This Just In- MAC Venemous Villains Collection

Who loves Disney Villians? Why, we do of course! Lucky for us, MAC Cosmetics is giving those creatures of contempt their very own collection come September 2010.

As much as we all love our famed Disney Princes and Princesses, it is oftentimes the villains who seem to have all the fun. Dark, demented, and more than a little twisted, the villains are stepping out into the spotlight and getting their due.

From WWD:

MAC Cosmetics is teaming up with Disney to create a limited edition color collection, intended to launch globally in late September in all MAC locations. The products will feature four Disney characters, on which the brand is keeping mum at the moment — although with a collection name of Venomous Villains, it is assumed that we’re not talking Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse here. Lipstick, powder, lip gloss and blush shades will be sold, ranging in price from $12 to $29.50.

I am giddy with excitement thinking about the promise this collection holds. Already we can see Cruella Deville and Maleficent coming to life in the special sneak peek video.

If you don't do anything else today, make sure you visit the M∙A∙C COSMETICS Venomous Villains site to peep a peek.

Take a deep breath, count to ten, and say it with me kids: Disney Villains, Heck Yeah!!

Spring Beauty Trend- Ask the Artist with MAC's Keri B

Having been around the proverbial backstage block, I have really come to appreciate the drive, talent, and incredible skill possessed by professional makeup artists that make their jobs beautifying both models and the masses. One perspective (my own) does not beauty banter make, so in my effort to bring you all the best that beauty has to offer, I am tapping into the knowledge banks of those very same artists that I hold so much admiration for. Welcome to Krasey Beauty's 'Ask The Artist' series, where I will be bringing you interviews with the industry's biggest and brightest stars.
 

First up is a chat with the goddess of the smoky eye, trend talker, beauty guru, and color-lover-at-large- M·A·C Cosmetics' very own Keri B. A veritable force to be reckoned with in the beauty realm, Keri does it all from demos to backstage, all with her own unique flavor and style. Since 1996 she has been changing lives one makeup brushstroke at a time, and since 2009, she has been taking twitter by storm with her hotter than hot face of the day looks. I have had the pleasure of getting to know her on twitter (@MAC_Keri_B), and I can honestly say that I would be hard pressed to find someone with as much passion, as much drive, and as much talent as this beauty has.

To read her interview, click on!

MAC Give Me Liberty of London Collection- Review and Swatches

MAC Cosmetics Liberty of London

The newest collaboration collection from MAC brings all of us fanatics a little taste of London chic. With cheerful patterns, bright colors, and brilliant packaging, Liberty of London is a welcome addition to our spring beauty arsenal. Let's go through the lineup (with swatches), shall we?

MAC Viva Glam Live Stream with Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper

So who caught the inspiring Question and Answer session just now with Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper for MAC's Viva Glam?

I will try to get a transcript of the session somehow, but until then I want to reiterate just how important it is to raise AIDS awareness. Please check out the new Viva Glam lipsticks- Gaga and Cyndi. Every single cent of sales proceeds go to the MAC Aids fund.

For those who missed it, but want to see what Cyndi and Gaga wore, here you go:

And as Cyndi herself said, Viva Glam, Viva Life

Backstage at New York Fashion Week- Christian Cota by Sultra, Dashing Diva, and MAC

The look at Christian Cota was all about the ombre, a huge trend for fall.

Hair by Omar Lopez for Sultra

 

I was so thrilled to hear that I would be getting to spend time with the amazing Omar Lopez for Sultra. For his show, Cota wanted a look that was cohesive and well translated, which is why Omar decided to go with wigs for the models. Cut into shattered, shaggy bobs, wigs were dyed platinum blonde, and hand painted in a gradated way, either blue-grey or copper-brown.  The wigs were dried post dye-job with the Sultra Sophisticate blow dryer and styled with the Sultra Seductress hair flat iron.

