Exclusive Interview: Darais, Lancôme National Celebrity Artist

We at BrainyBeautys love the Halloween season- because we love beauty tricks and treats of course! (badum-bum!) And boy, do we have a slew of both to get your week off to a most glamorous start: Darais, Lancôme National Celebrity Artist, was gracious enough to answer some of our most pressing beauty questions.

Read on and take note on why Lancôme Artliner 24H is every woman’s new beauty bag essential, plus Darais’ top fall trends, biggest beauty pet peeves, fantastic beauty advice and more… Sweeter than candy and way better for you too!

BrainyBeautys: Why is Lancôme Artliner 24H a beauty bag essential?
DARAIS: Artliner 24H is a beauty bag essential because it's a no brainer! It can be used with or without eye shadow.  It won’t smudge or smear after a long day at work, while on a night out on the town, or even while you are at the gym.  It instantly gives you the eye definition everyone tries to achieve over and over again. It's so simple!

BrainyBeautys: What is one fall beauty trend you're most excited about and how do you incorporate Artliner 24H into it?
DARAIS: At fashion week it was a battle between graphic eyeliner and a smoky eye for fall. Graphic eyeliner won hands down with the launch of Artliner 24H. Its effortless application and vinyl edgy finish create a graphic eye that has created an exciting new trend on its own.  And not to mention all those smoky eye wearers are applying graphic liner on top of their smoky eye now to keep up!

BrainyBeautys: Who is one celeb that you feel always gets it right in the beauty department?
DARAIS: One of my favorite celebs I have had a pleasure to makeover a few times, and someone that I feel always gets it right, is Ashley Greene. She dares to go bold but in a way that is classic and effortless chic. Her skin is radiant even without makeup on. She always has the right amount of pop to her gorgeous eyes, and a lip that never overrides the rest of her look.

BrainyBeautys: What's your biggest beauty pet peeve?
DARAIS: My biggest beauty pet peeve is when someone has on the wrong foundation. Color is key and so is your undertone. It's sad when I can only see the wrong foundation and color jump to the neck or body.  It distracts from the true color of a woman's eyes and from how beautiful she truly is. Don't let your skin distract from your focus features.

BrainyBeautys: What is your "Brainy-est" beauty advice/tip/trick?
DARAIS: My brainy-est advice I give to thousands of women is based on your day, your career, your lifestyle. Decide in the morning if you are more of a speaker or a listener. If you speak a lot go more intense lips. It brings people's attention to what you have to say. If you listen, show it with your eyes done up. People won't be distracted away when they are focused in on your eyes. If you play up both it can be distracting and appear as overdone makeup... Especially to us guys!

We absolutely love DARAIS’ last answer so much- it is such a simple yet amazing tip that reminds us all that everyone can incorporate a make up look that stays true to their aesthetic and personality. And a few strokes of Lancôme Artliner 24H also helps! 

Lancôme’s NEW Artliner24H Precision Point Eyeliner is an ultra-long wear, laser-precise liquid liner available in 10 sophisticated cult colors defining eyes with a dramatic vinyl finish. The felt-tip applicator ensures the liner glides on flawlessly without tugging or skipping and delivers serious color. $30.

Tigi-Tastic

New make-up never gets old. New GOOD make-up is even better. 

TIGI, more known for its innovative hair care products, also offers a full line of fabulous cosmetics. 

The Glow Blush in Haute was a little intimidating for me at first- I'm more of a naturally enhanced rosy pink cheek, and this hue looked a little too golden/brown in its packaging. Once applied though, it left a super flattering shimmery flush that lasted all day. 

But even better is the Black Patent Liquid Eyeliner. Since trying this for the first time I have been on a total cat-eye trip, if that tells you anything!  

The liner boasts a patent shine that won't smudge or smear and man, did it deliver! I absolutely LOVED the glossy effect! Plus, true to promise, it didn't budge. Application is very manageable too, with a sort of a brush/marker hybrid tip. 

Props to TIGI for adding some extra oomph to my spring make-up tricks! 

Wowza! Whip Hand!

Is it normal to have a crush on a beauty line? Because I am mad digging on Whip Hand Cosmetics,

GIVE GOOD FACE Rosewater Tonic

I don't really understand what hyaluronic acid is or why or how it "hydrates the skin, plumping and toning your complexion", but it just DOES. I'm officially capital "A" addicted to this stuff. Not only does it smell awesome and is fun to spritz, it 100% made a noticeable difference in my skin. In the slow crawl through a brutal winter's cold, wind and snow, when most of us women struggle double time to keep our epidermis in top form, I caught myself checking out my complexion in the mirror because it looked DEWY. And HEALTHY. Insanity! In the very best way. 

SET THE STAGE PRIMER

Goes on like a soothing lotion all over the face to fill, smooth and re-texturize skin before applying foundation and other concealer. It's unscented, non-irritating and easy to blend in. Again, this product delivers a noticeable difference- pores become invisible, skin becomes balanced and smooth, and foundation glides on like a dream. Fun fact: This product is even used on-set by the Good Morning American make-up and beauty team! 

LIMITED EDITION LOOSE PIGMENT EYE SHADOW: CAMO COLLECTION 

Special Forces: Shimmering peachy gold is a great highlight and all over lid base color. 

Locked + Loaded: A gorgeous gun metal gray with the perfect amount of shine and staying power. Truly my new favorite color. 

LIP CREME in Coven

A pretty bubblegum pink that you can build from lovely light stain to more heavier, saturated coverage. Oh and it doesn't budge one bit. 

