Lucy Hale: Get the Look with Mark Cosmetics

I've been seeing Lucy Hale everywhere lately and every time the first thing I think is – she's a mark. girl!  Therefore, when news landed in my inbox about her cover makeup look, I was compelled to cover it.  Plus, it's perfect for the holiday season.  Here, her makeup artist Jamie Greenberg, spills how you can replicate the look with mark cosmetics.

Eyes:

Sweep mark. Eye Dream Of Glam Eye Shadow Palette in light pink shade (left column, second shade from bottom) across the eye lids. Next, apply the blue shade (top right column) starting at the center of the lid and extending outwards into a defined V shape. Line the upper and lower lash lines with mark. What A Line Max Waterproof Eyeliner in Electric Cobalt and finish with two coats of mascara.

Face:

Sweep mark. Touch & Glow Shimmer Cream Cubes onto the apples of the cheeks, blending upwards along the cheekbones.

Lips:

Complete the look by applying mark. On The Dot Lip Gloss Compact’s light pink gloss (top right shade) across the lips.

*This is a sponsored post by mark cosmetics, but all of my thoughts and actions are true.

The One Palette You Need to Get Samantha Barks' November Cover Look

In honor of their 10th birthday, one of my favorite brands, Mark Cosmetics, enlisted Les Miserables actress, Samantha Barks to be their magazine's cover girl.  I got a peek at what it was like working with Samantha behind the scenes.  Her cover look?  Really fresh and right on trend.  Check it out along with tips on how to get it from her makeup artist, Jamie Greenberg.  PS: She pretty much used one palette!

Face & Cheeks:

“I prepped Samantha’s skin using a tinted moisturizer. Then, I dusted the pink shade from mark’s Super Color Box Total Face Palette ($24.99) onto the apples of her cheeks.”

Eyes: 

“I applied the darkest purple shade, found on the right side of the Super Color Box Total Face Palette, onto her eyelids. Next, I applied the dark green shade to her upper lash line. This contrast complemented her skintone beautifully.  I applied two coats of mascara to her lashes to finish her eyes.”

Lips: 

“To complete the look, I applied the pink gloss shade from the Super Color Box Total Face Palette to Samantha’s lips, which tied the entire look together.”

An Interview with Ashley Greene, She Dishes How She Stays So Grounded

Ashley Greene's been the spokesperson for Mark for a few years now and like her, I can't get enough of the affordable cosmetics and accessories from the brand.  This Spring, she's working with mPowerment by Mark on their 'No More' campaign to help educate young women about sexual violence.  I had the chance to speak to the actress about her involvement with the campaign, beauty must haves and advice she lives by.

The "No More" campaign has taken off.  How has it impacted your life?  

I was so proud to be part of the NO MORE Campaign in March and come together with many other partners to help end dating abuse, partner violence and sexual assault.

I hope that by raising my voice and speaking out, young women across the country might find the courage to leave abusive situations, or to help their friends do so.

I love your spring mark shoot.  What item on your shopping list has already become a staple?  

We actually shot this on a cold, rainy day in New York City, but the shimmery shades of gold, saffrons, and greens in the Marrakesh collection really made it feel like Spring.

I love the Exotic Beauty Face Mosaics. It’s been my go-to this season for a quick, subtle glow.

What are your beauty must haves?  

My staples are concealer, mascara and lip gloss. I like mark’s Gloss Gorgeous Stay on Lip Gloss because it’s a gloss and stain in one, and doesn’t feel tacky.

Also, taking care of my skin is also really important to me -- I make sure to apply sunscreen every day and drink tons of water.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever gotten and who was it from?  

My mom and dad have always been a huge inspiration to me. I learned about self-worth and confidence from them, and appreciative their support & belief in me no matter what. It’s helped me to stay grounded over the years.

What's your guiltiest pleasure?  

I'm not really a fast food person, but I love McDonald's vanilla ice cream cones.

Fiona Stiles's 5 Makeup Must Haves

Allow me to introduce you to Fiona Stiles, a celebrity makeup artist worth stalking (on her blog... of course), My Life in Paints, Powders and Pigments.  Her most recent accomplishment, besides just working with Jessica Chastain for the NBR Gala and Rosie Huntington Whitley for the Golden Globes, is becoming the Brand Expert and Celebrity Makeup Artist for Mark Cosmetics.  I caught up with Fiona over dinner at Kingswood in NYC last week where she dished on the five must haves in her makeup kit.mark. Touch and Glow

There's a glowy shade in here for all skin tones. The formula is great on the cheeks as a highlighter or on the eyes as a cream shadow. I love the versatility of this product.

By Terry Baume de Rose Lip Balm

I love the soft rose scent of this lip balm. So moisturizing and silky soft. It's pure luxury.

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Eyelash Curler

Everyone needs to use a lash curler, it does wonders for the shape of the eyes. It's a better than a cup of coffee as far as making you look bright eyed and bushy tailed.  

