Time in a bottle: October 2016 favorites

                                            Happy Halloween!

                                               

                                                                

                                                       Style: 

                                                     

                                                                                

         Long tees inspired by the Perry Ellis spring 1993 show. Go a size smaller, and braless (if you dare).

I like these from J. Crew,  and these from Club Monaco. So many brands have good options. 

 Turtleneck knit, pencil slacks, and slingbacks. 

                          

                                 
                                        

                                           Makeup inspirations:

                          

           

                                                                         

           

'La beauté du diable' photographed by Christian Moser for Marie Claire, November 1990.

Kristen McMenamy

Erin O'Connor

           

                                       

                                                  Perfume: 

                                       Atelier Santal Carmin

                                       Christian Dior Poison

                                                                 

               

                                   

        

Foundation: 

Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Natural Perfection

                                                                   

Concealer:


Shiseido Perfecting Stick Concealer

Blush:

NARS Sin, Taos, or Outlaw. 

What I call "the fall trio". These are all you need. 




Highlighter:

Kevyn Aucoin The Guardian Angel Cream Highlighter

  Eyeshadow:

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash in Stone

Kevyn Aucoin The Bloodroses Palette



Victoria Beckham for Estee Lauder in Bitter Clove and Charred Emerald. (sold out)

Mascara:

L'Oreal Voluminous Feline Noir 

Lip products:



MAC Spice it Up!




Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Black Violet




Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Broadest Berry 





Wet n Wild Balm Stain in Truffle in Paradise




Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Chocolate Cherry





Oribe Lip Lust Creme Lipstick in The Violet 

  Nail Colour:


Oribe The Violet



Smith & Cult in Feed The Rich

You've Got Mail: Kathleen Kelly in The Shop Around the Corner

                                                             

                                                               

You've Got Mail is on my fall movie list, and it's one of the only successful remakes in movie history. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks were magical together in the 90's, and You've Got Mail was their second best movie after Sleepless in Seattle.  Besides a beautiful NYC in autumn, I'm kind of obsessed with Kathleen and Christina's wardrobe of tights, chunky heels, cardigans, and turtleneck sweaters throughout the movie. It's much easier to recreate the makeup than raid your closet for 90's throwback clothing, so here is how to do just that.


First, I've lit an oud and moss candle, so my home is smelling moss-y.

                                                                     

Start with your beautiful skin that's clean and soft. This time of year you want moisturized skin before applying makeup.

1. Kathleen and Christina both have natural foundation. My three favorites to achieve that are Bourjois Healthy Mix, Guerlain Lingerie de Peau, or Rimmel Wake Me Up. Just use your hands, or any way that you like best. The goal is that it looks like good skin. Conceal with Maybelline Fit Me. Then add some powder where you need it. I think people often go overboard on powder thinking it will stop shine during the day. That's what blotting papers are for, or a handkerchief.

2. Do what you will with your brows, but does anyone want 90's brows back? I personally do not. Use a soft brow powder to fill in any gaps, or a pencil to fix the shape. On to the eyes... I had to use my trusty Viseart 01 matte for this look, but Sonia Kashuk's Eye on Neutral Matte Palette works too. You need a skin tone shade to sweep all over your lid, a very natural crease shade, and a dark espresso one for the liner. In that order. Then curl your lashes and sweep on some mascara.

3. Apply a tawny blush (we loved tawny in the 90's, and still do), like Clinique Soft Pressed in Totally Tawny.

4. There are so many lip options. Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, Revlon Super Lustrous in Rum Raisin, Revlon Toast of New York, MAC Spice It Up, MAC Capricious, or Bobbi Brown Art Stick in Cassis.  Kathleen's lipsticks ranged from pinky nudes to spice, and Christina's were bolder berries and reds.

Now go buy some pencils and sharpen them! That's the smell of fall in NY.

Inspired by literature: Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

"For more than two hundred years, the Owens women have been blamed for everything that has gone wrong in town."

