e.l.f. Beauty Blogs

This cold weather has us thinking about spring already...Here's the Spring 2012 beauty forecast:

- Cat eyes, inspired by the 60's   

- Red Lips  (includes brights and wines)       

- Smokey Navy Eyes   

- Silver Eyes   

- Statement Brows   

- Bangs  

- Bobs  

- Slick Hair  

Which trend will you rock?

~Patti, contributing elfette

The NY Giants won the Super Bowl this year and what better way to show your boyfriend your support than with an awesome manicure!

1. Start out by filing nails to the shape you desire and clean up the cuticle area.

2. Using our Nourishing Cuticle Pen moisturizes the cuticles, avoiding the nails.

3. Apply a clear base coat to protect nails from harsh chemicals found in nail polish.

4. Apply two coats of our Nail Polish in 'Pearl' to the whole nail. This will be the first French tip. The reason for coating the whole nail is because if you apply the white over navy, it wont be white enough. Let nails dry.

5. Next, taking 'Light Red' and an old eyeliner brush (preferably one that you wont use again for eyeliner) draw a thin red line above the white line. This will shape the white tip and create your second French tip. 

6. Carefully paint  the remaining space of your nail (which should be white) with 'Dark Navy' Polish. Apply one coat for a transparent, lighter blue or apply two coats for a darker blue.

7. Add a clear top coat to seal in your manicure, or go matte for a fun effect!

-Patti, contributing elfette

This year's Super Bowl was a success! Kelly Clarkson proved her drama-free awesomeness and sang the Star Spangled Banner beautifully. She hit every note and remembered all the lines! 

Skip past all the football and there was the halftime show! Madonna knocked it outta the park, showing divas everywhere who's still queen. She sang a medley of her old songs, 'Vogue', 'Music' with the help of fun guys LMFAO, 'Like a Prayer' with Cee Lo Green and her new single 'Give me all Your Luvin' with cheeerleaders Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. The ladies were dressed as Roman cheerleaders and put on an adorable performance. That is, until M.I.A flipped the bird during her solo. Hey, at least it wasn't a nip-slip!

We thought this year's halftime show was a hit- the songs, the outfits, the artist appearances and all. Oh! and congratulations to the New York Giants! 

What did you guys think?

-Patti, contributing elfette

Affordable and quality cosmetics are what every girl needs. I may be biased, but working here has definitely made me partial to the goodies we sell. I'd love to share my all time faves with you guys, and I definitely want to know YOUR faves too!

1. Flawless Finish Foundation: The color selection is amazing, the coverage is strong enough to cover up my acne scarring without looking all caked up, and the price cannot be beat. The pump is also a plus, ensuring that what comes out does not go back in which keeps my makeup fresh and bacteria free.

2. Volume Plumping Mascara: I've been playing with this baby for a while now and absolutely love it! The fat, thick brush is a preview of how the mascara works- it gives you fat, thick lashes. I keep it in my bag for days when my eyes need need a little pick-me-up. If I apply enough coats, it even looks like I'm wearing eyeliner!

3. Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder: This item speaks for itself. I no longer have to pay $30.00+ on a blush and bronzer duo. I use the bronzer sparingly, as I am a little pale at the moment but when I have a bit of color I can go crazy, without looking crazy. The blush is also the perfect coral color to brighten up cheeks.

4. Eyebrow Treat & Tame: I used to never pay attention to my brows but recently I've learned to embrace what my Mama gave me, namely my thick eyebrows. The 'Treat' helps me fix random bald spots (it really does work) and the 'Tame' keeps my brows in place all day. I use this even on days when I'm not wearing any makeup!

5. Mineral Eyeshadows: They come in every color and they're just effortless! One swipe and you have rich pigmented color. I'll admit, I'm very clumsy especially with loose powders, but these are well worth it. My personal fave is 'Caffeinated'.

6. The Brushes: Since I own and love too many e.l.f. brushes, there's no way I can list them all. I will say that my #1 brush is the Studio Kabuki Brush (it's so soft!)