 

Nails by Pattie Yankee for Dashing Diva

 

Further embracing the ombre themes, Pattie designed a press on nail with dark purple into metallic blue gradation. The nail bed was painted with purple, Dashing Diva's Ur Stepping On My Dress. The rest of the nail was then painted with Dashing Diva's Water Taxi, a shimmering iridescent blue.

 

Makeup by Hung Vanngo for MAC Cosmetics

 

 Incredibly simplistic in his approach, Hung Vanngo for MAC designed a look based on cubism. To prep the face, Prep and Prime and Studio Sculpt Foundation were used.  Eyes were lined with MAC Technakhol Pencil in Purple Dash, and Zoom Lash was applied to top lashes. Cheeks were finished with Coral Cream Color Base, and lips were finished off with lipstick in Peachstock.

  

 

It looks like the ombre trend is still in full swing. What do you think?

Backstage at New York Fashion Week- Badgley Mischka by Redken, MAC, and Lippman Collection

I am continuously blown away by the stunning looks I have seen backstage this fashion week. This oh so dreary and wet-snow filled day began with a trip into an Avatar inspired runway beauty look at Badgley Mischka.

Hair by Peter Gray for Redken and Cutler Salon
I think I have a new favorite hairstyle as seen backstage. Wholly inspired by Avatar, Peter Gray and the Redken team executed two perfect hair looks, Princess and Warrior Princess.

The first look was designed for Badgley Mischka's signature line of Red Carpet wear, and featured an edgy but polished updo. Looking at the roped jewelry for the signature collection, Gray modeled the updo after the ropes and vines found on Pandora. Hair was divided into a top and bottom section. The top was formed into a wide, textured mohawk, while the bottom portion was pulled back tight. Both sections were then interlocked and twisted, to form a roped figure eight.

The second look was designed for Badgley Mischka's new diffusion line, which has a decidedly different vibe that is a bit younger, and edgier. As with the first look, hair was divided, and the top was formed into a loose mohawk. The main difference is that the bottom portion stayed down, falling long and sleek.

Makeup by Charlotte Tilbury for MAC Cosmetics

 

Further expanding on the Avatar and warrior princess theme, Tilbury designed a look that draws heavily on contouring and highlighting. The face was heavily highlighted and contoured, but in a natural looking way. 

Nails by Deborah Lippmann for Lippmann Collection

 

To complete the look, the Lippmann Collection team went with Marquee Moon, a silver metallic with silver sequins. The overall effect was modern, deconstructed, unstructured, and out of this world.

 

From hair, to makeup, to nails, the Avatar inspired look at Badgley Mischka scored an out of this world effect that was nothing short of amazing.

Backstage at New York Fashion Week- Carolina Herrera by CND, MAC, and Orlando Pita for MoroccanOil

The Carolina Herrera woman is sexy and sophisticated, and the beauty look for her fall 2010 show achieved that look to perfection.
 
Nails by Roxanne Valinoti for CND

 

Channeling luxury, opulence, and rich, lush, fabrics, the nails at Carolina Herrera were all about Chocolate Milk, a pigmented, evening neutral designed to be thrown on with your most sumptuous gown.  Inherently feminine, this light cocoa shade is the perfect compliment to the deep purple eye look done for the show.

 

Hair by Orlando Pita for Moroccan Oil

 

Inspired by a model who came in to the test shoot with her hair hanging loose, Orlando Pita decided to create a sleek but volumized look for the show, to compliment the elegant sophistication of Herrera's collection. Using MoroccanOil Hydrating Styling Cream, the hair team blow-dried model's hair, parting down the side and then pinning the hair behind the ears. To finish, and provide hold, and for extra shine, hair was sprayed with brand new MoroccanOil Luminous Hair Spray.

