Beauty Squared Round-Up - November 10, 2013

Hello lovelies! Have you done your Sephora VIB shopping yet? (VIB's are those who spend $350 or more each year at Sephora).Today's the last day, so get online or get to a store and snap up that wishlist while it's 20% off. 

OK, now that that PSA is done with, let's take a look at all the beauty-related links we've gathered for your interest this week. There's some good 'uns in here:

• Speaking of Sephora...this week they pulled one of Kat Von D's lipsticks off their shelves and website after backlash from customers over the name "Celebutard". Short-sighted on the part of Kat Von D and Sephora not to anticipate the response, in my opinion!
• Glamour has a round-up of their picks for the best beauty trends from Spring Fashion Week 2014. 
• Revlon responds to the charge that they are selling products that contain cancer-causing ingredients while branding themselves as supporters of breast cancer research. Revlon says the charges are "misleading".
• A DIY dry shampoo - rice flour - and tips for how to use it for perfect results!
• Speaking of powder, here are some things you may be doing wrong when you use face powder in your makeup routine. 
• 23 Amazing Budget Beauty Buys from Beautylish.com. Many of these are American, but keep a list for the next time you go cross-border shopping!
• MUA extraordinaire, James Vincent, chooses his favourite cult red lipsticks. 
• Are you guilty of any of these bad skin habits?
• Sam from Pixiwoo talks about five common makeup mistakes - too dark brows, using the wrong foundation, etc - and how to fix them.

That's it for this week! Hope you've enjoyed (and learned something)!

C.

Halloween Ideas: Kat Von D Makeup

I love Halloween, but am pretty lazy when it comes to the costume department. Instead of elaborate costumes, I like doing dress up's that focus on makeup. Not only do they tend to be cheaper, they are generally more comfortable and don't rely on wearing something  too hot, cold, or embarrassing!

Here is a Kat Von D look I did a few years ago. I just copied her typical makeup look (albeit with a heavy hand) and covered my arms with temporary tattoos found at a dollar store.

I won't go through the basic makeup as this photo is several years old and I can't exactly remember all the products I used, but I will show you how to recreate the star tattoos she has on her cheekbones and temples. Apply your star tattoos after you have completed the basic makeup.

First draw 1 - 2 stars on an approximately 1" x 1" piece of masking or green painters tape (you won't want to use clear tape as it can rip easily.) Using an Exacto knife and a cutting mat, carefully cut out your drawing, and peel it away using the tip of the Exacto knife. 

Then stick the tape to your skin, and with a small brush, apply a medium thick layer of MAC Blacktrack Fluid line to the stencil, making sure to work the product into the corners of the stencil, overlapping slightly onto the tape to ensure you get crisp edges.  Allow the liner to dry for at least 30 seconds then slowly peel the tape away and repeat.

To make the tattoos seem even more convincing, once you are finished applying them, lightly brush them over with setting powder and highlighter. Having a thin layer of makeup on top of them will make them look as if they are truly part of your skin!

What is your Halloween costume this year?

J