7. Cream Eyeliner: I'm more of an eyeliner girl than anything, cream eyeliner in particular. This stands up to my oily lids and doesn't create that transferred-line-to-the-lid look. Plus the colors are PERFECT. My favorites are 'Black' and 'Copper'.

8. Studio Lip Balm SPF 15: I never wear anything on my lips, your lucky if you find me wearing Vaseline. But these new colors are so fun I just couldn't resist trying them, and now I'm hooked. I keep one at my desk, and one in my bag in the shade 'Nude'.

9. Cream Blush: I'm a huge blush fanatic! It's something I never leave the house without because it adds the perfect I-just-woke-up flush to cheeks. 'Seductress' does just that. It's really pigmented but I use it lightly so that it isn't too bright.

I'd continue, but my list is already out of hand. Stay tuned for another post next month! What are your favorite e.l.f. products?

-Patti, Contributing Elfette

1. Translucent Powders: I can't count the amount of times I've seen this happen to celebs on the red carpet. Yes, translucent powder works on everyone but you need to blend it out! Sometimes just brushing it off isn't enough to hide it when the flash goes off. Another point to make is, if you have very dark skin, a translucent powder with an peach or orange tint would be better suiting as it will not leave a grey cast. If you find that the translucent powder is still giving you flashback in photos, try a powdered foundation instead.

2. An Oompa Loompa Fake Tan: Trying to achieve a natural glow to the skin is as easy as going to the pharmacy and buying some gradual tanning lotion. Unfortunately it's easy to go overboard, especially if we try to do this without our friends help. Try a professional spray tan salon that uses more brown/red pigments in their dye than orange. This way you'll have a natural looking tan applied by a professional! Hair color is also an important factor for achieving a natural fake tan. In Christina's case, her hair is bleach blonde and her skin is ORANGE. If her air was red, her skin would fade into her hair and that would look really weird.

3. Going Overboard: In general, my makeup motto is "Enhance your natural features while letting them shine through". I'm also all for experimenting and having fun with makeup, but sometimes too much is TOO MUCH. For example, Leighton went for a smoky eye and a matte red lip. I give her credit for embracing her inner glamazon, but it's a little overwhelming. Maybe go for a smoky eye and a nude lip, or a neutral eye and a red lip- something more balanced.

4. Nude Lips: Nude lips are sexy and sultry when done right. But when done wrong, we risk looking dead or worse, CRAZY!  In this case, Jennifer was a little darker than usual, and her usual nude lipstick wasn't cutting it for her. The perfect nude lip will match your skin tone. If you're really dedicated, keep a backup lipstick- have one shade for the winter months and one for the summer months when your most tan.

5. Overdrawn Brows: Having sparse brows could be a nightmare. But overdrawn brows are even scarier. If you know you have a heavy hand, or fear overdrawn brows, try using a powder instead. Sometimes pencils and gels let us get carried away but the softness of the powder will apply lightly and smoothly and can be blended out with a brush if overdone. 

What are your worst beauty blunders?

-Patti, contributing elfette

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and every year we are clueless when it comes to gift ideas. What can I buy for my sweetie this year? Or better yet, what do we buy for the guy or girl who has everything?! Here are some ideas you can't put a price on...

1. Homemade Hot Cocoa: This can be found at any farmers market and some fun loving grocery stores. It's the perfect way to warm up and snuggle with your significant other by the fire place. Cant find any homemade goods? Make it at home together with this easy at-home recipe.

2. A Romantic Dinner: Tired of going out to the same old restaurant? Surprise him/her with a delicious home cooked meal. Find any recipe on the Food Network website and don't forget to pair your meal with a bottle of wine! For those of you in it for the long run, I'd suggest the Engagement Chicken ;)

3. Write A Love Letter: A classic way to celebrate love is with a handwritten love letter. Write it before February 14th and hide it in your sweeties purse or briefcase to find the day of. This gift is easy, inexpensive, and the perfect way to say 'I Love You'. Sign it with a personalized lip stick pucker stamp and don't be afraid to get creative with it!