  

Makeup by Diane Kendal for MAC Cosmetics

 

Something very near and dear to my heart, the artist in me rejoiced to see the MAC team executing perfect purple, smoky eyes on the models. MAC artist Diane Kendal started by lining the lid both top and bottom with Prunella eye pencil, a deep burgundy. Prunella was also applied into the eye crease, and blended out to diffuse the color. Indian Ink and Vibrant Grape were applied both on lid and in the crease, continuously blending the colors into one another. Lots of mascara was applied, and brows were lightly groomed to finish the eye look. A pink/mauve blush (working name Soho, new for fall) was blended into the apples of cheeks, and concealer and then a pink/mauve lipglass (working name Subtle Romance, also new for fall) was also applied to complete the look.

 

  

 

Sleek hair, sophisticated nails, and a purple smoky eye make this beauty gal very happy indeed. I adored this look, and see myself rocking it in the near future for sure.

New York Fashion Week Backstage at Twinkle by Wenlan with CND, MAC, and Redken

The look for Twinkle by Wenlan was inspired by a gothic fairytale, both disturbing and romantic.

Nails by Roxanne for CND

Playing on the theme of the dark and slightly gothic, models were fitted with press-on nails coated with two layers of Dark Ruby, and softened with Super Matte topcoat, to create a crepe-like, textured effect. The length and shape were kept medium length and wearable, custom-fitted to each model's nails. Nail shape was square, with softly rounded edges.

 

  

Hair by John Ruidant for Redken

Further drawing inspiration from the dark and whimsical themes of the collection, the Redken hair team led by John Ruidant combined both matte and shiny elements to create a sleek, but textured updo. Hair was first divided into 2 sections (top and bottom), and blow-dried using Redken's Fabricate. Avoiding the use of brushes and combs, stylists used their fingers to make the sections of hair appear very textured and "producty" while styling. The top section was blow dried straight up for volume at the crown, and then incorporated into the rest of the hair via twisted roll on the side of the head.  The bottom portion of the hair was looped and kept rough, for an extra bit of texture and edge.

Makeup by John Paolo  for MAC Cosmetics

 

A study in contrast, the makeup look for Twinkle combined both shiny and matte elements, and was all about the eyes. Skin was kept soft, matte, and pale, with light contouring around the eyes and jawline with deep bronze blush (working name Laguna, a new shade of mineralize blush for fall). In a look that is all about the windows to our souls, models were treated to a glossy, smoky eye with the use of only one eyeshadow (working name Tarnished Bronze, which is new for fall) with clear gloss on top. Lots of mascara was applied to top and bottom lashes, and false lashes were also fitted on top. Finishing off the look was a flesh colored concealer pencil on the inner rim of the eyes to accentuate eye shape, and dim lip erase and lip balm to nude out lips.

  

  

With just the right amount of drama, the Twinkle beauty look was a stunning study in contrast that left me more than excited to see the collection behind it.

New York Fashion Week Backstage at Karen Walker with CND, Shiseido and

Show 2 of Saturday was Karen Walker's presentation at the Altman Building.  With a focus all on striking red lips, and sheer washes of color, the look was soft with just a hint of pop.

Nails by Angie Wingle of CND

Inspired by the sheer wash of color on the model's eyes and face, and by the playful yet feminine look for Karen Walker Fall 2010, Angie Wingle and the CND team went with Rose Water on model's nails. A cool sheer that plays up the color of the  skin and nails, Rose Water is one of those polishes that every girl must have in their polish wardrobe. Completely buildable, and every-day wearable, Rose Water is all sexy femininity, and perfect for the look of Karen Walker's show.

Hair by Rolando Beauchamp of Bumble and Bumble

 

For Karen Walker, the hair look revolved around a messy ponytail that was kept tight and tidy both on the sides and underneath the head. The hair on top was back combed through with the fingers, so as to not give the look too much rigid structure, and the ponytail was given texture thanks to Bumble and Bumble Does It All Styling Spray. All in all, the hair was designed to play up model's features and draw attention to the star of the show, the red lip. 

  

Makeup by Jenna Maynard for Shiseido 

 

For makeup, the look was all about the red lip. Keeping the face and eyes simple, models were treated to deep crimson pouts, designed to stand out on the otherwise neutral, earthy, clothing color palette. The eyes were given soft definition with sheer tones, and cheeks were contoured slightly with matte bronzing powder.

