Makeup Tips for NYE…

One thing is for certain: When the clock strikes 12, you shouldn’t be worrying about smeared eye makeup, shiny skin, and parched lips.  We are going to reveal our best secrets so that you can toast friends (and steal a midnight kiss!) with confidence.

A liquid liner is a great choice for New Year’s because once it’s set, it won’t move—it’s also good for parties because it really accentuates the eye!

Misha suggest starting in the middle of your upper eyelid and sweeping out toward the ends (“Deal with your wings first”). Then you can go in and finish the other half of your eye, staying as close to the lash line as possible.

When it comes to mascara we like a  lush formula because it’s gentle and doesn’t clump or flake. Waterproof mascara is probably most appropriate for New Year’s Eve…but be careful because we find that it sometimes makes the lashes brittle, and unless you use an oil-based remover, taking it off can cause breakage.

If you have a little time before the party, use cold chamomile tea bags on dark, puffy eyes. Chamomile is calming and soothes the nerves underneath the eye area. Like all teas, it’s also high in skin-brightening antioxidants. For puffiness, there’s no better cure than cold cucumber slices.

For sweet cheeks we love either a neutral pink or peach.  You really can’t go wrong with either. The perfect flush color but goes into the skin looking like it belongs to you.

For a perfect pout on NYE, we suggest a stain. Whether used alone or underneath lipstick, gloss, or balm, a stain will ensure your pout is never caught naked.

 

Should Your Boss Tell You How to Look?

Company dress codes have made the news a lot this year. In New York a banker was allegedly fired for looking too sexy. And after American Apparel‘s guide, which encourages “full eyebrows” leaked,New York magazine’s The Cut reported on several other retail stores’ rules, most of which are pretty standard for businesses that are selling style. But this week, it’s Swiss bank UBS that takes the cake, with a 44-page guide to hygiene and clothing that includes some hilarious minutia. It’s in French, but several news outlets have offered translations of some of the best lines.

NPR’s Jamie Tarabay’s favorite: “the best time to apply your perfume is right after a hot shower.” (Check out the comments on the NPR story for reader translations.)

Yes. It gets that specific.

From the Wall Street Journal: “Male employees of a certain age are warned against dying their hair, because artificial color contrasts excessively with the actual age of your skin.”

From Business Insider: “It is important that this lotion is fragrance free or smells neutral, because even if it’s pleasant, when mixed with the perfume it could clash and be too harsh.”

“We recommend protecting skin by applying a skin cream that consists of nourishing and soothing elements. Thus, your skin will appear beautiful and you will be radiant!”

In the booklet, the company says the usual things about appearance being non-verbal communication and empasizes the need to look, not just act, like a professional. But it also adds, according theBusiness Insider translation that: “A flawless appearance can bring inner peace and a sense of security.” Do you agree? How would you feel about following a dress code set in place by your employer?

 

Flatironed Hair.

After the big hair that dominated most of the ’80s deflated, it was time to go straight. With the introduction of mass-market flatirons, women could achieve sleek strands at home in minutes, and the launch of John Frieda’s Frizz-Ease serum in 1992 ensured humidity-defying silkiness and shine. “We knew it would be big when we developed it,” Frieda says. “But the response was overwhelming. You’d have thought I’d invented penicillin.”

 

 

The Stained Lip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Between the lipstick-crazy ’80s and the lip-gloss-loving 2000s, stained lips rocked the ’90s as a sheer, pretty complement to the prevailing less-is-more natural look. Today’s stains are nondrying and long-lasting, won’t transfer to your teeth, and can tint lips from a barely there pink to a vampy deep plum. You want no shine. Color should look stained into the lip, not applied on top.

The New Classics.

When Yves Saint Laurent said, “Fashions fade; style is eternal,” he might not have been talking about beachy waves, but the sentiment holds. Long, windswept strands, which gained steam in the ’90s, are now ubiquitous, from the office to the runway. Beachy hair should carry over from day to night, so it can’t be such a mess that you can’t wear it to a cocktail party. Aim for a rougher, edgier version of Veronica Lake curls.

Feeling Feline for Fall

With a new mood of subversive sexuality sweeping the fall collections, a dramatic feline flick of liquid liner has never looked better.  This season, sensual black eyeliner is your chicest beauty update.  Picture original sex kitten, Bridget Bardot who conducted all her pin-up duties with an artfully disheveled beehive and sexy black eyeliner (very FW10) and you’ll start to see just what this look can do for you.  Opt for a nude lip and add a hint of contour under your cheekbones for definition.  Whether subtle, striking, innocent or ’60’s slick, make cat-eyes the feline focus of every fall look. -xx

Get Your Ombre On.

Ombré is the word.  And even better, it requires very little maintenance — perfect if you’re on a tight budget. Ombré allows roots to be acceptable and gives you chic color for up to four months at a time.

Color Trends for Fall

At Holiday Salon, we expect to see lots of comfort colors for Fall. Think: Kim Kardashian’s new warm brown sugar hue, or Jennifer Lopez’s toasted pecan shade.

Get Lowlighted

Have your blond highlights gotten a bit too blond? Try darkening them up with deep, honey blond and coffee-toned lowlights just like Christina Ricci.

Tousled Updo

Whether you’ve spent a day at the beach or you have some major bedhead, Jessica Alba’s tousled updo is the perfect way to turn unwashed hair into something special. Simply twist back individual pieces and pin into place. There’s no right or wrong with this style.