2016 Emmys

The Emmy's were last night! 

As I was sipping champagne and snacking on Thai food at my sister's house, we excitedly watched the red carpet for today's blog post. 

Here are the Top 5 Best Styled Looks from the Emmy's! 

5. Sarah Hyland

I know,  I've put Sarah Hyland on the list before, but she must have one great styling team! I am kind of obsessed with her look from last night. 

photo c/o popsugar.com

Her Silhouette was very 1950's chic-- I'm completely in love with this outfit! 

photo c/o popsugar.com

photo c/o co.uk

I think she styled everything perfectly well with it. From the very sophistacted low looped style was a perfect accent to this dress. Her makeup was perfectly on point as well-- soft, dewey, golden toned... It was very fresh and modern. 

4. Yara Shahidi

This young lady looked so beautiful! I love that this 16 year old was able to keep her look young and fresh. 

photo c/o usmagazine.com 

photo c/o justjared.com 

Her makeup was clean, with a copper toned eye and lashes (no liner!). Her hair was a perfect compliment wiht a deep side part and pinned loosely in the back-- it had the essence of vintage flair (as did her dress and accessories) but still felt young and hip. 

3. Kristen Bell

Dudes. 

She looked awesome! 

photo c/o usmagazine.com

Her fairytale dress was so playful and whimsical-- I love that she decided to keep her hair down for this. If she put it in an updo it would have had a completely different feeling. But leaving it down allowed her to be more playful and loose. 

photo c/o glamour.com

The makeup was very pretty-- clean skin with pops of highlight around the eyes and on her cheekbones played up the fantasy part of the look while also making those features pop! Her eye color really shined through with the burgundy shadows (which was a color pulled from her dress). Well done!

2. Mandy Moore

You may not agree with me, but I am a sucker for anything resembling the 70's and Mandy Moore gave me major 70s vibes last night! 

photo c/o today.com

I am kind of obsessed with the center part, long bangs and loose waves. It's so cool and effortless and really compliments her dress (there's a lot going on from the color to the ruffles, but I love it!). 

photo c/o harpersbazaar.com

Her makeup played well with the look -- those burnt red lips paired with that yellow dress was so pitch perfect! I love that she kept her eyes in the neutral browns and a pop of color on the cheek to balance it out. 

And finally... 

The one I literally yelled "OH MY, YES!" at the television screen as soon as I saw her walk on... 

1.  Kerry Washington

I try not to put Kerry Washington on every best styled blog, but my goodness this woman has killer style, and last night was no different! 

photo c/o eonline.com 

She looks incredible! I love this sexy, black, sleek dress on her and that it still shows off her baby bump. It's refreshing to see her play up this wild, sexy side with that HAIR. 

OMG YOU GUYS HER HAIR!

photo c/o glamour.com

It was amazing. I am obsessed with her going natural and letting it be free rather than fighting the heat and humidity. 

Her makeup was natural and minimal, allowing her glowing skin to be the main focus (well, that and the hair.. and the baby bump)!

And there you have it, my top 5 from the night! I always love hearing who your favorite styled looks are! Feel free to share in the comments section :) 

Spring Favorites

It's finally here...

The first day of Spring! 

I'm so ready for warmer weather, fresh bloomed trees and bright spring colors!!

I figured what better way to greet this new season than to share my favorite Spring collection of products?! Especially since I know you all did your spring cleaning of your makeup bags ;) 

So here they are, my favorite products for Spring.

Just peachy... 

If you haven't been paying attention, let me tell you that Peach is making a big comeback. Peachy eye shadow and blush tones are HUGE this season! For good reason too-- they are soft, pretty and come in a great range to suit every skin tone. 

Check out this great palette from Anastasia...

Anastasia Glow Kit in Gleam

$40

This kit is beautiful. You can use it for your eyes, cheeks, face, whatever! It's warm bronze tones as well as soft peachy tones that work so beautifully together. Get this and you'll need nothing else for your Spring/Summer makeup routine! 