Darkness Lash Glue

This is THE. BEST. LASH. GLUE. PERIOD. Good luck getting your lashes off.

Anastasia Brow Gel

An unruly row makes me nuts. It can ruin an otherwise flawless face. This never flakes, and the brows are set for the day once it dries.

Kaley Cuoco's Makeup Artist's Secrets from Backstage the People's Choice Awards

It's no doubt that Kaley Cuoco's a power house.  The actress has been killing it on The Big Bang Theory, was named one of the hottest girls on TV by Maxim and just hosted the People's Choice Awards with five outfit changes.  This afternoon I chatted with her makeup artist, Jamie Greenberg, about working behind the scenes with Kaley and how she kept her looking fresh all night long.  There were mustaches involved... The scene: Greenberg and the rest of Kaley's glam squad met at 2pm to begin primping.  "What you see is what you get with Kaley," Greenberg stated.  "She's always positive and her mood doesn't sway with what job she's doing, but since she was hosting the show, we were super excited."  She made us pink hoodies that read "Touchdown" on the back because each time she does something great we all say "Touchdown."  Greenberg brought tiara's and fake mustaches and Kaleys hair stylist brought T-shrits with prints of her dog on them that read, "Team Cuoco."  Positive energy filled the room.

Kaley's Look: "Since she was hosting we wanted to do something different and went with a '60's mod vibe channeling Sophia Loren for the carpet," Greenberg commented.  She had a peek at Kaley's five dresses a week prior while shooting a Toyota commercial with her and began brainstorming.  A cat eye and bump in her hair were the foundation, then for the show it was all about changing the texture of the lip and cheek along with the hair.  Her go-to product was the Mark Touch & Glow Shimmer Cream Cubes.  "I just smooshed my brush into the cubes and kept adding more color onto her cheeks," she says.  "It made a big difference with each look."

Staying Fresh: Throughout the night, Kaley rocked five different looks and Greenberg was responsible for making sure she stayed looking fresh.  Here's how:

1. Because Kaley has sensitive skin, she used gentle makeup removing wipes by Proactiv that get the job done without irritation.
2. During touch ups, she misted Kaley's face with Jurlique Rose Water Balancing Mist to keep the skin fresh and powder from looking cakey.
3.  To keep her looking awake, she dabbed a bit of Fresh Black Tea Age Delay Eye Cream under her eyes before reapplying concealer.  This move acted like a 4pm cup of coffee, keeping Kaley's under eye area hydrated and plump all night.

Confidence Boosting Beauty Secrets on BetterTV

Last week I visited BetterTV and spoke with Audra Lowe and JD about Confidence Boosting Beauty Secrets.  I love doing segments with Audra, because she's so friendly and obviously in the know when it comes to beauty, but whenever JD jumps in, I know there's going to be a few laughs.  Let's just say I wasn't disappointed this time.  These confidence boosting beauty tips will really give you a pick-me-up before the holidays.  Check them out. *I am a spokesperson for Invisalign (sponsored) and I have received complimentary treatment, but all of my thoughts and actions are my own.

What Empowers You? Ashley Greene Stands Up for A Cause

What empowers you?  I'm empowered to be the best friend, sister, daughter, and girlfriend I could possibly be.  I'm empowered to think big, then think bigger.  I feel empowered today to kick ass and take names.  Yes, there's a reason for this rant... While October is known for being Breast Cancer Awareness month, it's also Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which certainly shouldn't be overshadowed.  Feeling empowered to do something? Read on. Mark Cosmetics partnered with Ashley Greene to launch the m.powerment Lipclick Luxe Lipstick and Mirror Compact Set, which donates 100% of the proceeds to stopping dating abuse.  The set costs $24 and I'm so impressed that they're donating all of to the cause.  Most brands donate a portion of procedes to charities, so this is truly something worth buying, if not for yourself, gift it!

*This is a sponsored post, but all of my thoughts and actions are true.

Fall Beauty Trend: Dramatic Liner, Get the Look

One of falls hottest beauty trends is bold eyeliner.  Spotted on the runways of BCBG, Rachel Zoe, Lanvin and Catherine Malandrino to name a few, the winged liner look is the new norm as more graphic and dramatic stenciling took center stage.  Celebs are also embracing the trend as Two Broke Girls actress, Beth Behrs, was recently spotted rocking heavy liner at her Book of Mormon Premiere.  Love it or hate it, here's a way to embrace it and it really only takes one skill – smudging. Makeup Artist Jamie Greenberg worked with Behrs for the premiere.  The look, similar to the liner spotted at Rachel Zoe and Catherine Malandrino, is really not that hard to achieve.  Step 1: Blend.  Step 2: Smudge.  Step 3: Blend some more.  Check it out:

1. Line your lower water rims and top lash lines winging the top lines out past the outside corners of your eyes. Then smudged them out for a dramatic effect.

2. Next, apply a dark, smoky shadow like mark I-Mark Metallics Custom Pick Eye Shadow in Lava on your lids and blended it up and out, into the smudged liner.

