Festival paint by Free People from FreePeople on Vimeo.

(URL: http://vimeo.com/38641405)

All you need is water, some fine brushes and doodling creativity! You can either mist the paint with water or dip your brush in a glass. The Vargas by Royal line of brushes are perfect for getting your body paint on. I definitely recommend the Filbert or the Round which are both thin and can easily create beautiful patterns like shown in the video. Don’t be afraid to add a little bling to your designs too- sticky rhinestones can be found at any craft store and would look fabulous at the corners of your eyes, or dotting an armband you have painted on. This may be a little crazy for every day, but festivals are where your crazy inner hippie is supposed to shine, so get painting!

The first and most crucial step to glowing like an Angel is “Loving the face,” according to Tom Pecheux, the head MUA for the Angel’s annual fashion show. Unlike other shows which are usually quite rushed, the VS ladies arrive at 10 a.m. for a full day of pampering before showtime (sounds like the tough life, doesn’t it?). Pecheux begins with massaging a few drops of the cult favorite moisturizing oil by Rodin. Once the oil soaks in, he follows with a regular moisturizer suited for the individual’s skin type. The last product Pecheux uses is Idealist by Estee Lauder which evens out skin tone and reduces shine.

Since the Angels are filmed under the harsh runway lights, Pecheux uses a liquid foundation over the entire face. For everyday use, I would recommend a tinted moisturizer, unless you need the full coverage of a foundation. Arbonne makes a fantastic tinted moisturizer that feels especially light in the warmer months. Buff on some loose powder with a big Royal & Langnickel Kabuki brush and get ready for the most important step- bronzer!

Royal & Langnickel Domed Synthetic Kabuki

If you want to be just like Miranda and Behati grab the Baked Mineral Bronzer from VS which has a slight shimmer to it and will only further enhance your glowing complexion! Swirl it all over with a Contoured Powder Brush, concentrating on your cheeks, temples, forehead and cheekbones. For that extra Angel shimmer, use Vicky’s Shimmer Shadow and lightly dust on your cheekbones up to the temples with a fan brush. The Royal & Langnickel SILK Kabuki Fan brush is amazing.

BC195 - SILK Kabuki Fan Brush

Last, pick out a vibrant pink blush and apply it to the apples of your cheeks up to the temples. Physican’s Formula recently debuted their Happy Booster Blush which contains Euphoryl —  a natural plant extract that has been shown to mimic the effect of endorphins and help protect the skin from environmental stress. I’ve been using it for a few weeks, and my mood may not feel drastically different, but the color is fabulous!

Since so much emphasis is put on the skin, eyes and lips are kept relatively simple. Natural, shimmering shadow colors are lightly brushed on using a combination of pencil and liquid liner around the eyes. Use the Shimmer Shadow from earlier for your lids. Also, you can drag the liquid liner a bit farther than your lid to give a flattering slight-cat-eye. On lips, apply a nude lipstick like Revlon’s Soft Nude and then top your look off with Vicky’s signature gloss and get ready to strut your stuff!

Here’s What You Need:

-Nail Polish Remover
-Cotton Balls
-Epsom Salt
-Pumice Stone or Scrub
-Moisturizer
-Spa Brush
-Small Scissors
-Your Fave Polish

Optional, But Always Wonderful:

-Soothing Playlist/Pandora station (might I recommend  Mumford & Sons?)
-Great Book
-Delicious Candles
-Glass of wine
-Scented Oils

1) Fill up your tub with hot water and a few spoonfuls of Epsom Salt to soak your feet in and, if you prefer, scented oils. The salts help soothe and rejuvenate your feet, especially if your daily life keeps you on them all day! This also is the time to remove any left over polish from your last pedi. Soak your feet about 20 minutes, or until the water cools. While you are soaking, grab your book or iPod and relax! Sip on your wine and enjoy the spa time to its fullest!