Bright and Bold...

If color doesn't scream Spring, I don't know what does! I love to bust out bright lips this time of year. It helps to pull me from my winter slump and brighten my whole face. Some favorite hues for this Spring include.. 

Bobbi Brown Nourishing Lip in Peony

$28

This color is bright, fun, and ties in wonderfully with those peachy tones :) The lipstick is lightweight and hydrating, keeping application easy and addictive. 

Dolce and Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick in Provocative

$34.50

This fun pink is softer in color, but makes just as much of a statement! It's creamy texture is exactly what your lips need after this winter! A great color for daytime shopping to evening cocktails, it's fun, flirty and playful. 

Glowing Skin...

Let's be honest, this never goes out of season for me! But it is a big trend this season (and probably my favorite!) Everyone wants that dewy, glowing skin, and there are some tricks to achieving that look. One new product on the market just made your life way easier.... 

The Estee Edit by Estee Lauder

Beam Team Hydrate + Glow

$50

This is a great way to scale back on your makeup routine and focus on clean skin. It's a hydrating moisturizing cream that you apply all over your skin, and then you follow it with their highlighting cream that you can apply with your fingers to high points on the face (ie; brow bones, cheekbones, nose, etc). It gives you an instant boost of hydration (which your skin needs right now!) and adds a subtle highlight and shine. It's as if your skin has been refreshed! 

Give these products a try and let me know what you think! I love to see your Spring looks :) 

*Photos c/o Sephora.com, bobbibrown.com and Dolcegabbana.com

Spring Cleaning!

A great way to keep your makeup stash up to date is to do it seasonally... 

When the seasons change many often clean out other aspects of their lives. Change out your clothes in your closet, do a major house cleaning and some may even do a cleanse :) 

So why not incorporate this into your seasonal routine?

Many clients and friends are guilty of never tossing old makeup! 

They hold onto it because they love the product so much that they want to get every last drop, or it's a product that's been discontinued and they are savoring it.. for 10 years! Sometimes you just feel guilty for tossing an expensive product that didn't work out for you... 

It happens! 

Make up is all about trial and error. How else will you know if something is going to work for you if you don't try it? Just remember that you can always exchange/return it! Most beauty suppliers are great about that... cough cough.. Sephora ..cough... cough... 

So here it is, a quick how to on cleaning out your makeup stash. 

Step 1: 

Take everything out and lay it in front of you. 

Okay, I stole this from the Kon-Mari Method.... But it truly works! 

With makeup it's easy to continually purchase small items without realizing you already have one that's similar or even the same product that isn't empty yet! So to avoid that in the future, take out all your products in one area-- you can categorize them to be even more organized, ie; eyes, lips, face, etc.

Step 2: 

Analyze by date of purchase. 

A good rule of thumb to help you know if you should toss an item is to recall when you purchased the item. If you can't remember, you may need to toss it! So pick up that mascara and think back to when you first opened it... has it been a week? A month? 6 months?? <--toss!!!

*side note: mascara for personal use (not professional) can be kept 3-5 months*

Maybe you pick up an item that you've held onto for years and realize that you don't use it. This is the perfect opportunity for you to find out!

Step 3: 

Do you use this? 

So often we hold onto items because we feel guilty about throwing them away. But do you use said item? Is it something  you actually like? 

If you can't remember the last time you wore it or even like the product anymore, throw it out!
It's taking up space that you could use to purchase new, more glorious makeup products!
Can't bear to part with something you maybe used one time? Give it to a friend! Every time I clean out my makeup stash or brushes, I can usually find someone who wants them. That way you don't feel as terrible about tossing something that's still in good use.

Step 4: 

Wipe down/clean up what you keep. 