4. Make a Collage: These are easy, inexpensive and fun to work on. Print out 5-7 pictures for a small collage. Cut the pictures however you like and trace construction paper in the same shape behind the photo. Glue them to a board that will fit in the picture frame of your choice and Voila! Its a beautiful gift that they will cherish for many years to come.

5. Mixtape: The tried and true mixtape always works. These days you can burn a CD or even create a Spotify playlist. Fill it with songs that remind you of your significant other or meaningful songs between the two of you. Decorate the CD with colorful permanent markers to add a little something extra.

What are your favorite Valentine's Day ideas?

-Patti, contributing elfette

Whether a comedy or a love story, any Rachel McAdams Movie is sure to bring us to tears! The Vow, starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum is a story about a couple who's madly in love but when they get into an accident McAdams loses her memory and Tatum has to fight to win her love back. Here's a step by step guide to her makeup!

1. Apply our Flawless Finish Foundation with a sponge in the shade that best suits you all over the face and over eyelids to even out skin tone. The sponge will give you an airbrushed natural finish.

2. Using our Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder, apply bronzer to the hollows of the cheeks with a Powder Brush. Blend in so there re no harsh or obvious lines. Taking an Eyeshadow Crease Brush, apply the same bronzer to the crease of the eye and outer corner. Blend upwards until there are no harsh or obvious lines.

3. Apply the blush to the apples of the cheeks for a youthful radiant glow.

4. Using a Small Angled Brush and a black eyeshadow, line the upper lash line, starting from the middle and working your way outwards. Create a soft edge wing using the brush and connect the wing to the bottom lash line. Make sure to blend both lines softly.

5. Apply our Lengthening and Volumizing Mascara in 'Black Brown' for naturally defined lashes.

6. Sweep on some Conditioning Lip Balm in 'Peaceful Pink' and the look is complete!

How easy was that?

-Patti, contributing elfette

In honor of Demi Moore and her newfound youth, we present you with a guide to achieving her classic natural makeup. (In all seriousness we hope she recovers quickly and healthily!)

1. Start by priming the eyes with our Mineral Eyeshadow Primer for red carpet ready makeup. 

2. Apply our Mineral Eyeshadow in 'Caffeinated' to the lid and blend into the crease until there are no harsh lines. Apply shadow to the lower lash line as well.

3. Coat lashes with 2-3 swipes of our new Volume Plumping Mascara for extra definition and volume.

4. Apply our Flawless Finish Foundation in the shade that best fits you for evened out skin.

5. Apply our Blush in 'Mellow Mauve' for a subtle glow.

6. Tame unruly brows with our Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara.

7. Coat lips with a quick swipe of our Lip Balm SPF 15 in 'Nude', and throw it in your purse for touch ups!

-Patti, contributing elfette

Oh no! Not another breakup...

Legendary couple Seal and Heidi Klum have called it quits. I guess it's inevitable when you're a celeb, especially when you're married to a celeb! The two were famous for their public love and affection, and it's safe to say Halloween will never be the same again.  The split was most likely brought on by hectic work schedules and growing apart.

In their publicly made statement, they said, "While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal and happy years of marriage, after much soul-searching we have decided to separate, we have had the deepest respect for one another throughout our relationship and continue to love each other very much, but we have grown apart."

It's such a shame...they seemed like one of the strongest couples in Hollywood. Thankfully, they will remain amicable for the sake of their four children. Maybe with some more time on her ands Heidi will dust off her wings and get back on the runway? Hey, a girl can dream!

What do you guys think of the split?

-Patti, contributing elfette

What does PIPA/SOPA mean? They are the Protect IP Act and Stop Online Piracy act. These two taken in conjunction basically give the government the rights to control everything on the internet- what can or cannot be posted, what can be censored, and enforces strict copyright laws. Say you have a YouTube video of a collage of pictures with friends and in the background a Taylor Swift song is playing- your video and site could be taken down due to copyright infringement!

Sites like Wikipedia and Reddit blacked out in order to protest the anti- internet acts. In doing so, Twitter feeds blew up with people writing things like "guess I’m going to have to hand in my report a day later!!" Thousands of websites posted links to call senators and oppose the bill from being passed. The truth of the matter is that the Internet is far too vast to be censored. Plus, who could live without hilarious YouTube videos and Tumblr posts? I know I can’t!

