Get a Flawless, Glowing Look Like Jennifer Hudson

when Jennifer Hudson got together with Sam Fine, celebrity makeup artist and creator of The Basics of Beauty, for a shoot showing off her gorgeous new, slimmed down physique, he gave her a gorgeous, glowing makeup look. below, Sam shares his insider advice on how you, too, can achieve the same flawless and glowing face at home in just a few easy steps.

begin with coverage.

Sam says: "every great look begins great coverage. Jennifer has beautiful skin, but like many women of color, she has varied tones. i use foundation to unify those varying tones. one of my favorites is the (CoverGirl) Queen Collection Natural Hue Compact Foundation because it's cream- to- powder, so it dries down to a powdery finish and looks really natural."




use a bronzer.

"bronzer is always a must for all women to illuminate their complexion. it's important to choose a bronzer that's one shade darker than your natural skin tone and apply it to the outer perimeter of your face to warm the skin and create a halo of glow. after applying bronzer, you can go back and layer over blush to give the skin a pop of color. on Jennifer, i used CoverGirl Natural Hue Mineral Bronzer and Cargo's Matte Blush in Laguna.

the eyes have it.

"to create Jennifer's classic, natural eye, i used a brown shadow. Shu Uemura makes a great pressed eye shadow in an array of shades – in this case, their Matte Taupe with Golden Flakes Eyeshadow works perfectly. for this look, i didn't use a ton of liner, and totally avoided lining underneath her eyes to keep them soft. we used tons of mascara to enhance her look – my favorite is CoverGirl LashBlast. i always like to apply a coat of mascara, and then move on to something else to let the first coat dry. i'll come back a few minutes later, curl the lashes, and then layer on a few more coats of mascara to really build the lashes. this makes them much more dramatic and makes the curl hold well. it's like spraying your hair with a coat of hairspray before using a curling iron."



finish with a pretty nude lip.

"to complete her look, i gave Jennifer a beautiful nude lip. the key to a nude lip is to begin by lining the lips with liner that is one shade darker than your natural lip color. don't worry about matching the liner to your lipstick-- if you match it to your lips, it will look great with any shade of lipstick. after lining the lips, feather the liner towards the center of the mouth to great a base for the lipstick. next, apply your lipstick. on Jennifer, i chose IMAN Cosmetics' Luxury Moisturizing Lipstick in Citron. i finished by slicking on a golden gloss add dimension and shine. CoverGirl Shine Blast Lip Gloss is perfect!"

she looks fabulous, don't you think? if you want to learn more from Sam Fine, check out his best-selling dvd, The Basics of Beauty.

xo

Myth-Busting Advice from CARGO's Top Makeup Artist

CARGO's top makeup artist, Renée Ryan, hears it all when it comes to makeup. women have their own thoughts and misconceptions about the subject itself, but she wants to squash any myths that even you may think are true.

Renée believes makeup should work for you, so take a look at her simple tips, techniques and advice to ensure a flawless look every time and get her take on some of the most common makeup myths:

myth: i can use my lip gloss for years

reality: no, yucky! lip gloss, like food, has an expiration date. "the fact is, lip gloss gets old and goes bad," Ryan says. "ensuring that your make-up is fresh will mean that you're always looking your best."



because it's difficult to remember when you first use a gloss, it just so happens that CARGO incorporates cutting-edge Timestrip® technology into their packaging. this tiny (genius!) strip is embedded in the product's cap and keeps track of how long the gloss has been open. with 15 shades of Classic and blu_ray™ Lip Gloss, you'll never run out of new colors to try!


myth: bronzer is only for summer

reality: don't be afraid to use bronzer year-round to retain that healthy glow! "women are often intimidated by bronzer and sometimes unsure about how to apply it, but there's an easy trick," admits Ryan. "brush it on above the brow bone, under the cheek bone and along the jaw line. basically trace an 'E'nd a '3' on either side of your face. it's that simple!"



CARGO has an award-winning Bronzer that can be applied lightly, for a subtle sun-kissed glow, or layered for a deeper, intense "golden goddess" look.


myth: using eyeliner on the lower lid makes eyes appear larger

reality: this technique actually has the reverse effect, making eyes appear smaller, not larger. think about it: when a woman wears all black, she appears thinner. the same thing happens when we line our lower lashes, "slimming" our eyes. instead, Ryan suggests making your eyes appear wider and brighter by by highlighting the brow and shading the lid of the eye.




CARGO's Essential Palette features shadows that "are embossed with an application guideline-- outer corner; crease; lid; browbone-- to ensure perfectly sculpted eyes every time."


myth: my concealer is too bright

reality: you're probably applying it wrong! "with concealer, less is more-– and application is important," notes Ryan. "always begin with a small amount and blend it, using your fingers for the best coverage."