Take this time to wipe down your palettes! You want to keep your products and the space they are stored, clean. So take a baby wipe, or a wet paper towel and gently wipe down all your products. Be sure to wipe down all surfaces as well. This should be made into a habit to prevent big messes and bacteria from spreading :)


There you have it- your step by step guide to cleaning out your makeup bag. I hope this was helpful and if you have any other tips, ideas, or questions-- feel free to leave them in the comments section!

Bridal Makeup featuring Loverly...

Hello loves!

So many exciting things have been happening since I last wrote. One of which, is the inspiration for today's blog. 

The folks at Loverly asked me to create 3 bridal makeup looks for some of their featured dresses! If you aren't familiar with this bridal site, you should definitely take a minute to check it out! You can see all the beautiful inspiration here. 

I have to tell you, I was so excited to do this post, not only because I love creating such special makeup looks, but also because I'm newly engaged myself! 

Yes! 

Jesse popped the question on our 5 year anniversary, and we couldn't be more excited! 

So the idea of perusing hundreds of wedding dresses on Loverly's site to find inspiration was quite dreamy...

Whether you're a bride to be, a friend of a bride, a bridesmaid, or artist, I hope you find inspiration for your next bridal look!

Soft and Romantic

Lee-Ann Belter "Colette"

This dress has a grecian inspired draping. Very clean, simple and effortless. For a dress like this, I imagine a very polished yet soft and romantic makeup. 

Soft and Romantic Bridal look by jenbrownmakeup featuring lips makeup

This dress inspired a clean look due to it's sophisticated style. The clean lines and the soft flowing fabric are what inspired this polished, barely there makeup look. 

Imagine soft taupes on the eyes, a barely there liner (either brown powder or a tight line with a pencil), fresh pink cheeks, and subtle highlights. And don't forget the lashes! Just because this look is supposed to be effortless, these individual lashes add just the right amount of flair for those romantic doe eyes. Not to mention, it looks fabulous in the photos! 

Hint of Vintage

David's Bridal 

This classic bridal dress is definitely vintage inspired. From the lace to the sleeves, all you can think of is 1940's glamour. So that's what I want to carry on through the makeup to create a clean, cohesive look. 

Hint of Vintage by jenbrownmakeup featuring lips makeup

Starting with a lightweight, full cover foundation for that matte look. The eyes are lined with a little cat flick of liquid liner (black of course!), adorned with some corner lashes to emphasize that cat eye flair. I also love the antique gold eye shadow popped right on the lid! Just to add a little extra sparkle and sophistication. 

Instead of opting for a bold lined red lip, I'm going with a softer, berry stain. Still has that drama, but carried out in a softer, romantic way. 

Chic and Glamorous

Vera Wang Taffeta Ballgown

A ball gown is glamourous on it's own.. make it blush and Oh my! It's a show stopper! I wanted a makeup look with drama that could hold up to the dress, but still had a pretty and feminine vibe.

Chic and Glamorous by jenbrownmakeup featuring palette makeup

The flowing taffeta of the gown inspired those long, feathery lashes, and the color of the dress was replicated in the cheeks and lips.
With a gown like this, you can get away with so much more!
I wanted to make the eyes pop with something a little more dramatic and smokey without being too harsh or distracting. Remember, you want to complement the dress, not compete with it :)
So I'm opting for chocolate brown shadows. Still making an impact with black pencil in the waterline and lashes of course. Sometimes with darker eye makeup, you lose the lashes, so adding some falsies help prevent that.
Because this look is a little more couture, I'm adding some shadows and contouring throughout the face with a soft bronzer. Finish off the look with a glowing blush (this one has gold flecks that catch the light), and a soft lipstick that is a hint above your natural lip color. I used Nika Vaughan's forever matte lipstick in Prosecco. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hope this was inspiring to you! It was so much fun looking through all those beautiful dresses and coming up with a customized look for each pick.
For my beautiful brides to be, if you're intersted in booking me as your artist for your big day (I travel all over!), you may view my bridal portfolio below.
www.nikavaughanbridalartists.com

Have a beautiful day!!