How would you feel if you lost control of the internet?

*UPDATE* Senate has backed down until further notice!

-Patti, contributing elfette

We are sad to announce that soul singing legend Etta James passed away on Friday. Sadly, James lost her battle with Leukemia after a long, hard 2 years of suffering. The woman lit up the world and our hearts with her timeless earthy tunes. Hits like 'At Last', 'Something’s Got a Hold On Me', and 'The Wallflower' flew across airways and landed their way onto a list of classics.  She won 6 Grammys for her achievements and continues to wow us even today. British singer/songwriter Adele once said in an interview "If you were to look up the word ‘singer’ in a dictionary you would find her name". I think it would be an understatement to say that she was an inspiration for any singer, new or old.

Etta, may you rest in peace at last...

-Patti, contributing elfette
 

We all know Snooki from Jersey Shore is infamous for her big poof, heavy makeup, and flashy style! Recently, she’s been dropping a lot of weight and isn’t afraid to share it with the world. She also posted a photo on her Twitter of her face without makeup! Hard to believe, we know, but we actaully thought she looks way better without all of that! Here’s a more refined, polished, Snooki- inspired smokey eye:

1. Start out by priming the eyes with our Eyelid Primer to prevent creasing through a long night out.
2. Next, apply our Mineral Eyeshadow in 'Smoldering' to the lid only (do not go up passed the crease unless you have hooded eyes.) Make sure to blend the shadow until there are no harsh lines.
3. Using the bronzer of your choice and a Blending Eye Brush, apply the bronzer to the crease just above the smoldering shade. This will warm up the look and make it more polished.
4. Draw a thin line of black eyeliner (try our Shimmer Pencil in 'Black Bandit') and blend into the lashline.
5. Coat lashes with our new Volume Plumping Mascara in Black and apply false lashes if desired.
6. As for the face, go easy on the bronzer! Apply it to the cheeks, forehead, nose and chin with a light hand just to add a little glow.
7. Apply our Cream blush in 'Tease' to add a warm flush to the cheeks.
8. Lips are up to you- if you are more reserved, go for a light pink gloss. If you are ready to go out and aren’t afraid of a little color, go for hot pink!

-Patti, contributing elfette

The night started out as usual with a star-studded red carpet! Gowns were breathtaking, hair was beautiful and makeup was impeccable. Host Ricky Gervais seemed a little too tame for our taste, though. He's usually ripping celebrities with harsh jokes, constantly crossing the line. At least he's not causing any controversy this year!

Among the winners this year were the veterans- Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady, George Clooney for The Descendants, Kate Winslet for Mildred Pierce, Michelle Williams for My Week With Marilyn, Octavia Spencer for The Help, Claire Danes for Homeland and more! Homeland won this year’s best TV series in Drama, while Modern Family took home an award for best TV series in comedy for the second year in a row. Movie winners include The Descendants, The Artist, and Spielberg’s first animated film, The Adventures of Tintin!

Did you guys watch the Golden Globes this year? What did you think of the host and the winners?

-Patti, contributing elfette

This years’ star studded Golden Globes red carpet was filled with gorgeous gowns and handsome suits. Our personal fave was Charlize Theron, wearing a stunning blush colored Dior gown with matching diamond vintage headpiece. Her hair looked “put together”- as did her makeup. Angelina Jolie wore an Ivory gown accented with a red neckline, but we prefer her arm candy get a haircut ASAP! Sophia Vergara flaunted her curves in a navy Vera Wang gown with beautiful intricate detailing. Reese Witherspoon looked calm and collected in a red gown and effortless beach waves. Jessica Alba and Octavia Spencer wore dainty lavender gowns with silver accenting, while Salma Hayek looked particularly cool donning a black sequin gown with gold accenting on top and some ombre-colore locks.

On the men's side, Clooney was obviously breaking hearts with girlfriend Stacy Keibler on his arm. Leonardo Di'Caprio caused a scene just by showing up- girls were screaming like he was The Beatles! 