2) Once your skin has softened use a scrub or a pumice stone to exfoliate the particularly difficult areas like your heels and pinkie toes. The Arbonne Aromassentials Awaken Sea Salt Scrub is a favorite. Make sure to scrub lightly in a circular motion to slough off dry skin. Lots of lighter exfoliation is better than a little bit of heavy because too much scrubbing can leave your skin more irritated than when you started!

3) Dry your feet and slather some great moisturizer up to our calves. Don’t be afraid to really use a lot, your skin will soak it right up after being the in the water. Massage the soles of your feet by kneading your arches with your knuckles and the balls of your feet with your thumbs. Increasing circulation reduces inflammation and feels great. If you really want to feel like you’re at the spa, apply the moisturizer with a spa brush from Royal & Langnickel, like the one below. There are tons to choose from and you can use them for every part of the body.

Royal & Langnickel Taklon Spa Brush (BSPA2950)

4) Trim and file nails. Use a larger nail clipper that is meant for feet and then use a file to round the edges (this prevents those painful ingrown nails that no one wants). Use tiny scissors to trim any hang nails or stray cuticles.

5) Time for the nail polish! Since beach season is quickly approaching, don’t hesitate to use some bright colors. Apricot, hot pink and the classic red are all on fire this season. If you are feeling daring, try a purple or a blue-green. Apply one coat from the cuticles to the tips, let dry and if needed add another coat. Don’t forget the base and top coats; they will assure your pedicure lasts. I recently discovered the wonderful world of aerosol quick-dry and at Walmart you can grab a can for just $2! Hold a few inches away from your nails and apply it as you would hairspray-presto, insta-dry pedicure!

Stay tuned next week for tips to get a perfect manicure!

You can win the VIP gift bag given out at the GLSEN Lounge during New York Fashion Week.

Follow the instructions below to win:

YOU MUST:
1. Follow us on Twitter and tweet the following:
#Giveaway from @RoyalLangnickel. Win VIP gift bag from #GLSEN Fashion Week Lounge. Filled with over $400 in products. #RoyalGiveaway

2. Enter Giveaway using this link: http://tinyurl.com/giveRLB

Good Luck!!

The wonders of Hollywood makeup!

One: Skin

Her flawless skin is obviously good genes, but with a great moisturizer and some foundation you will be well on your way to movie star status! You should be moisturizing everyday anyways but today use a little extra and mix in a makeup primer to give yourself a really great base. Then, use your foundation and concealer as usual and finish by buffing on a light or translucent powder (no bronzer today!) with a Kabuki brush for that flawless finish. Next you will contour your cheekbones with blush and a highlighter. In the video below, Kevin James Bennett will show you how to get stand-out cheekbones using only a single brush!

The last steps for your Marilyn face are blush and highlighter. Apply blush with a smaller domed brush like the GreenLine Blush Brush, which I use everyday and am obsessed with! Lastly you can use a highlighter on your forehead, the bridge of your nose and on the upper cheekbones to get you skin glowing and provide more contour.

Two: Eyes

First you need to fill in your brows. Marilyn had flawless eyebrows and this drew attention to her eyes without having to wear much actual eye makeup. She made hers very thin and pointed, because she thought she had a wide forehead! Next, apply falsies to just the outer corner of your eyes. Then you are going to use a white eyeliner pencil first: apply a small “v” shape to the outer corner of your eyes and blend. Then line your waterline also with white. Brown eyeliner comes next because, contrary to many beliefs that she used black, brown was Marilyn’s color of choice. Use the dark liner and line over the lashes and create a sweeping cat eye out past the corners, and line slightly under the eye but do not cover the white liner.Marilyn’s makeup is all about the contrast, and the contrast of light and dark shadows will make your eyes really pop. Eyeshadow is going to be minimal, so use a natural shimmering nude or a golden hue and sweep across the lid. Then use a lighter off-white on your brow bone and inner corners. Top it all off with a quick curl of your lashes and a coat of mascara!

See the white space on the outer corners?

