Hot New Beauty Trends

The New Year is here and every beauty guru and fashionista has eagerly revealed their hot new trends. Well, add us to your list…and think RED. RED. RED. Everywhere you turn, there is Red lipstick – in various shades; blue-red, orange-red, brownish red, bright red, pinkish red, you name it…RED!!! Keep in mind, however, it is okay to play some looks down with neutral lips.

Our Predictions & Trends to Try in 2009:

1. Fun and bright colors – for great glam looks

2. Dewy and matte skin with a beautiful glow, giving the appearance of little to no makeup at all

3. Filled in and very defined, soft eyebrows to create a natural look.

4. Very dramatic lashes, with extended eyeliner for some looks

5. Lipstick is back in a big way…& RED (a brown red is our suggested color)

6. Color your cheeks – subtle for those new to blush, but pop with bright colors if blush has always been “a must”

7. Try violet, green or shades of blue eyeliner to add a pop of color to a look, or to compliment a smokey eye

8. Lastly, there’s a resurgence of the classic, timeless looks of the 1940's, 50's, & 60's – Definitely work on creating a new you this New Year with the classics.

Looking Ahead:

Here are a couple of combined trends that will work well together as a look for Spring 2009:

Smokey eyes w/red lips

Red lips and thick, full brows

Lip gloss or balm added to the center of red lipstick

Products to Try for the Spring by Illusions Cosmetics:

“Torch” and True Rouge” Lustre Lipstix

“Matador Red” Lipstick (shown)

“Moss” Gel Eyeliner

Beauty Tip Of The Week

"Applying Makeup For Your Face Shape"

Wide-Set Eyes

Wide-set eyes are characterized by the space between your eyes being more than an eye width apart.

TIP: Apply a medium to darker color on the eyelid up to just before the crease. Fade the color out into the inner corner of the eye with a lighter color. Make sure that the lashes in the inner corner of the lashes get full coverage of mascara.

Be Beautiful & Blessed

Beauty Tip Of The Week

"Applying Makeup For Your Face Shape"

Round Face

A round face shape definately describes my face shape. At least, that's what I think. Round faces are uniform in size. They have no angular features. Full cheeks also characterizes 'round' faces.

TIP: To make a round face narrower, apply contour/shading under the cheekbone, on the jawline, and above the brow bone. Also, applying highlight on the sides and tip of the nose will make the face narrower as well.

Beauty Tip Of The week

"Applying Makeup For Your Face Shape"

Eyebrows

Your eyebrow shape is closely related to your face shape. You should keep your brows well groomed in order to keep their shape.

TIP: Brush brow hairs upward with a brow brush or mascara spooly. Tweeze any unwanted hairs from underneath and fill in the shape with your favorite brow color product with light strokes. Brush color through evenly. Check out www.illusionsbeauty.com for the brow tints.

Beauty Tip Of The Week

"Applying Makeup For Your Face Shape"

Heart-shaped Face
Your face is heart-shaped when it is wider at the top (forehead) and gets narrower as it goes down to the chin.

TIP: Apply blush directly to the cheek bones while avoiding the apples. If applied to the apples, it will widen the center of the face causing even more of a heart-shape. Applying to the cheek bones only gives the face more balance.

For more tips or to have your questions answered on the blog, send emails to: info@illusionsbeauty.com.

Be Beautiful & Blessed!!!

"Look Who's Wearing Illusions Cosmetics"

"Tammy Townsend", actress and singer from Los Angeles, CA. Tammy can be seen in next years Warner Brothers release, "The Preacher's Kid" where she plays the character Desiree. This television actress can be seen in loads of television shows to include "Lincoln Heights", "Just Jordan", "According To Jim", and many, many more. I had the pleasure of being Tammy's makeup artist for the film "Preacher's Kid". Tammy loves light, natural , and shimmery makeup looks. This was a little different than how her character Desiree wore her makeup. Desiree was made up at all times, even when she was not performing (I can't tell the story, please go see it next August in theatres everwhere). Her makeup was a lot heavier and applied for the stage. Tammy was an absolute pleasure to work with and is now my new bff for life. Stay tuned for more characters from the movie.

Illusions Cosmetics has teamed up with Anjela Dandridge and Blaq Vixen Beauty for a Holiday Give-A-Way!! One lucky winner will recieve a full set of the "Cinematic Favorites" Collection of our Lustre Lip Gloss.Please visit http://www.blaqvixenbeauty.net/ for addt'l info

Beauty Tip Of The Week

"Applying Makeup for Your Face Shape"

Deep Set Eyes

I recently made up the CEO of the Georgia Lottery Corporation. She was mid-fifties with short blonde hair and blue eyes. She's a very attractive woman who wears very natural and close to no makeup at all. We were working on a commercial for the Georgia lottery so of course she needed to wear a little more makeup than she was used to. When I noticed her eyes, I knew what my next beauty tip would be. She had 'deep-set' eyes. I used a white eyeshadow allover her entire eye. On her lid and slightly into her crease, I applied a medium toned purple eyeshadow. I applied a dark brown gel eyeliner (Illusions Cosmetics gel liner in Chocalate) very close to her lashline and then I applied two coats of black mascara. Underneath her eye, I applied a medium brown colored pencil. It worked out perfectly without making her eyes appear too deep-set.

TIP: Avoid dark colors and apply a highlighter color to the brow bone to bring the eyes "forward". Steer clear of lining the 'inner' rim of the eyes as this will make them seem more recessed.

Where Are They Now? A Makeup Blast From The Past

Back in 2002 (not that far in the past) I searched every department store in the mall in Columbus, GA. I was working on the movie The Fighting Temptations at the time and I was looking for this product from a new cosmetics line called MIKSU. I found it at Rich's (those in Georgia and Alabama know what I'm talking about). I was happy to purchase the eyeshadow palette that consisted of four different shades of brown eyeshadows (Multiplicity Eyewear CD).