Who was YOUR best dressed from the Golden Globes?

-Patti, contributing elfette

Angelina Jolie's pout is enviable, with or without lipstick, but here's a quick how-to on her look from the Golden Globes.

1. Start out by plumping and priming lips with our Lip Primer & Plumper. The plumper will help boost your pout while the primer will ensure the lipstick stays on all night.

2. Apply our Lip Lock Pencilto the edges of the lips to prevent the lipstick from seeping into lines around the lip, otherwise known as 'bleeding'.

3. Line lips with our Lip Liner & Blender Brushin the shade 'Red' and fill lips in completely. Filling in the lips will help the lipstick last longer.

4. Apply our Lipstick in 'Fearless' with a Lip Brush to the center of the lips. Using the brush, feather the color outwards. Doing so will eliminate any harsh lines around the edges of the lips.

5. Line the eyes with our Cream Eyelinerin 'Black' and wing out the ends.

6. Coat lashes with our Mineral Infused Mascarain 'Black' and add False Lashes if desired.

7. Bring the Lipstick and Retractable Lip Liner Brushwith you for touch ups!

-Patti, contributing elfette

As ladies, we're always searching for the latest and greatest beauty products to help us look as young as possible. Whether it's a new line filler or a certain blush color, certain staples may have the opposite effect. Here’s our guide to looking younger:

1. The less makeup you wear the better! Makeup is supposed to conceal any imperfections while letting our natural beauty shine through. Piling on tons of foundation can settle into lines and make skin look older. Add foundation where needed to even out skin, and apply concealer sparingly to problem areas, not all over. The goal should be radiant natural looking skin, with any dark spots concealed. Less is more!

2. Light reflecting foundations and concealers are your friend if you have any fine lines. We're not saying to go ahead and use the product all over your face, as sometimes you risk looking like a disco ball! If you have fine lines around the eyes, use a highlighter or illuminator on the inner corners of the eyes and don't set with powder as that will make lines more visible. If you need to powder, use a thin layer of translucent powder sparingly.

3. Defining eyes for a wide-eyed look is the easiest way to look younger. Curling lashes helps open up the eyes and black mascara will make eyes look whiter and brighter. Try to avoid mascara on the lower lashes as it can travel to the under eye area and make dark circles appear even darker. Defining brows is also important as it frames the face. Fill in sparse areas with a soft brow powder rather than a harsh pencil. When done correctly, results are amazing yet undetectable. 

4. Brighten up dull skin with a pop of pink. If bronzer isn't doing it for you, try a warm pink shade of blush applied to the apples of the cheeks. The color and placement of blush with give off a youthful radiant glow. (Tip: search for a shade that resembles the color your cheeks turn when exercising or out in the cold).

5. Lip liner can be your best friend or worst enemy. Over time, our lip line starts to fade. Trace a lip liner in a nude or blush shade (or using a color that matches your lips) right at the edge of your lip line. Blend the line with your finger or a q-tip so that the line is soft. Avoid lip liner colors that are too dark or unnatural looking. Apply lip balm right over it and your lips will look defined and natural!

What are your beauty secrets for looking younger? We’d love to hear from you!

-Patti, contributing elfette

With 2012 shaping up to be a fabulous year! I've picked up some new obsessions over the last week! Being the very giving person that I am, I've decided to share my obsessions with you so that you can obsess with me! 

1. Rock of Ages: The Movie 

Holy TOM CRUISE AND ALEC BALDWIN! This movie looks hilarious! I've seen the Broadway version more than five time; It's actually my go-to show when I have people visiting from North Carolina and it is so funny that your cheeks and abs will hurt from laughing when you leave. Obviously the 80's music speaks for itself. Pure Awesomeness. 

2.  Planning my best friend's wedding!

It is OFFICIAL! I have become a MOH-zilla! In non-wedding obsessed language, a maid-of-honor version of the much feared BRIDEZILLA! Here are some BFF shots over the years! 