Ryan recommends CARGO's blu_ray™ Concealer, which comes in two shades, appropriate for all skintones. it was originally designed for high-definition filming and photography, so the blu_ray™ Concealer has light-diffusing pigments that create a fresh, natural look in any light.

myth: blush should only be applied to the apple of your cheeks

reality: no way! blush can be used to create a rosy glow and contour your face. "you can always put a light dusting on the apples of the cheeks, but to get the most out of your blush, simply change the way you use it," Ryan explains. "for denser coverage, select a dome brush and apply your blush below the cheekbones to get lots of definition."



another trick is to trace the tragus line (beginning mid-ear) with one of CARGO's bestselling blushes in Rome, Topeka or Big Easy. this both contours and highlights the cheekbone. "and don’t forget to experiment with color!" reminds Ryan. "CARGO's blushes all have neutral undertones, so the colors work on a variety of complexions. enjoy and have fun with it!"

great info-- thanks Renée!

if you would like more info about the CARGO brand, i recommend you visit cargocosmetics.com or sephora.com.

xo
info courtesy of Janine Gordon Associates

Whitney Port is Cargo's Newest Lipstick Designer

this fall, a shade of hot pink lipstick created by Whitney Port will be available in an eco-friendly 100% Natural PlantLove lipstick, called "Eve Pinky". the trendsetter and star of mtv's The City joins the ranks of fellow celebrity lipstick designers Courteney Cox, Evangeline Lilly, Angie Harmon and Denise Richards. it was the importance they placed on protecting the planet that led all of these women to partner with CARGO.



more importantly, CARGO will be donating two dollars from the sale of every lipstick to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the world's premier pediatric cancer research center.

fyi-- the PlantLove line is the only prestige make-up brand to be designated ECOCERT®, a global designation signifying that all product, process and packaging meet the strictest standards for natural, organic and environmentally friendly content. ECOCERT® designated products dramatically reduce their environmental footprint.

Whitney's "Eve Pinky" shade will be available next week at all Sephora locations and online at sephora.com

xo

FOTD: My St. Patrick's Day Look

for st. patty's day, and since i'm not of fan of green lipstick (i know, ha ha), i decided to do a little green on the eyes. i haven't worn greens in awhile, so i welcomed the chance to do something a little different.

on my eyes: Wet N Wild Mega Eyes eyeshadow in Amazon Greens, L'Oreal HiP High Intensity Pigments Illuminating Highlighter (this item seems to be unavailable in stores anymore), MAC Eyeshadow in Texture, Wet N Wild Kohl Eyeliner in Deep Blue, Cargo Plant Love Eyeliner in Black, Maybelline the Colossal Volum Express Mascara layered over Maybelline Lash Stiletto (stay tuned for my video review!).

on my brows: Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Medium Ash

on my face: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Makeup in Bronze, Hourglass Veil Invisible Powder (this is another i have yet to officially review although it has been featured many times before here on BGM).

on my cheeks: Bobbi Brown Copper Diamond Shimmer Brick as a highlight and MAC Beauty Powder Blush in Ablaze (this was a limited edition color).

on my lips: J. Lynne Cosmetics Gloss Effects Lip Glaze in Sandra




xo
pics taken by me :)

holiday gift ideas for under $50, part five

here we are beauties, the last installment of gift-giving ideas! i don't know about you, but i'm done with my shopping! i really do hope that these past few weeks have inspired you in some way...so let's get to the final batch shall we?


first some books...


Influence by Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen is an amazing book that consists only of interviews conducted by the Olsens (with editor Derek Blasberg in tow) with the world's most famous designers, photographers, artists, and tastemakers alongside pictures of them, their work, and the Olsens. it's a must-have coffee table book that they'll actually love to read!




Makeup Your Mind by Francois Nars is a comprehensive compilation of "before and after" photographs, each containing instructional acetate overlays, covering almost every face type, complexion, eye color, and facial feature found on the runway today. it's a makeup book designed and constructed as a durable paperback companion suitable for the vanity or for the car, sliding in and out of its attractive hardcover binder as needed, containing precise instructional guides on clear plastic overlays indicating exactly what goes where, allowing you to see the finished effect for perfect results! what woman wouldn't love this?



and for the beauty sets...


Jaqua Pink Champagne Set is an indulgent treat that she'll never have to feel guilty about! includes a shower creme, body butter and hand creme



Clinique Instant Pretty Set will be appreciated by the Clinique lover. if you're looking for last-minute gift, this is one that will be a hit! the kit includes everything she'll need to dress up her eyes and lips on the go. the fabulous cosmetics bag it comes in make everything travel-friendly, and can be used for years to come. includes six shades of Colour Surge Eye Shadow, High Impact Mascara, Long Last Lipstick, plus All About Eyes and Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes & Lips.



Cargo Holiday Nights Collection supplies all the tools to create a festive party look no matter what time of year. it's packaged in a luxurious cloth box with a mirror, and is the perfect gift for on-the-go beauty. features a removable insert so the pretty box can be used as a festive clutch or jewelry case.



Givenchy Very Irresistible Gift Set is something i am recommending because i love the scent so much! this set includes both the fragrance and a body lotion, and if you've never smelled it, the notes are geared at someone who is more into a floral fragrance, but looking for something new. bursting with roses and infused with star anise and verbena leaf, Very Irresistible Givenchy is a fresh departure from the traditional floral fragrance.


and some ideas for him...


Anthony Logistics The Perfect Shave Kit provides the closest, smoothest, most refreshing shave ever. thinking of my hubby, who asked for something practical, this kit would be a great purchase. i know he would appreciate all of the good-for-his-skin ingredients (nourishing vitamins, exfoliating glycolic acid, soothing aloe vera, and calming benzocaine) that are infused in the products that will make his shaving experience more enjoyable. it includes everything, even a premium, plush shaving towel, all tucked in a bag so he can keep everything together.



Peter Thomas Roth The Basics Kit is the perfect introduction to the brand and the perfect holiday gift, especially if he wants healthy looking skin! he'll be able to cleanse, exfoliate, treat and moisturize skin with best selling products for face and body. bonus: it's all conveniently packaged in travel-safe sizes, with a deluxe travel case.


have a great weekend!

xo