Three: Lips

Red lips are the icing on this bombshell cake! Ms. Monroe actually used 5 different lipsticks to create the perfect color, a blue-red to counteract the cameras that turned every color orangey. You would be best off using a true red since none of us have cameras following us around! First, line your lips with a slightly deeper shade than you will be filling with. Apply your lipstick as you normally would, but take care to create perfect edges by using a Pointed Lip Brush. Blot, apply a layer of translucent powder and apply once more for some real staying power! Lastly, grab that white eyeliner again and very lightly draw a line around your cupid’s bow for extra definition.

Extra Step:

Grab your liquid liner and dab it just above the left side of your lips… you can’t be Marilyn without the beauty mark!

P.S.: Keep a lookout for MAC’s Monroe Collection which will be hitting stores in the fall! The Marilyn trend isn’t going to be going away anytime soon.

Polka dots at Kate Spade: This is SO wearable! Deborah Lippmann is the genius behind this graphic look which can be done with any combo of colors. All you have to do it let the base color dry and then use either the tip of the brush or a detail stylus dipped in lacquer to make the polka dots! Start off smaller and wiggle the applicator in a circular motion to make the dots bigger.

At Rebecca Minkhoff, Essie manicurists created an edgy, but adult, french manicure. Use a neutral color for the base and then swipe a thin strip of a deep jewel tone to give the tips a little shimmer and shine. Here’s a great tip: You know those little sticky circle dots you have sitting around the junk drawer? Well, apparently they are used to reinforce binder pages. Who knew?  Second of all, use them to make a perfect french manicure! Just stick the curved edge on your nail, paint and peel.

Here’s another one that anyone (no matter your nail expertise) can do at home–nail polish strips! At Alice + Olivia they use Sephora by OPI Trend Tips in Black & Gold Glitter. These strips are insanely easy to apply, and will a good top coat have lasted for longer than a regular manicure!

Now here is real dedication for the sake of nail art–at The Blonds a set of nails were made for each individual model and no two pairs were alike! Over 130 hours was put into creating the looks. Definitely not something I’ll be trying at home anytime soon!

Keep your eyes out in the next few weeks, I’m sure London, Paris and Milan fashion weeks will be giving us some more amazing nail art to drool over!

Step One: Face

The ladies of the roaring 20′s loved a creamy complexion. Apply your foundation as you normally would, then use powder and your Royal & Langnickel Kabuki brush to buff on a perfect complexion. Make sure to pay close attention when applying foundation to your eyelids and around your lips, it’ll come in handy in the next steps!

Step Two: Eyes

Start with an eyeshadow with a slight metallic sheen. Gold or grey hues are the most reminiscent of the 20′s, but you can use any shade that flatters your complexion. Try Benefit’s Creaseless Creme Shadow in Soot or Busy Signal. Next, rim your eyes with a dark kohl liner, one that can be easily smudged. I use Rimmel’s Kohl Pencil because I think it has great staying power. Then use a Royal & Langnickel Smudge Brush to blur the lines slightly and blend into the shadow. You can go as light or as dark with this look, depending on the time of day you are dressing for!

Step Three: Lips

Rouged lips are the signature 20′s makeup look. Girls would create a Cupid’s Bow by not using the rouge all the way to the edge of their lips. If you’re going for dramatic, use a combo of your foundation and concealer to neutralize the corners of your mouth, and then just apply lipstick to the center. A really good lip brush will be needed for this, so grab the SILK BC656 which has a stiff pointed tip, to apply the color. For a more modern take, apply lipstick as your normally would. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a deep wine color instead of the traditional red!

#1 Sweetly Sincere

Nothing says feminine and flirty like glowing skin and baby pink lips. Paired with this lady-like pink dress from ASOS (which is figure-flattering and has the most adorable pink bow in the back!) – you will be charming him all night long.