3. Apply a liquid liner like mark What a Line Felt Tip Eyeliner in Wee Hours or for added color try mark Metal Works Liquid Eyeliner in Dragonfly (a metallic blue) to further define your upper lash lines.

4. Finish with two coats of black mascara to define your lashes.

*This is a sponsored post.

Mark Touch & Glow Shimmer Cream Cubes Review

I'm a huge fan of cream based cosmetics, especially in the summertime.  I always get excited to dig through a bag of a brand's latest offerings, but when I received Mark Cosmetic's last week, their Touch & Glow Shimmer Cream Cubes stopped me dead in my tracks.  Before I knew it I had a slew of colors painted on my hand as I wanted to see what shade each cube would look like on my skin tone. The shades melt beautifully into my skin and can all be used on the entire face: as eyeshadow, blush or highlighter.  It's really a great palette and only $16.  I wish I looked through this bag before I went to Aruba!  I would have brought it with me!  I like using the light and dark goldish shades and combining them as shadow.

You can find the Mark Touch & Glow Shimmer Cream Cubes at shop.meetmark.com.

*This is a sponsored post, but all of my thoughts and actions are true.

Genius Product Alert: Mark Cosmetics Double Do Shape & Gloss Kit

Last month I attended an event for Mark Cosmetics at Milk Studios in celebration of their new haircare line and chatted it up with Celebrity Stylist, Angie Barton about one product in particular that blew my mind, Mark's Double Do.   A genius two-in-one hair product that lives in a compact so you can take it anywhere.  I'm surprised no one thought of this earlier. The collection includes a variety of styling products that use light-weight exotic oils to help replenish hair without weighing it down.  A nice balance indeed, but when I saw the compact I was immediately drawn to it.  As a beauty editor, it's not often you find something this innovative.  Introducing the Double Do – the square compact has two styling products inside: a shaping wax for texture and definition and it flips over revealing a solid gloss to smooth fly aways and add shine.

"I use it on everyone from Hugh Jackman to Miranda Kerr, because both products are buildable and will take you through a day and into the night," comments Barton.

It's great to pack for a summer vacation or even throw into your purse for touch ups.  You can find Mark's Double Do Shape & Gloss Kit here.

The Secrets Behind Ashley Greene's Shoot with Mark Cosmetics

Ashley Greene recently shot several ad campaigns at Milk Studios in NYC with Mark cosmetics that won't be released until October, but I got the behind the scenes scoop from her makeup artist, Mai Quynh on the days activities, which included creepy, yet laughable tweets from a fake account created by a fan for one of her dogs and Ashley's customized playlist to set the vibe.

Ashley's really easy to work with and the only specific requests she ever asks for is black liner on her upper lash line, which makes her feel more put together," comments Quynh.

The first day started at 8:30am and wrapped at 5pm, Rihanna's voice filled the room pretty much the whole shoot and my buddy, Ted Gibson was on hair.  Six different looks were shot and in between each Quynh relied on Mark Wipes to take Ashley's face makeup off and since it's so gentle, she used Bioderma Sensibio H20for her eyes.  “When you do so many looks, everything has to change, so I’d rather start fresh so the color registers as true,”  she comments.  However Quynh did admit that she sometimes leaves foundation on the forehead and the brows filled in to save time.  Why not?

Throughout the shoot @marlothefierce, the fake account created by one of her fans for one of her dogs was tweeting how beautiful Ashley looked.  Creepy?  Quynh says Ashley was just laughing about it.

On the second day, only two looks were shot, but it was another full day.  One of the shoots was for a new fragrance launch.  Quynh used a combination of Mark Lipclick in TuTu and Lip Gloss in Girly Girl to create a pink lip with a semi-smokey eye to compliment Ashley's overall flirty look.

Ashley made a playlist that included music to set the mood like Muse, TLC and other random 90's music.

*This is a sponsored post, but all of the reporting, comments and actions are true.

Sponsored Post: A Lip Stain Meets A Lip Gloss

Besides rocking red, I normally stick with neutral lip shades in all textures, but recently found a gloss that's worth talking about, mark Gloss Gorgeous Stay On Lip Stain in Frilly.  I received all of mark's Spring launches in the mail and swiped all four glosses across my hands before deciding on which one I was going to wear for the day.  The claim is that it lasts hours so I put it to the test only to find a new favorite shade. Normally lip stains aren't glossy and glosses don't stain, which is why I was so intrigued by this product to begin with.  It surely proved otherwise.  While a bit sticky, the shade has serious staying power, until I had to wipe my mouth at lunch I didn't feel the need to reapply as I normally do.  It's almost weird because I reapply most times out of habit not knowing whether or not I really need to.

I have to say though, whether it lasted or not I really liked the color and am glad I gave it a chance.  It looked bright coral on the label, but it gave my lips just a hint of a peachy color that enhanced their natural color.  About two levels up from neutral, it's a very flattering shade.

*This post is sponsored, but my opinions and actions are honest.