GRAMMY GLAM DAY!

For the second year in a row, Covergirl took me to the Grammy’s as a thank you for being such a huge fan of the brand. It’s kind of crazy to reward me for loving a line that all of my clients and I naturally love, but hey! I’ll accept it gracefully!  This year my dream came true of seeing Adele sing live and I’m not sure what the mic was doing on TV at home, but in person, she sounded perfect! I was dying. But the best part just might have been getting ready with fellow bloggers and editors at the glam suite.

First, I got to play with the latest and greatest from the line, including my new favorite mascara Covergirl Plumpify. It’s pretty incredible. The wand is like nothing I’ve ever seen before with spiraling bristles that grab even the tiniest of lash hairs while plumping up the lashes with insane volume. The Colorlicious Oh Sugar Balms feel like heaven and smell like my most favorite memories of my childhood baking with my mother. They have a really nice color payoff considering they are balms! And I finally got to try the new TruNaked Eyeshadow Palettes… and they did not disappoint! The Roses palette is my favorite and I’ve been wearing it nonstop since then.

I also really loved the new TruBlend Blush (I just used the Light Rose shade on Krysten Ritter at the Costume Designers Guild Awards on Tuesday night!) and TruBlend Bronzer. I haven’t had the chance to try the TruBlend Primers on any of my clients yet but am super excited to. Have you? Let me know in the comments below and thanks again Covergirl for a night I’ll never forget!

Also, did you see that Zendaya did her own makeup for the Grammy’s using all Covergirl? So gorgeous!!

X Factor & Covergirl Contestant Transformations

X Factor Covergirl Moment with Amy Nadine from Amy Nadine on Vimeo.

I can’t think of many things that are more fun than makeovers! But these were particularly special because they were transformations more than makeovers… these X Factor contestants were clearly already superstars on the inside, they just needed to feel like it on the outside as well! So with the help of my favorite Covergirl products, I taught them how to bring out their best features in a way that didn’t mask who they are. Such a great day!

JEROME C. ROUSSEAU A/W13 CAMPAIGN

I was honored to do the makeup on Roxane Mesquida for Jerome C. Rousseau’s fashion film “We Covet”, directed by Mary Rozzi! He’s my most favorite shoe designer in the world.

JEROME C. ROUSSEAU “WE COVET” from Amy Nadine on Vimeo.

RECREATE THE LOOKS FROM THE 2012 VMA’S!

I had the best time making these how-to videos for MTV.com! If you watched the VMA’s and were dying to recreate the looks from Taylor Swift to Rita Ora, here’s how!

CAT EYES LIKE TAYLOR SWIFT’S

FULL LASHES LIKE MILEY CYRUS

BOLD LIP LIKE RITA ORA + DEMI LOVATO

SOFT PINK LIP LIKE RASHIDA JONES

Beauty & Fashion Vloggers Alliance Fall Guru Glam Event with Proactiv!

On Tuesday night I had a blast getting to know fellow beauty enthusiasts at the BFVA Fall Guru Glam Event. First of all, the party was at the Hollywood Museum where Max Factor used to have his factory! I can’t believe I had never been there before. Factor’s makeup rooms were divided up into three rooms: one for Blondes Only, one for Brownettes Only and one for Brunettes Only. And there were incredible pieces of history in each room… the Brownette room had makeup used on Judy Garland AND her ruby slippers from Wizard of Oz, the Brunette room had makeup used on Ava Gardner and the Blonde room had Marilyn Monroe’s makeup!

Such a perfect venue to bring top beauty and fashion vloggers together. And I got to know everyone up close and personal because I had the privilege of doing mini makeovers on them with Proactiv and Sheer Cover! Not surprisingly, most were pretty familiar with the lines but I got to introduce them to the amazing new products and share my love of them with everyone. It truly was a treat.

By the way, how PRETTY are our fellow vloggers?! Way to represent, ladies!