  

  

Another look where the focus was all on the dramatic lip, Karen Walker did not disappoint.

New York Fashion Week Backstage at Peter Som with Zoya, MAC, and Bumble and Bumble

After a brief and amazing, albeit laptop-less weekend, I am finally back at the helm and ready to bring you 6 new segments on backstage beauty. Getting the party started is backstage at Peter Som at MILK Studios. The look was all edgy, but with a certain kind of feminine flair.

Nails by Jackie Saulsbery of Zoya Nail Polish

With a twist on the neutral nail, Jackie and the Zoya team went with nail polish in Charity, a soft mauve duochrome polish with golden highlights. The soft purple complimented the sheer wash of color on the eyes, without overwhelming the ultra-dark lip look.

Makeup by Tom Pecheaux for MAC Cosmetics

 

Leading the makeup team in a look that was a striking study in contrasts, Tom Pecheaux went for dramatic with a nearly blackened purple lip. The skin was kept matte, creating a flawless canvas with which to work. Brows were kept natural and soft, brushed up and kept tame. The eyes were brushed with a sheer wash of Skinlight Pigment (a soft golden beige that is new for fall), with pops of silver dusk loose powder to highlight the tear duct and browbone. Mascara was applied to top and bottom lashes, and the top lashline got an additional boost with a set of false lashes.

  

The true edge with the makeup look came with the ultra dark, super edgy, deep violet pout. Lips were first lined with Currant lip pencil, and then topped with a deep burgundy lipstick (working name is fearless), which is new for Fall 2010. To top off the look and add extra dimension, a new mineralized eyeshadow for fall (working name My Dark Magic), a deep blackened plum, was pushed into the lips to give a matte finish with extra sheen.

 

Hair by Laurent Philippon for Bumble and Bumble

 

The hair look was rather simple and straightforward. The Bumble and Bumble team parted the model's hair down the middle, and proceeded to flat-iron the hair to a pin straight finish.

  

All in all, I adored the look of Som.  Dramatic and colorful without being too overwhelming, this look hit all the right notes for fall.

Backstage at New York Fashion Week- Ruffian by MAC Cosmetics, CND Nails, and Bumble and Bumble

The look for Ruffian was intergalactic and out of this world. Think Parisian chic meets outer space.

Nails by Angie Wingle for CND 

In this look, the nails are like stars. The moon (base) of the nail is painted in an inverted metallic golden semicircle, mimicking an ultra-bright star. The rest of the nail was then painted with inkwell lacquer, topped with super matte topcoat to give the illusion of a darkened sky. This look was specifically made for Ruffian, and has star power like none we have ever seen before. 

Makeup by James Kaliardos for MAC Cosmetics

 

 

Designed by James Kaliardos, the MAC team gave models a look that was all other-worldly, but with a twist. Mimicking the effect of marble, skin was contoured with iridescent, sparkling Luna Cream Color Base and Pink Opal Pigment. Transparent Teal Glitter Reflects was popped on top. Eyes were adorned with either metallic soft violet or metallic steel blue pigment, with Luna Cream Color base underneath to help the pigment stick. Pink pearl was popped onto the inner corner of the eye, and lots of Zoom Lash mascara was applied to lashes. Lips were topped with prolongwear lipstick (a new product for fall!) in a popping fuchsia called Love Forever.

  

Hair by Neil Moodie for Bumble and Bumble

 

Nail Moodie designed the hair look, carried to fruition by the Bumble and Bumble team. To cap off the outer space theme, models were given an aerodynamic chignon that mimics planetary bodies. The effect was cosmic, but not comical. Hair was prepped with Bumble and Bumble Prep Spray, Surf Spray and Styling Cream. It was then combed straight up, and secured 2 inches below the top hairline. Hair was then divided into three sections and swirled into a spherical cone shape that rests on the top of the head.   

 

All in all, I absolutely loved the Ruffian look. What do you think?