Beyond the addiction inducing products, the packaging is flippin' bada$$ too. Oh and did I mention that Whip Hand is also a local Detroit, MI made and manufactured company? The amazingness is almost too much! So what are you waiting for?! Get out there and Whip Hand! Whip Hand it good!

Modernize the Way You Make Up

Let's just state the obvious shall we: The beautyblender Cosmetic Sponge looks more akin to Easter hunts than make up bags. Yet with its unique shape, texture and material trifecta, it works foundation into that coveted overall even, crease-free coverage.

This ovoid applicator was the brainchild of Rea Ann Silva, one of Hollywood's top make up artists, who "knows the key to the perfect face is the perfect blend."  (Side note: I wonder how many flawless Oscars faces last night were achieved with its help!). Beyond Tinsel Town, this tool is also a well known Fashion Week backstage essential.

As I generally apply my foundation with my fingers, I wasn't sure how the beautyblender would fit into my daily routine. The tip sheet that accompanied it assured that even with my preferred technique, the beautyblender would smooth and refine my make up to a clean finish. Incorporating it this way was fun and did seem to make a noticeable, albeit slight, difference.

Other suggested uses include to use the round base to apply blush and the pointed end to "stipple and twist" concealer to perfectly camouflage blemishes. My pedestrian maquillage talents will surely need a bit of practice to fully utilize the beautyblender's magic, but I'm happy to take the road that eventually leads to complexion perfection.

beautyblender retails for $19.95 at major retailers nationwide including Duane Reade Look Boutique, CO Bigelow, Henri Bendel and Beauty.com.

Purely Pro Simply Delivers

There are so many reasons to choose Purely Pro Cosmetics- They're a Michigan-based company, they're not tested on animals, they're guaranteed to weather long days (the line was originally created to meet entertainment industry demands), they integrate "cutting edge technology and the purest ingredients"... Really the list could go on, but the most important aspect is that Purely Pro really does deliver fantastic, quality products.

A few stand outs:

1) Stuck on You Eyeliner Fixative 
This guy is a total game changer. It allows you to transform any eye shadow into a long-lasting gel eyeliner. Simply wet a brush with a few drops and mix into powders to create a smooth, creamy consistency and apply. I cannot even tell you how obsessed I am with this product. It truly opens up a whole new eye palette world.

2) Cream Hilites in 56 Hi Glow
A cream formula that can be used on the face or body for subtle to dramatic shimmer. #56 is a gorgeous bronze that I found ideal as an all over eye shadow base right now, but I know will also be a go-to face/cheek bone highlighter in the warmer months once I have some semblance of a tan.

3) Small Pointed Face Brush
A vegan brush with a nice weight and crazy soft bristles, this is meant for defining and highlighting your cheek bones. I liked using it to apply liquid foundation around my nose, chin and underneath the eyes.

Sheswai Nail Lacquer

Formaldahyde-, DBP-, & Toluene-free nail polish.
Thin enough to go on smoothly, but substantial enough to give good coverage.
The wooden bottletop is awesome, and I have a new nail polish love.

Stoked-- A blue somewhere between Tiffany's and robin's egg. This may sound ridiculous, but I swear it makes my fingers look longer & thinner.

Fersure-- Red! A deep cherry, can get to bordeaux with a few more coats. Such a rich red, so elegant.

Tarte on QVC

Tune into QVC for the latest & greatest from one of our favorite, Tarte!

Bobbi Brown: Bag & Brushes

Makeup bag & Mini Brush set

Okay, I always used to shy away from the Bobbi Brown counter, I thought the sales staff was over-enthusiastic, & that unnerved me.

Now I see that they were right-on. Dead-on. Spot-on. Perfect.

I think I am now a Bobbi-o-phile.

The bag is super-cute, a mini shaving bag, zips around 3 sides.

But the brushes are AMAZING!!!

There's a lip brush, an eye-shadow brush, & a foundation brush.

No random hairs left on you after using, just your make-up, right where you want it!

The handles are small, so you can easily carry them with you, but the brush parts are perfectly sized.

TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!

Value, Entertainment, & the prettiest of QVC

I know what I'll be doing on Saturday, April 25th!!!

Naieme - Makeup Brush Set

Naieme
Leatherette Brush Set

I am always trying out new makeup brushes. Sometimes I watch makeover shows on TV and go and buy the brushes that they use for makeup (I am addicted to What Not to Wear). Let me say that these brushes are the best thing since sliced bread. I am not kidding. There are 5 brushes in this set. All neatly arranged in a sassy gold case with an extra zipped pocket for storage. All 5 brushes are colored and labeled. The blush/powder brush is a nice size for me. Not too big, not too small. Blush goes on evenly and the brush is soft. Next is the blender/lid brush. I have been using this brush to apply eyeshadow on my lids. Everything gets covered evenly and easily. The next brush is the crease/smoke brush. It is amazing. This brush makes it SO easy to give your eyes that smoky look. I LOVE it. I can't believe how easy it makes applying dark colors to the creases. It is like a little masterpiece paintbrush for my eyes. There is also a concealer/foundation brush. I have found this one useful when trying to cover a blemish or dark spot on my face. Concealer goes on easily and covers well. The last brush may be my favorite. It is a brow/liner brush. I have only used it as a liner brush so far, but it is crazy how great it works. I instantly threw away all of my pencil eyeliners (ok, I didn't throw them away, I just moved them out of my every day makeup bag). All of the girls at my friend's wedding last weekend used the liner brush and asked how and where to get one. I directed them (as I am now directing you) to the emmett cooper HAIRCARE & the naieme collection website. Go and buy this set now. http://emmettcooperhaircare.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=33