Photos by CeCe Castle & Frances Lacuzzi

A Different and Playful Look on Lauren Conrad

Last summer while doing a photo shoot for InStyle Magazine, celebrity hair stylist Ken Paves spoiled us with our own custom clip-on bangs from his amazing line of hair extensions HairDo!

Lauren Conrad Glamour Magazine May 2010 Cover Look

If there was ever a magazine cover to amp up Lauren’s make-up for, of course we chose to do it for Glamour! I rarely stray far from her signature make-up look… but how could we resist adding a little glam to the eyes? Read on for a quick lesson in layering and smudging.

This techinique is very hands-on and Lauren and I always work together to create it (I apply the product with a brush then she smudges it with her finger). First apply foundation to your entire eyelid (try mark Face Xpert Flawless Touch in Natural) and follow with a sweep of powder (I used mark Mattnificent Powder in Natural Buff). **Both foundation and powder should be the same shades that you used on your face and neck. Next, line your upper lash line with black liquid liner (we always use mark Get In Line Hook Up Liquid Liner in Painted Black because it’s waterproof so it lasts, and the brush is ultra-thin making it incredibly user friendly). Start with soft pressure at the inner corner then gradually press firmer as you work your way outward and upward; the harder you press, the thicker the line. Follow with mascara (mark Scandalash Hook Up in Blacklash) and a few individual flare lashes.

Now here’s how we took it a step further: Using a gel liner and small eyeliner brush (I used mark Keep It Going Longwear Liner & Shadow in Entourage and mark Flat Eyeliner Brush), dip your brush in the black liner then swirl it around on the back of your hand to smooth it out. Start at the outside corner of your lower lashline (so the highest concentration of product is placed there) and drag the brush inward (I use small strokes as I work my way across, but you can also do one big sweep). Then using your ring finger, go back over the line and smudge it back and forth so you “blur” the line. Then decide if you want to add another layer (Lauren and I repeated the process a few times for extra intensity). The result is instant drama and a great alternative if you’re like Lauren and you don’t love wearing any eye shadow on your lids.

I also had so much fun doing Whitney Port’s make-up for the story inside! They’re both wearing mark Glow Baby Glow Hook Up Lip Gloss in mPowerment Gold (100% of net proceeds go to Lauren’s charity with mark, the mPowerment Fund).

All photos courtesy of Glamour Magazine and Mark Cosmetics.

Melissa Ordway Premieres Her Film "The Last Song"

Last week I had the privilege to work on Melissa Ordway for the first time (she stars as Ashley in Disney’s new film The Last Song as well as on Melrose Place) and she’s as lovely as she is talented! She asked for a California beachy look for her make-up so here’s exactly what products I used:

FACE
Dior Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Foundation in Sand 031
Mark Get Bright Hook Up Highlighter in Natural (under her eyes)
Youngblood Mineral Rice 100% talc-free Setting Powder in Medium (Youngblood is the cult obsession mineral make-up line that I discovered at Henri Bendel’s last month and fell in love with)

CHEEKS & BRONZING
Mark Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint in Peachy (on apples of cheeks before powder is applied)
NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna (in hollows of cheeks, on the temples, across the hairline and under jawline, after the face is powdered)
NARS Blush in Luster (on apples of cheeks after the face is powdered)

EYES
Mark i-Mark Custom Pick Eye Shadow in Magic (all over lid), Gioia (upper and lower lashlines) and Stellar (in the crease).
Tarte EmphasEYES in Black (along the inner rims)
CoverGirl Lash Blast Length Mascara in Very Black

LIPS
Youngblood Lip Shine in Parfait
Mark Glow Baby Glow Lip Gloss in m.Powerment Gold (that Lauren Conrad and I collaborated with Mark to create!)

Here are two more pics of her, one with her co-stars Miley Cyrus and Carly Chaikin and the other with her boyfriend, Justin Baldoni, as well as a red carpet interview. Btw, her dress is Herve Leger and her shoes are Badgley Mischka…

All photos courtesy of WireImage, Maximotv.com, CoverGirl, Dior, Mark, NARS, Tarte and Youngblood.