Miksu's motto was: Representing FASHION,BEAUTY, and MUSIC; three things that make us different yet make us one.

Google MIKSU for more information.

Beauty Tip Of The Week

"Applying Makeup for Your Face Shape"

Full Lips

TIP: For full lips, outline your lips with a lip pencil that is close to your own lip color or close to the color of your lipstick/gloss, etc. Draw your line slightly on the inside of your lip/natural lip line. Fill your lip in with your lip stick/gloss. Try it and let us know what you think at info@illusionsbeauty.com.

Be Beautiful & Blessed!!

Ask Illusions

Q. How long should I keep my makeup? - J. Turner , Mobile, AL

A. Many have asked this question. Makeup does deteriorate. Look for changes in color, consistency, and odor. Also, if there is an increased amount of oil on any product, it is time to get rid of it. As a general rule, get rid of lipsticks after 1 year, mascaras and eyeliners after 3 months to avoid infections, and any powder product (eyeshadow, blush, pressed powder) after 18 months. Foundations and moisturizers can be kept for 12 to 18 months. Theses are just suggestions. Use your products at your own risk. If you have any more questions, please feel free to email them to info@illusionsbeauty.com.

Be Beautiful & Blessed!!

Beauty Tip Of The Week

"Applying Makeup For Your Face Shape"

Oval Face
You have an oval face shape if you have a square chin with a wide, high forehead and the sides of your face are flat.

TIP:
Apply blush to the 'apples' of cheeks to give a rounder effect.

Beauty Tip Of The Week

This starts our series on 'Applying Makeup For Your Face Shape'. This weeks tip will be on applying makeup to 'Narrow/Small Eyes'.

TIP:
Your eyes will appear wider if you stick to lighter shades of eye shadows: neutrals, pinks and pearls to open up the eye. Line underneath the eye, but only in the outer corners with a soft pencil.

A few suggestions of Illusions eyeshadows are:
Baby bare, dazzle, hoax

Beauty Tip Of The Week

We all hate it when we apply our makeup and we have specks of eye shadow and shimmer underneath our eyes that we so carefully concealed. There is another way to prevent that besides putting loose powder under the eyes and sometimes causing the 'raccoon eyes' look.

TIP:
1) Apply eye makeup before applying foundation base.
2) Use shadow shields (an under eye tape shield that protects under eye from makeup residue). They are easy and disposable. Check out their website at www.shadowshields.com.

Be Blessed!
-Denise

Beauty Tip Of The Week

How to properly conceal under the eye:
When looking at the bare eye, you may notice dark circles. Those 'dark circles' are sometimes an hereditary condition. Broken capilaries may cause the 'blue' under eye color that you experience with dark cicles.
Typically on the color wheel, orange cancels out blue.
Tip:
Use a peachy/orange colored concealor to conceal the blue under eye circles. Then, cover the peachy-orange with a concealor that is a shade lighter than your foundation. This will not only cover the undereye darkness, but brighten your eyes as well.

Be Beautiful and Blessed!!

Denise & Janice

Beauty Tip Of The Week

TIP: Take care of your hands.
In order to keep your hands looking beautiful and at their best at all times, you must take care of your hands. Listed below are some ways that you can preserve the youthfulness and natural beauty of your hands:
1) Wear gloves when doing housework or gardening
2) Always apply a moisturizer
3) Avoid harsh chemicals
4) Use sunscreen
5) Never cut your cuticles.
6) Exfoliate a couple of times a month.

Be Beautiful & Blessed! Have a great week!

Denise & Janice

Ask Illusions

Q. My lips are very dark. They look funny with lipstick on. How do I cover the darkness before applying lipstick? - T. Davis, Raleigh, NC

A. This is an issue for many women. You should start by exfoliating your lips. You can use an actual lip scrub product, or exfoliate with a dry toothbrush (this should be done once to twice a week). After exfoliating, apply a concealor or foundation lighter than your actual shade on your lips. Once covered, apply a light application of powder and then blot with tissue. Then, apply your lip color. Try this and let us know how it works for you. If you have any questions, please let us know. (info@illusionsbeauty.com).

Be Beautiful & Blessed!!

Denise & Janice

Beauty Tip Of The Week

For those seeking that 'glow' that is always seen on Hollywood's favorite actresses......

TIP:
Try using a shimmer blush on the apples of your cheeks to give yourself that dewy look that we all desire. :-).

Be Beautiful & Blessed!!

Denise & Janice

Help Illusions Raise Money For Breast Cancer Research

Help Illusions Cosmetics raise $200 for Breast Cancer Research on our "Beauty With A Cause" blog at http://www.illusionscosmetics.blogspot.com/. Those making donations of $30 or more will recieve a pink handle makeup brush collection exclusively from Illusions Cosmetics.

Beauty Tip Of The Week

Many people ask what the makeup trends are for the new season, whether its Fall or Spring. They are trying to figure out what colors they are supposed to wear based on the trends. We are always encouraging women to do what makes them confortable. So, for this week's beauty tip, we will continue to do the same.
TIP:
DO YOU!! Although we follow trends and different instructions on how to apply makeup, there are truely no rules in makeup. We encourage you all to break from your makeup routines and try something new. For the first 5 readers to respond with photos of their favorite fall makeover, they will receive their choice of an eyedust or a lustre lipgloss from our new "Young Hollywood" collection. With your permission, your photos will appear in a future blog. All photos can be emailed to info@illusionsbeauty.com
Be Beautiful and Blessed!!!
Denise & Janice