Veronika's Makeover

Before

After

Meet Veronika. She's my fireball Russian friend originally from St. Petersburg, Russia. She's beautiful with and without makeup because I know her in and out. Her spirit and natural beauty are wonderful things to have as an individual, yet she is never fully satisfied. Even so, I still adore this individual for all that she is. She is a representation that superficial beauty is not sufficient to keep someone being "beautiful". Now, let's go about the process of "dolling up" and what it took to do so...

Eyes: She wanted me to give her a nice look for a night out with her guy and his friends. She is a minimalist in makeup, and I decided to do a slightly subtle smoky eye with my Kat Von D palette of colors that include a beautiful purple and gold. I mixed a matte brown color in the outer corner of her eyes to soften the smoky look whilst accentuating her bone structure.

Lips: Her lip color is MAC's lipstick Amplified in Blankety. The lipgloss on top is MAC's Plushglass in Ample Pink.

Cheeks: Nars blush in Luster.

Makeup can be a girl's helpful friend. As Elizabeth Arden quoted: "There is never an ugly woman, only lazy ones." With that said, I don't think that is entirely true, but the quote does bring to light that it does take some work to try to look good. Don't act like you wake up stunningly beautiful everyday, and if that is the case, good for you! Otherwise, it is fun to doll up even once in a while because you only live a day at a time to look your best and save the world while you're at it, too. ;)

How to get a Perfect Complexion

Everyone wants their skin to look even and radiant. I'm going to share one new discovery of mine and two that I have BEEN loving.

I wash my face day and night and literally right after, I apply the First Care Serum ($80) from Sulwhasoo. This product eliminates one of my skincare peeves which is the feeling of the products just SITTING on your face. Say good bye to this! First Care Serum is essentially a treatment booster that enhances the results of anything you put on whether it be La Mer or Aveeno. Yes, this is true.

It also boosts your skin's blood circulation (Milkvetch Extract) and neutralizes free radicals which will give you a nice canvas ie. your skin. I swear by this. I will use it for the rest of my life. Make sure you follow up with a toner. (I use Sulwhasoo's Balancing Water which pH balances your skin and is a nice gel texture that is very refreshing.) Sulwhasoo is always applied by hand, no cotton pads please!

Sulwhasoo

Then, I highly recommend the Revitalizing Serum ($120) day and night. This product purges toxins whilst boosting your collagen renewal. It has a smooth texture that feels great on the skin. You will find that if you wear any facial make-up, it will go on beautifully and make your skin look radiant.

Erno Laszlo

As for the make-up for the ladies on the go(and even men-- and yes, it will be our secret because it's THAT discrete on, really!), I highly recommend my new godsend hot ticket item: Erno Laszlo's Regular Normalizer Shake-It! You can apply it over your foundation (for a more finished, photo-op look) or wear it alone for a pore-perfect finish. It controls shine and conceals imperfections in a light manner. It feels like a toner. Dab it on with a cotton ball and then buff. You're ready for anything after.