 
$71, asos.com

Glowing skin is the perfect base for this look , so grab the Royal & Langnickel synthetic, long-handled Kabuki (our newest addition to the SILK line!) and blend your foundation with a bit of highlighter mixed in. Benefit Moonbeam is a cult fave for this look, so add a drop or two and buff on with the Kabuki brush. Next, for your lips, use a subtle pink lipstick or gloss. Fairer ladies can get away with a more bubblegum hue while you tanner ladies should pick a color with a deeper color to avoid the 80′s frosted look. Top the look off with rosy blush such as the BareMinerals Cheerful. Bright pink blushes look overwhelming in the container, but when applied to the apples of your cheeks and upwards it gives you a beautiful, natural flush.

#2 Sultry Seductress

If you are taking a late dinner or headed to a secluded corner of a chic bar, dark eyes and nude lips are the look for your Valentine night. Paired with a perfectly draped red dress you will be sending all the right signals.

$59, Mango

Once again, a Kabuki brush will be your favorite tool to achieve flawless skin as the base for this look, so use it to blend your foundation in to start. Then, use a powder to set the foundation and mattify your face. Next we will do the eyes- you can either do a black smoky eye or, if you want to tone down the intensity, use grey or brown. Use an eyeshadow palette with at least 3 colors (like Shiseido’s trio of luminizing eye shadows) and start with the middle neutral color over the base of your eye. Next, use the lightest color on your brow line and the inner corners, and then the darkest on the outer corners. A blending brush like the BC460 Angle Blender will help you seamlessly apply the colors for a Valentine’s statement eye. To complete the look, a nude lip will polish you off without taking attention away from your sultry eye makeup. In the video below, Kevin James Bennett will show you how to create the perfect neutral lip!

Emma Stone looked simply stunning at the Globes. That girl really knows how to WORK a red carpet, and both her fashion and beauty choices are just spot-on every time. To complement her deep berry-hued dress, she chose to go with a grey shimmer smokey eye, which I think works incredibly well with her vibrant hair color (doesn’t she have the power to make you want to go red?). Want this sultry look? Start by using a powder eyeshadow brush with a blending brush such as the Royal & Langnickel SILK Angled Blender. To achieve this flawless finish, blending and more blending is the key, so a high-quality blending brush is essential. Use black liner to rim your eyes, but then dip a small liner brush like the SILK Liner Brush into a tiny bit of water, and use the eyeshadow to give your liner a bit of a gun-metal shine!

On the opposite end of the eye spectrum, Alba’s MUA kept her look very feminine and innocent which can be easily reinvented as a day look for anyone that wants to make your eyes pop! She heavily lined only the upper lid, which can be done with a liquid liner or with a smudge pot and a brush. If you’re using a smudge pot, grab a thin but flexible brush, such as the SILK Detail Liner, and apply a small line at first, thickening it as you go. For a little extra sweetness, wing the edges out a bit! To take this from day to night, grab some falsies and apply over the liner, applying mascara to blend them with your real lashes.

At the SAGs Sunday night, Dianna Agron looked absolutely lovely and also sported the heavy top liner like Jessica, but brightened her eyes by using a light, shimmer shadow as an accent both under and over her eyes. To recreate this look, dip the Royal & Langnickel SILK Smudger in the shadow, tap off excess and lightly brush it around your eyes, concentrating on the inner and outer corners and blending in between. Tip: Use off-white shimmer–stark white can be much too harsh for this look!

(Couldn’t resist a picture with Emily’s adorable hubby!)

Emily Blunt emphasized her lips, which not many celebs took the risk to do last Sunday night! The peachy-coral color was a great contrast with her vibrant green dress (Prada, by the way… how appropriate!) and she kept her eyes simpler to let the lip color do the talking. To create an opaque color like Blunt, use a lighter lipstick and a slightly darker lipgloss. If you have a peaches and cream complexion like her, choose a peachy lipstick and top it with a more vibrant coral gloss, such as Revlon’s Coral Reef. This is another look that would be perfect for the workplace or a daytime event, but sorry, cute husband not included!

Did you have any favorite looks from the awards that we missed? Tune in after the Oscar’s for a review of that biggest night in movies!