Practical Magic tells the story of two sisters in New England who happen to be witches. It's a family trait, and staying that way--despite Sally's wish to be "normal" and not cursed. They live in a big Victorian house with two eccentric aunts, eat chocolate cake for breakfast, and rules don't exist. The townspeople are classic "torch and pitchfork" people who bully them and throw rocks, so naturally they grow up feeling ostracized and different from everyone they meet. 

Clockwise: Revlon Spicy Cinnamon Super Lustrous Lipstick, L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Black (also comes in brown), Bobbi Brown Art Stick in Rich Nude, Cover Girl Gloss Balm in Jam Twist, Face Stockholm Cranberry Veil, L'Oreal True Match Blush in Spiced Plum, MAC Tenderling Blush, and Bobbi Brown Shimmerwash Eyeshadow in Stone. 

Sally's makeup is incredibly simple. Pamela Westmore gave Sandra Bullock a range of pink, nude, and peach tones. It's not dated at all considering this movie was made in 1998. Her skin is natural and demi matte. I chose MAC Tenderling Blush because it's very natural on most skin tones. This is a dusty nude pink. Bobbi Brown Stone Eyeshadow gives the perfect taupe wash of color, and L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Brown gives the lash line definition. I'm sure she's wearing at least one coat of mascara, so use your favorite.  Revlon Spicy Cinnamon or Bobbi Brown Rich Nude  match her lip colors throughout the movie and the promotional shots. 

Wild Gillian was played by Nicole Kidman, and the artist gave her a lot more variety with her makeup. I wouldn't call it grunge, but it fit her character's restless ways . One minute it was soft red lipstick, and the next her eyeliner was pitch black, smudged, and paired with a glossy jam lip color. Her look focuses on liner, cheeks, and lips. Since most of the movie takes place in the fall, I chose L'Oreal Spiced Plum Blush for a flushed cheek. L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering liner in Black gives that "black as pitch" eye kohl. Face Stockholm Cranberry Veil is a soft red that won't overwhelm, and Cover Girl Jam Twist is one of the most comfortable lip products I've come across. 

What products would you use for a Sally or Gillian look? Is Practical Magic on your list of movies to watch this fall? 

—  Kristi Marie from Modern Grace

Fictional characters: Dana Scully's makeup on The X Files

                                                                

Dana's look changed quite a lot from season one to season nine. When she met Fox Mulder and started working on The X Files she was a baby faced FBI agent with shoulder length hair and barely any makeup. By season nine she seemed to have found her signature look of the 90's with a bob and a range of lipsticks from spice to vampy red. I've gathered some products together so you can nail the Dana Scully look for Halloween, or any time of the year.

As always, start with clean and moisturized skin.

1. Dana's foundation is pretty flawless. This was medium coverage at the very least, and topped off with powder. Laverne Basham did Gillian Anderson's makeup, and she used Shu Uemura cake foundation and Dermablend Cover Creme. The pressed powder was from Stila. All of these are now discontinued, but you get the idea. Go for your favorites that offer good coverage.
Revlon Colorstay Foundation, MAC Studio Fix Concealer, and MAC Studio Fix Powder are what I used. The secret to prevent "cake face" is to use a lot less than you think you need.


2. Bobbi Brown Blush in Tawny was used on Gillian, and it's still available, but Laura Mercier Spiced Cider works too. Any tawny rose blush. They didn't use highlighter or bronzer at all.

3. Her brows are natural and filled in with a discontinued pencil, but powder looks better. The eyeshadow is very easy. Use a skin tone matte all over the lid, and MAC Cork in the crease. Fill in the top lash line with a dark brown eyeliner, and a coat of mascara finishes the eye look. The MUA used Lancome Defencils Mascara in Black.



I've chosen several lip options in different price ranges, and all of these match a lipstick Gillian wore during the nine seasons.

