‘Stay Pretty’ with two go-with-anything make-up looks you can recreate

By Sheryl Porter

If you were unable to attend the ‘Stay Pretty’ event at Dillard’s Northwest Arkansas Mall on March 10th, you really missed out. We had a blast going over tricks and trends every woman needs to know to become her own make-up artist

The first class taught guests how to create a 1940′s inspired look. Think 40′s pin-up girl with a modern twist. Ashley Ketz, KFSN Channel 5 Morning Anchor, was the perfect model for this look. You are probably used to seeing Ashley very fresh faced, very ‘girl next door’. We really turned up the drama dial and transformed Ashley into a sultry starlet.

To achieve this look, focus on:

Matte Eye shadows in very neutral shades like eggshell, taupe and chocolate.

Black Eyeliner ‘winged’ at the outer corners using an angled eye lining brush.

False Eyelashes in a side swept style. (We used MAC Half Lashes #20)

Lip Service: In order to have a perfect red lip 1> Line your lips with a true red lip liner. 2> Fill the lips with a true red lipstick with a matte finish. 3> Line the lips again 4>Top off the look with a BRIGHT orange lip gloss

Our second class focused on the number one requested eye look at make-up counters everywhere: The smokey eye look. Smokey eyes don’t always mean using black eyeshadow. Make this look your own by making a sooty eye in navy blue, deep plum, grey or forest green. For this demo, we used a navy blue smokey eye that can be paired with virtually any lip look.

To achieve this look focus on:

Create a full, well-groomed brow to balance this strong eye.

Use eyeshadow shades with a slight shimmer to allow for easy blending.

Apply foundation, concealer and powder AFTER apply eye make-up to clean up any eyeshadow ‘fall-out’ (IE-those nasty little crumbles that fall on your cheek.

Take your time… this is not a look to try out when you have one foot out the door.

Based on the response we had for this event, we will definitely bring it back with even more make-up looks and tricks of the trade. Have fun trying these two out.

And a special congratulations to Jessica Beil, winner of the ‘Stay Pretty’ V.I.P. contest.

Stay Pretty!

By Sheryl Porter

Have you heard about the new breakfast menu at Denny’s? 

Everywhere you turn everyone is talking about Nadya Suleman, Octo-Mom.  EVERYONE has an opinion on it and the media has weighed in on the speculation.  Will she keep the kids?  Will they be put up for adoption? Is her home safe to raise 14 kids? Is she mentally capable of raising that many kids? And, who is going to pay for their upbringing?

 ”One of these things is NOT like the other”

From the beginning, comparisons have been made and speculation brewed that Suleman is striving to look like actress and mega star Angelina Jolie.  Can you actually blame her?  Jolie is a beautiful woman and her looks are many women’s perfect aesthetic.  But, its creepy how far Suleman, who is clearly unstable, will go to change her looks whether it is to mimic Jolie or not.  I look at faces everyday. It’s my job and a hobby.  The best plastic surgery are the nips and tucks that go unnoticed.  So did Nadya Suleman have plastic surgery???  Hell-to-the-yeah she did!   She had months to prepare for her huge media debut, and here is my opinion of Suleman’s plastic surgery smorgasbord:

  “Who’s your Mamma?”

Nose: Obvious Rhinoplasty (ie-nose job) going on here.  You don’t have to be a surgeon to figure that out.  Suleman’s nose is noticeably thinner and the tip is refined.

Lips:  It’s a shame that Nadya has fillers injected into her lips, because her lips actually look nice and full in the ‘before’ picture.  Perhaps her fertility doctor gave her the physician recommendation… two doctors that subscribe to the ‘more is more’ philosophy.  Note to her doctors… when it come to fertility and cosmetic procedures ”LESS is MORE”

Forehead: Evidence of  Botox… plausible.  This one is not as clear cut as the other procedures.  In both photos Nadya’s forehead is smooth.  If she is victim to the Botox needle, I grant her a mulligan.  I don’t really count Botox against her… everyone is getting it on their lunch break anyway.

Eyes: Fact…  Your face does thin out as your get older giving is a bonier look, especially around the eyes. (reference:  see Sharon Stone through the years) Bottom line, I truly believe the  Octo-Mom got the fat sucked out of her eyelids.  Although the date of the ‘before’  picture is unknown, this type of thinning of the eyelids would occur over many, many years of age… not just a couple.

Face: I am *convinced* Nadya Suleman has had some injectable filler to soften her ‘marionette lines’ (also known as nasolabial folds) around her mouth and I am soooo jealous.  Hyaluronic Acid is the filler of choice and am dying to try some of that myself.  However, I have a job and would pay for it in cash.  The big, Big, BIG question is… how did Nadya Suleman pay for all of these cosmetic procedures?!?    Well, just refer back to the question at the top of the blog….

Answer: Eight eggs, no sausage and the guy next to you have to pay for it!

“Hello Gorgeous!” 

by Sheryl Porter

Where does one begin a beauty blog?  I have to laugh when people underestimate to power of beauty products… “oh, it’s just lipstick”  Yep, that’s right… lipstick.  Lipstick and face cream and perfume,  just to name a few products that create a multi-billion dollar industry.  We really don’t NEED any of these potions, lotions and sprays, but we just can’t seem to live with out them. In fact, in years of economic decline, the sales of ‘just lipstick’ increase. Thousands of years ago, beauty products were used to create a message…. distingush people of a certain class, region, profession, age group.  Today, it is just as an emotional experience (if not more) as it is physical enhancement.  I find this aspect of the beauty world the most interesting.  Especially when you consider the origins of what a physical ideal was.  In Roman times, emotion did not  play a part in considering ones phyiscal attractiveness.  One was considered beautiful based on mathmatics and symmetry.  BORING!  Obviously the Greeks did not subscribe to the thought of “Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder”.  The Romans are a tough crowd… just as tough as any of our modern day ‘worst dressed’ lists.  Some of today’s most exquisite faces may be outcast based on this theory.  I’m curious to know how beauties like Angelina Jolie, Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaug-hottie-hey and Brad Pitt would fare in Rome circa um, I don’t know, let’s say 1000 BC?  I did see the theatrical trailers for TROY, Brad Pitt  could supercede mathematical logic.  Fast forward to today. Sure, media sets us up to unrealistic ideals.  Airbrushing and Photoshop can forgive a myriad of sins… but we buy it.  I’m even going to go out on a limb and suggest we want it that way.   If I wanted to see untouched photos (ie-real people), I would just go to the mall, grocery store, family reunion, or just look in the mirror.  I want to look like the girl in the magazine (of course I never will… I know this) and will do what I can within my means and morals to get it.  So, let’s get back to that tube of lipstick, that face cream, that perfume.  Sure using those items will make me look a little nicer, firmer, younger but it makes me feel good.  And by the looks of my make-up collection… I feel great.  I hope you do too!