2014 Emmy's Best

Hello loves,

Last night was the 66th Annual Emmy Awards! 

I was completely caught off guard, and was very unprepared! I didn't realize it was even showing last night until 4pm yesterday when I saw Giuliana Rancic's post on instagram! Turns out, I was justified in that, as this is the first time they've aired an Emmy's show on a Monday in over 30 years. 

YES! 

AND, they decided to push it up a month early so it wouldn't interfere with Sunday Night Football. 

But let's get back to the beauty shall we? Luckily I caught the red carpet action and drank bubbles as I enjoyed the award show. It was lovely. 

Here are my top beauty picks of the night…

Sara Hyland

image ℅ hollywoodlife.com

I loved Sara Hyland's look! It was so fun, young and fresh. The loose bun at the top of her head is both chic and playful. Her makeup is bronzed and rosy with lots of lash! Very soft, pretty and glowy-- all good things! 

Sticking with the Modern Family theme…

Julie Bowen

photo ℅ hollywoodlife.com

Julie Bowen looked amazing. I loved the hair with the soft, effortless waves and side part. It was formal, yet casual. Her makeup looked beautiful! Glowing skin, soft pink lips, and bold, sexy eyes pulling inspiration from her gown. 

Julia Louis Dreyfus

photo ℅ hollywoodlife.com

Julia. You are amazing. 

Aside from being hilarious and talented, she is beautiful! 

I thought she looked stunning last night- from the dress to the perfectly blown out hair, she looked glowing and fresh faced! Her makeup was soft, some emphasis on her eyes with neutral tones kept this look classic and clean. 

Jessica Paré

photo ℅ hollywoodlife.com

I loved this makeup look because it was soft and natural but still striking. Her eyes have blush toned shadows which carry into the rest of the face-- soft berry stained lips are perfection! Her hair was swept back clean, leaving her beautiful shoulders on display. 

Claire Danes

photo ℅ eonline.com

Claire Danes looked really great last night. She had a beautiful classic red lip and lined eye, but her updo really stole the show! This fishtail bun was modern, interesting and truly beautiful. 

Kerry Washington

photo ℅ huffingtonpost.com 

Kerry always looks amazing. 

While I will admit, I was not totally crazy about the hair- it was okay. It felt undone to me. It kind of looked like she had her hair in a bun all day and then took it down and ran a comb through leaving all the little dents in there. I just wish it was either more straight or had a little more bend to it. 

On another note, her makeup was gorgeous- I loved that she went with a metallic blue on the lids, something bold and daring and oh so complimentary to that stunning orange dress. Paired with natural lips and perfect skin, it was gorgeous.

There you have it, my top picks from the night! Who were yours? Feel free to share! 

And the Oscar goes to...

I don't know about you, but I LOVE award shows! 

I was especially excited to catch the Academy Awards this year. There were so many talented actors stepping out and making a mark- some for the first time!

So here are my picks for the BEST hair and makeup of the night... 

Angelina Jolie

I don't know about you, but when I heard Angelina was going to be at the Oscars-- that was all I could think about! 

I couldn't wait to see how she'd show up and I was left breathless once I did.

She opted for a fun, glitzy, ethereal gown and followed suit with light, pretty makeup. Lots of lashes with a little bit of smokey liner on the outer corners for some definition was just perfect. Clean skin and beautiful soft pink lips. To finish it off, she left her hair down-blown out to perfection. 

Loved it! 

 Sandra Bullock

 Sandra Bullock looked so glam and gorgeous. With the vintage side swept waves and blue smokey eyes, she really stood out! Just a slight color on the lips and cheeks sends the look on a home run. Well done. 

Charlize Theron

She can't look bad. 

ever. 

While she can look good, she looked GREAT! Loved the short hair tucked behind her ear. Effortless and clean. I love that it showcases her beautiful face which was a perfect match of luminous skin, peachy lips, and eyes stood out with a clean swipe of liquid liner. 