Throughout the wedding planning process we've always tried to keep budget in mind and while it's okay to splurge on some things, you must pick and choose what you can save on! Chrissy wanted to wear this white mini to her bridesmaid's luncheon, but at $600 it was quite over budget for an event that would only last a couple hours.

Luckily my unparalleled research skills found this similar dress at Forever 21 for only $24!!

3. 2011 was all about braids! 2012 is all about the twist! One of my favorite fashion and beauty blogs Refinery29 re-introduced me to this trend that I definitely remember rocking throughout middle school! It's on my list of things to try this weekend! 

4. e.l.f. Studio Volume Plumping Mascara

Ever since I got my hands on an early batch of our new Studio Volume Plumping Mascara, I WAS HOOKED! My lashes are super long, but totally straight and definitely need some plumping to stay in place after I curl them! 

5. Hot Summer Night By Grace Potter and The Nocturnals 

The weather in New York City has been pretty bi-polar lately and despite a few nice days, it's been BITTER COLD! This song is all about getting through the frightful winter weather by spending it with someone who can make you feel like it's a "hot summer night!"

What are your January obsessions!? The elfettes ALWAYS have the best! 

xoxo, 

Brittany 

e.l.f. Social Media Maven 

We hope everyone had a fun and safe New Year's Eve this past weekend, and we know Mayor Bloomberg sure did! Lady GaGa rang in the 2012 in Times Square and shared a kiss with New York City's mayor Bloomberg. We were all shocked, especially considering GaGa has gone public with her relationship with Vampire Diaries Taylor Kinney, but we're sure the kiss was just a standard New Year's stunt and nothing more.

GaGa is taking things slow with Kinney, but we can tell she really likes him. The two met on the set of her music video for "You and I". Kinney was cast as GaGa's love interest and it was all uphill from there! It must be hard committing to a new guy when you're on the road 24/7 but we're sure the two will find a way!

What did you guys think of her NYE performance?

-Patti, contributing elfette

I'm sure everyone has heard the sad news regarding Katy Perry and Russell Brand's spilt. Unfortunately the two were too different! Russell has been sober for years, and Katy has been enjoying the party scene, which caused a ton of arguments between them. We really hope they can move past this or find a way to work it out- because we thought they were so cute together! Anyways, here's a Katy Perry Makeup look for you guys to try!

1. Start out by priming the lids with our Eyelid Primer to ensure the eye shadow lasts.

2. Apply our Mineral Eyeshadow in 'Confident' to the lid and to the lower lash line.

3. Grab our Mineral Eyeshadow in 'Smoldering' and add a small amount to the crease and outer corner. Blend the shadows until there are no harsh lines.

4. Line the top lash line with a stroke of our Liquid Eyeliner in 'Black'.

5. Coat top and bottom lashes with our Mineral Infused Mascara.

6. Apply Natural False Lashes to the top lash line if desired.

7. Prime the face with our Mineral Face Primer for a flawless base.

8. Apply our Flawless Finish Foundation to the skin with a sponge to achieve porcelain perfection.

9. Apply our studio Blush in 'Twinkle Pink' to the apples of the cheeks for a light pink flush.

10. Finish off the look by applying our Mineral Lipstick in 'Pouty Petal'.

-Patti, contributing elfette

This New Year's Eve in Times Square did not disappoint us New Yorkers! Demi Lovato and Tyler Posey hosted the annual celebration while people from all over the country and even the world (about one million people!) came to throw confetti, watch amazing performances and watch the ball drop as we rang in 2012.

Selena Gomez opened up the first performance of the new year with 'Love you Like a Love Song' and tons of artists followed suit. Boyfriend Justin Beiber performed a cover of the Beatles' 'Let It Be', and friend Demi Lovato performed her latest single "Give Your Heart a Break".

For native New Yorker Lady GaGa performing in Times Square was a dream come true. Her performance was a medley comprised of her new hit singles, 'Heavy Metal Lover,' 'Marry the Night' and 'Born This Way.' She helped mayor Bloomberg push the button to drop the ball and finished off the night sharing a New Year's kiss with the mayor.

What were your New Year's Eve plans this year?

-Patti, contributing elfette