1. Maybelline Maple Kiss
2. MAC Persistence
3. Maybelline Clay Crush
4. MAC Twig
5. Clinique Think Bronze 
6. Rimmel Kate Moss Nudes in #47
7. Revlon Spicy Cinnamon
8. Lancome Color Design in Sugared Maple
9. MAC Viva Glam I and III
10. NARS Volga 
11. L'Oreal Exclusive Reds in Zoe's Red
12. MAC Velvet Teddy
13. MAC Spice It Up
14. Revlon Toast of New York
15. Wet n Wild Silk Finish in Cashmere

                                                                    

                                                           

                                                                      

English rose: Poldark's Caroline Penvenen

                                                                       



We are on the sixth episode of the second season of Poldark, and every week I have loved Caroline's makeup. She's a snobbish and obnoxious character to some point, but I have a feeling her love for the doctor will soften her demeanor, and it's been hinted that she is still a teenager that needs to mature a bit. Caroline has classic English rose makeup that's very trendy for an 18th century young woman. Flawless porcelain skin, rosy cheeks, and rosebud lips. Sometimes she will have a beauty mark, which was very fashionable for the aristocracy and royals of the 1700's. Keep reading to learn how to recreate the makeup.

Start by making sure your skin is clean and moisturized. If you use a foundation primer, now is the time to use it. I like Laura Mercier Oil Free Primer for all skin types.

1. Flawless skin is a goal for this look, so choose a foundation and concealer that has coverage, but it shouldn't be too heavy or dry. I like Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Natural Perfection.

Use a damp Beauty Blender (or a dupe for it) to pat this foundation into your skin. Let it sit for a few minutes so you can see if you need powder. I like Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder in the t zone.

2. Her brows are soft and natural. Any matte shadow that matches your brows will do, but I use MAC Omega eyeshadow, or Anastasia Brow Powder Duo. She doesn't appear to have much shadow on. Maybe a swipe of a pale bone shade for a matte lid. Her lashes and lash line seem natural as well, but if you need something then add a touch of the same brow powder to define them, or curl them.


3. Caroline's cheeks are a bright pink rose. Paintings of Marie Antoinette come to mind. Stila Convertible Color in Sweet Pea is a great shade to match. If you need it a little brighter use Bobbi Brown Pale Pink instead, which isn't a "pale pink" at all.

4. The best part was finding a lip color that matches and compliments the blush. I chose Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint in Enchanted because it's spot on, and they also use this on the set of Once Upon a Time. You can see your lips through it, but it offers the prettiest flushed pink shade that verges on mauve and rose, and you can blot this down. Your natural lip tone can change the color, so go light and see how it turns out.

                                                                     

That's my Caroline Penvenen look. Do you have any product recommendations for an English rose look? I'd love to hear them!



— Kristi Marie from Modern Grace

Fall recipe: Apple Crisp

                                                                 

I wanted to share a recipe I recently found that's perfect for this time of year. Some days you just want a warm apple crisp with some vanilla ice cream, and to eat it without leaving home. The original recipe can be found here, but I made some changes for my tastes and preferences.


Ingredients for the topping:

1/2 cup self rising flour (if you use all purpose, add 1/2 teaspoon baking powder)

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

dash of salt

1/3 cup unsalted butter, diced into small chunks.


Ingredients for the filling:

One can of Lucky Leaf Premium Apple Pie Filling

1 splash of lemon juice (a splash is less than a teaspoon)

2 tablespoons of melted butter

3 tablespoons milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (organic)



Directions:  I don't like whole oats in anything, so I took all of the dry topping ingredients and blended them in my Cuisinart food processor until they were more finely milled. I then cut the butter separately and just dropped it into the mix. Put it in the fridge until you're done with the filling.

I then poured the apple filling into my dish (either an 8x8 or 9x9 size will work).

I put my lemon juice in the Cuisinart, and then the butter. If you add your milk to lemon juice it will curdle, so always add the butter second! Then add the vanilla and mix until well blended. I pour this over the filling, and then sprinkle on the topping and put it in the oven.



Bake your apple crisp at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. I like my apple crisp hot when it's a cool day, so as soon as it comes out of the oven I top it with ice cream and dig in.