Naomi Watts

 I thought Naomi did it right. Love the bold lip paired with lots of lashes, and iridescent eyes, and pink cheeks. It was clean, classic, and effortless. Loved the makeup paired with the casual side swept hair. SO good!

Olivia Wilde

I thought this mom to be was so chic. She went back in time with 60's inspired cat eye and soft pale pink lips. Updated by her romantic wavy updo-- I think it's a perfect match. 

Some stars fell a little short... and here's why!

Calista Flockhart

 Calista almost had it! 

I would have added some shadow on those brows so we don't lose them as much. I also would have incorporated more color- either on the lips or the cheeks. I would have absolutely tight lined her upper lash line. The gaps between the lashes drives me bonkers! 

I think she's beautiful, but just barely missed the mark. 

Cristin Milotti

I've critiqued the lovely Kaley Cuoco HERE for her deep dark lips... and sadly, this look doesn't quite work on Cristin either! It's such a stark contrast against her pale skin and pale dress, that it's a little daunting. If she would have settled for a sheer lip product in that color family or a stain, I think it would have lightened it up a little but still had that drama. 

 Giuliana Rancic

Ms. G! 

I love her, but sometimes her makeup is too much for my taste! I love the idea of this look, but I would have softened those eyes a bit. If they were blended out a little more, I think it would have complemented the dress and overall look better. 

I am also not a fan of completely nude lips (lips that match the skin!), so a little hint of color --peach, or pink-- would have been a nice contrast to help break up the face a little more. 

That was my Oscar rundown for this year! Who were some of your favorites? Was there anyone else you think missed the mark? Share your thoughts below in the comments! 

3 special Valentine's looks...

Hi Loves 

Valentine's Day is almost upon us, so I figured it'd be fun to give a few quick makeup ideas for your night out. 

Whether you're going to dinner, seeing a show, spending time with a special loved one, or friends, these 3 looks are quick, simple, pretty and very valentine's inspired! 

Photos c/o the talented, Stephanie Bassos Photography. 

Let's get started!

The base for all looks begin the same with moisturizer, primer, MUFE HD foundation, concealer where needed, and eye shadow primer (and eyebrows!)

Pretty in Pink

I wanted to keep this look really fresh faced and pretty. It's perfect for those who are a little makeup shy, to do something a little more special for the occasion.

   

Key words for this look: 

Sweet, Pretty, and Soft.

Eyes:

I used MAC's Girlie all over my lid, up to the natural crease. I then took MAC's Naked Lunch and placed it on the inner corner of the eyes and just under the brows. 

From there, I used MAC's Cork (really soft brown), and placed it in the crease with my pointy crease brush. I followed that by buffing with a blender brush gently to get rid of any harsh edges. 

I then took Urban Decay's Pencil in Bourbon (a sparkly brown tone), and drew it along the top lash line. For the bottom lash line, I used a purple pencil. I liked the romance of the purple- keeping with the softness around the eyes, it added another dimension and an extra pop of color.

To finish them off, I curled the lashes and put one coat of black mascara. 

Cheeks:

To keep with this ethereal look, I wanted pretty pink cheeks with a bit of a glow, so I used The Balm's blush in Hot Mama. 

Lips: 

Sealing the deal with Makeup Forever (MUFE) Aqua Lip in 1C all over my lips, followed by MAC's Plink. To add an extra oomph, I topped this lip with POP Aqua Lacquer in Flowering Fuchsia. 

Products/Tools Used
(with links)

The Balm's Hot Mama, POP aqua Lacquer in Fuchsia, Maybelline's Full 'N' Soft, MAC lipstick in Plink, MAC shadows in Naked Lunch, Girlie and Cork, Shu Umera Eyelash Curler, MUFE Aqua Lip in 1C, Covergirl Vivid Liner in Cabernet, Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Bourbon. 
Brushes: Tight bristle crease brush, a flat shadow brush and a fluffy blender.  

