script of the movie're commanding & convincing.'

   Now that you know what the film is about, let's talk beauty. The hair & makeup in Kahaani wasn't only dramatic, but, even better, was tailored to the character. Below, I've provided a beauty breakdown for the main character Vidya Bagchi in the film.

   Vidya Bagchi

   With faux eyelashes, nude lips & '60s eyeliner, Vidya conveyed innocence simultaneously with fearlessness.

   For a similar look, shoot for a similar version of Vidya's look with the following steps:

   1. Apply a sheer, shimmery beige or silver eyeshadow to your eyelid & sweep a little bit of a darker beige or grey in the creases of your eyelids. The darker color should be kept light: its purpose is simply to add depth to the eye. Apply a small amount of a sheer white or silver right above & around your tear ducts. This will brighten the eyes.

   2. Line your upper eyelids with a black liquid eyeliner.

   3. After curling & coating your eyelashes with mascara, apply 1 set of faux eyelashes. Blend them in by trimming them to fit your eye better. Curl them & apply another light coat of mascara.

   4. Sweep a light blush upwards on the apples of your cheeks for a little warmth.

   5. Apply a nude lipstick or lip gloss for a finishing touch.

   Hair

   Kahaani didn't feature varying hairstyles, but the main trends were big volume & curls.

   To get Vidya's soft curls & big volume, start by teasing & backcombing your hair at the crown, then spray it with hairspray. Next, take a curling iron & curl the rest of your hair. You can even use hair pins to sweep your bangs to the side.

   Did you see Kahaani?? What did you think of it??? Did you like the hair & makeup?? Would you sport any of these hairstyles or makeup looks??

   *All photos from Google Image Search.

MAC Cosmetics' 'Chenman Love & Water' Collection

   MAC Cosmetics has yet again released a creative new line of makeup. Their newest collection, Chen Man Love & Water, takes America's 'national obsession' with the east & translates it to a hip, artistic makeup line.

   According to MAC's website, the collection features 'bold, sensual & lyrical colors'.

   Chen Man Love & Water Colors

   The Chen Man Love & Water collection includes numerous shades inspired by ♥ & water, from eyeshadows to lipsticks. Check them out!!!

   Eyeshadows

Left to right: Love Cycle, Pink Union, Supersweet

   MAC has integrated water blues & pearlescent glimmer into the new line. The design of the eyeshadows themselves resembles a yin-yang sign.

   The blue, purple & pink eyeshadows feature silver-ish & metallic sheens to add dimension & shimmer to the colors.

   Nail Lacquers

Left to Right: Breezy Blue, Pinkly Fresh

   The Nail Lacquers in the Chenman Love & Water collection're 'Breezy Blue', a 'deep purple-tinted navy blue with a cream finish' & 'Pinkly Fresh', which has a 'subtly blue-based pastel pink with a cream finish'.

   Lip Colors

Left to Right: Force of Love, Budding Love, Force of Love, Budding Love

   The Chenman Love & Water editions of MAC's Lipsticks feature 'Force of Love', a bright coral-pink with a hint of orange & 'Budding Love', a blue-based lilac-pink while the Lipglasses consists of 'Force of Love', a yellow-based medium-dark pink with white sparkle & 'Budding Love', a softly blue-based milky pink with soft white & pink shimmer.

   Want More Chenman Love & Water??

   Check out the rest of the Chenman Love & Water collection at MAC Cosmetics' official website.

   What's your take on MAC Cosmetics' new collection??? Would you rock a dark blue eyeshadow or the coral-pink lip color?? Do you like the design of the eyeshadows in the collection??

Travel-Approved Beauty Items for Summer Vacation

   Traveling over summer vacation can present the hassle of figuring out what to bring in your carry-on to keep you fresh & looking fabulous. These beauty finds're awesome for travel or even just for your purse.

   All of the beauty products below're flight-friendly, but're also great for any travel setting because of their smaller sizes.

   Hair

Product Info.: Travel hairbrush, Avon AT Straight & Sleek Smoothing Cream, Dove Intense Repair Shampoo

   Packing smaller-sized beauty items saves you space in both a carry-on & in your luggage. Mini shampoos & conditioners're great for packing because they take up less space & are more practical.

   Makeup

Product Info.: The Laura Mercier Travel Brush kit, Avon Naturals Lip Balm, Estee Lauder Mini Mascara, Clinique Eyeshadow Quad

   When it comes to makeup while traveling, opt to keep it simple: don't bring everything you own because you probably won't use all of it. Instead, choose a palette. This minimizes how many eyeshadows you've to bring with you. Mini mascaras're great as well because they take up less room in your bag. As for brushes, a great solution to an over-stuffed makeup bag is a travel kit with some basic brushes.

   Lip balm is a must no matter where you go. Avon's works wonders on chapped, dry lips. You can also find tinted lip balms for a little extra color.

   The Extras

Product Info.: Avon Waterlily & Aloe Hand & Body Lotion, Dettol Hand Sanitizer, Aquolina Pink Sugar Roll-on Perfume, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, MAC Wipes

   It's easy to become dehydrated on an airplane because of the low humidity in the air cabin. To combat dehydration, make sure to drink plenty of water before takeoff & while in the air. Moisturizing your skin'll also help combat dry skin: lotions such as Avon's Waterlily & Aloe Hand & Body Lotion are ideal for this purchase & come in small sizes.

   Roll-on perfumes're the perfect size for a purse or carry-on. While these adorable perfumes're great for a little fragrance, it's important to be courteous of others' sensitivities to scents & perfumes, so don't apply a lot before you fly.

   An eyelash curler is a solid defense against tired-looking eyes. Curling your lashes can open up your eyes, giving them an instant lift & making your mascara look fresh all day.

   Hand sanitizer may seem like an obvious pick, but fresh, clean hands on the go are important, especially while dealing with public restrooms & airports.

   What beauty finds do you bring with you while you travel??? What do you avoid??? Would you ever use makeup wipes or shampoo??