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Krysten Ritter: She’s Out of My League!

I had so much fun working with Krysten Ritter this last month promoting her new film “She’s Out of My League.” She’s such an amazing person and a blast to hang out with… and of course her face is a dream to work on! Since we’ve been working together for over a year now, we’ve already figured out the best make-up look to bring out her features without masking who she is (see earlier blog post Krysten Ritter’s Signature Red Carpet Look).

So for her premiere in Vegas, I stayed true to her style; using liner on her top lash line to open up her eyes, a few coats of her favorite Diorshow mascara, a gorgeous Pink Lace illuminating blush (also from Dior)and since she isn’t crazy about lipstick (she thinks it looks too heavy and makes her look older) I applied an amazing lip stain pencil from Tarte Cosmetics that goes on like a lip balm, is surprisingly super moisturizing and gives her that sheer pop of bright color that she’s famous for.

FACE:
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Deauville
Cle de Peau Concealer in Ivory
Dior Lace Poudrier Dentelle Illuminating Lace-Effect Powder in Pink Lace (on cheeks)

EYES:
Mark i-Mark Custom Pick Eye Shadow in Victorian Lace
CoverGirl Outlast Smoothwear All-day Eyeliner in Onyx
Dior Diorshow Mascara in Black

LIPS
Tarte Natural Lip Stain in Lust

Here’s a cute red carpet interview so you can see her make-up better, and a cover that I also worked on with her. Enjoy!

All photos courtesy of WireImage, Cle de Peau, Dior, CoverGirl, Mark Cosmetics, NARS, Tarte Cosmetics, Hamas Sanders and Resident Magazine. Video courtesy of Trailer Addict.

Lauren Conrad: Signature Look With an Emphasis on Eye Highlighter

By now you know that Lauren Conrad and I love a contoured face; I do this by “pushing” features inward to create depth by applying a darker color foundation and bronzer in the hollows of her cheeks, temples, along her hairline and under her jawbone. But lately we’ve taken it one step further by “pulling” other features forward, using a highlighter under her eyes, above her cheekbones and above her brows. It should be subtle and undetectable (hint: BLEND BLEND BLEND!), but you’ll see how it really draws the attention to her best feature, her eyes. While promoting her second NY Times Bestselling novel Sweet Little Lies this month, I used the technique for extra drama on her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live (watch the video clip below), for her last book signing in Los Angeles and her appearance on Good Day NY (see clip below).

Here’s how to replicate it yourself. Basically, picture yourself skiing with goggles on and getting too much sun, when you remove the goggles, that’s the area above and below your eyes that you want to lighten with the highlighter. Starting on a clean face that has been moisturized and primed, first correct any under-eye dark circles with your favorite concealer. Then, using mark cosmetics Get Bright Hook Up Highlighter (I used the shade “Light” on Lauren), apply the pearly liquid highlighter under your eyes, starting at your nose then working outward. You can use the applicator wand or use the wand to scoop out enough product into the palm of your hand (about 3 or 4 scoops) then apply it with an egg-shaped blending sponge, using the pointed end of the sponge to dab it to the desired areas (this really presses the product into the skin). But unlike under-eye concealer, you don’t want to only cover directly under your eyes, instead you want to increase the area down to above your cheekbone, all the way from your nose to the beginning of your temples. Then again on about a half-inch above your brows, starting at the outer corner above your left brow then dabbing all the way across to the outer corner above your right brow.

Next apply foundation to your whole face, reaching the perimeters of the highlighted area, but not covering it. To be more precise in your foundation application, use a sponge or foundation brush, then blend with your fingers. Then contour your face as described in my posts on Lauren’s Seventeen Magazine Cover Look and Lessons in Contouring. Finally, set with powder if needed, but leave the highlighted area untouched. Try it, email me pics and I’ll post them! xoxo

All photos and video courtesy of ABC, My Fox 10, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Good Day NY, WireImage and Mark Cosmetics.