Smokey and sultry

This is a pretty variation on a smokey eye. I wanted to show how to do a quick and easy, foolproof smokey eye look- with only two shadows, I think this is something everyone can do!

Key words for this look: 

Daring, Sexy, and Mysterious. 

Eyes: 

To start this off, I took MAC's Deep Damsen (a beautiful deep maroon tone), and swept it over the lid, into the crease with a flat brush. Then take a fluffy blender and buff the crease to soften. 

From there, I used Urban Decay's Maui Wowie on the inner corner's of the eyes and softly blended them inward. If you want, you can swipe a soft iridescent shade under the brow- I used MAC's Shroom. 

Then, I took MUFE's Aqua Eyes in 0L on the waterline and tight lined the top lash line. 

*Tightlining is when you fill in the gaps between the lashes to create a fuller lash line. HERE is a great article from Beautylish with a detailed description!

Using the same pencil liner, I drew it along the bottom and outer upper corners of the eyes-- take a Q-tip and softly smudge. 

Curl those lashes and put two coats of Cover Girl's Flamed Up Mascara on the top and bottom lashes. 

Cheeks: 

I wanted to keep with the sexyness of the look, so I contoured the cheekbones with a little bronzer on a fan brush. Sweeping the product into the hollows of the cheeks and around the temples. 

Lips: 

I kept the lips simple, using Tarte's Lip Surgence Lip Tint in Grateful. 

 

Products/Tools Used
(and links)

CoverGirl Flamed Up Mega Curl Mascara, Tarte lip tint in Grateful, Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, CoverGirl Queen collection bronzer in Brown/bronze, MUFE Aqua Eyes 0L, MAC shadows in Deep Damsen, Shroom, and Urban Decay's Maui Wowie. 
Brushes: Flat shadow Brush, Fluffy blender, Q-tip, Fan brush.  

Romantic in Red

This is for my bold lip babes. I am a big lipstick person, so I had to include a look where lips were the focus! And what a better color than the classic red. 

Key words for this look: 

Romance, Bold, and Flirty.

Eyes: 

Since lips are the focus, I wanted to keep the eyes super easy and subtle. I started by taking MUFE Aqua Cream #14 (chocolate brown with soft shimmer), and placed it across my lid, blending it across my eye with my fingers.

From there, I took a blending brush with MAC's Mulch eyeshadow and worked it into the crease. 

I then took MUFE's Aqua Eyes in 0L (very black), and lined the inner rims of my eyes (both top and bottom). 

For lashes I used Maybelline's Full 'N' Soft mascara on both the top and bottom. 

If you were really feeling saucy, you could throw on a few lashes :) 

Cheeks: 

I wanted to add a soft color on the cheeks, but nothing too bright. I settled on MAC's Tenderling. Dust it right on the apples of the cheeks and blend up and out towards the hair line. I then topped the cheekbones with a highlighter for some extra oomph!

Lips: 

Our statement piece of the night!
Take a waterproof liner that matches the red you choose- Outline your natural lip shape and continue to fill in with the liner. Lip liner helps prevent the lipstick from bleeding, but also helps your lip color to last longer.
Next, apply your red lip color of choice with a brush for a flawless finish.

Voila! 

Products/Tools used
(and links)

MUFE Aqua Cream #14, MAC Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Prolong, Maybelline's Full 'N' Soft black mascara, NARS Orgasm Illuminator, Shu Uemura eyelash curler, MAC blush in Tenderling, MUFE Aqua Lip in 8C, MUFE Aqua Eyes in 0L, MAC's eyeshadow in Mulch. 
Brushes: Fluffy Blender, Lip brush, Fluffy blush brush. 

Hope you enjoyed these! I had a lot of fun playing with these three different looks. What will you be doing for Valentine's Day?! Which look is most like you?!