How To Fake Flawless Looking Skin

Everyone has heard the expression "fake it until you make it" and sometimes this is how I feel about my skin. I have some really great skin days where I wear nothing on my face, and then there are days when my skin seems to hate me. So today we are talking which products help you have that youthful, elastic, supple glow...am I asking for too much from my beauty products? We think not!

CONTINUE READING

Holiday Beauty Giveaway!

Saving time is really important to us here at Dusk & Rubies! We are always busy either writing, working, creating new designs, teaching, going to events, visiting stores, and supporting women and small businesses. It takes a lot outta a girl! But it shouldn't keep us from looking our best. That is why Dusk & Rubies is giving away one of our favorite time saving beauty products! Yay free stuff- now that is lovely!

What you can win:

elf's Shimmering Facial Whip is a multipurpose, on-the-go whipped highlighter packed with Vitamin E to instantly brighten and soothe skin with no greasy after-feel. Ideal for using on your cheeks, lips, eyelids or anywhere you would like a radiant pop of shimmering color. 

Watch how to use it here:

Can't see the video? Click here

Rules for entry:

Like us on facebook

And answer our fun question in the comments below!

Everyone has had a "its been that kind of morning" morning. Tell us your funniest, craziest story about that time you were running late!

CONTINUE READING

How To: Do Your Make-up for Work In 5 Minutes

You know that feeling when the big boss is holding a meeting in the early morning and you're rushing to get there on time? Well I do! Here is a way to keep it looking flawless, and make a great impression, because you'll get to work early using these quick and easy make-up tips!

 

First: Apply Tarte's Maracuja Creaseless Concealer under eyes, and to problem spots with the pad of your pointer finger.

Second: With a powder brush apply Cover Girls's Trublend mineral formula to the outer areas of your face. (The areas opposite your T section)

Third: For easy contouring in seconds use e.l.f's Essential Clarifying Pressed powder in a shade slightly lighter than your skin tone. Use this as a highlighter: dust down your nose, cheek bones, and middle of your forehead, and chin.



First: Using e.l.f's blush brush apply Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12- hour blush (I used doll face) to the apples of your cheeks.

Second: Using e.l.f's blush brush apply Tarte's Amazonian Clay Bronzer under your cheek bones and blush, to your temples, to your jaw line, to the sides of your nose, to add contour and shading. (This step slims down face as well as gives your look perfect balance.

Step 1: Apply e.l.f's shimmering whip to the arches underneath your eyebrows, down your nose, in the inner corner of your eyes to brighten and add a little glimmer to your day.

Step 1: Using your eyelash curler curl your eyelashes by pumping your curler multiple times. (Short quick squeezes are the key to sky high lashes!)

Step 2: Brush on Tarte's Lights Camera Action 4 in 1 Mascara.

Step 3: After your mascara dries curl your eyelashes once more for extra height!



Step 5: Sephora makes this amazing hydrating lip balm called Sugar and it comes in different shades. All smell delicious, and all leave your lips soft and shiny.

I have used all of these products and completely endorse their quality! They are available at:

 Tarte Cosmetics Website

30% off Friends and Family Sale going on now

and #teamlovelies you're all my friends

the coupon code: DECFF

E.L.F Cosmetics Websites

On orders $25+ add code GC10 to the coupon code

box at checkout to receive a FREE $10 Gift Card automatically

shipped with your order.

Sephora Website

Try this look the next time you're in a hurry! And, let us know what you think in the comments below.

Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies

CONTINUE READING

How To Do Your Make-Up Like...Lemon Breeland

How To Do Your Make-Up Like...Lemon Breeland by duskandrubies featuring a lip stain

Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies

CONTINUE READING

D&R's 5 Favorite Looks: Rihanna Gives Good Face

Our top 5 Favorite looks from our girl Ri-Ri.

1. Buff:

2. Red Carpet Worthy

3. Bold & Beautiful

4. Urban Princess

5. "We Can Do It"

Which look is your favorite? Leave a reply in the comment section below!

Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies Blog

CONTINUE READING

The Magic's In The Make-up: Working with Melissa Gaglio

"I am a creator of alter ego's, weekend aliases,

bad girls, and good girls.

The question is...

If the magic's in the make-up, then who am I?"

-Melissa Gaglio

After having the amazing opportunity to collaborate with Melissa, a full time make-up artist, and the Owner & Founder of The Magic Is In The Make-Up, I think I have the answer to Melissa's question. I would have to say you are the all-mighty and powerful Oz!

 The Wizard of Oz...

  ...and all things MAC!

This past Monday Melissa, Jenna (a super talented photography) and I came together for one amazing shoot! I was lucky enough to have my face transformed by Melissa who made me look like the offspring of Lady Gaga on her Applause album cover and a Jackson Pollock... if they were to have mated...and ya know...produced more iconic art.  During our collaboration I was able to sit down and ask Melissa a few questions about her style, her love of all things make-up, and which products she suggests.



Danielle: So let's talk your own style, because you have an awesome look. What inspires you?

Melissa: Thank you! Old Hollywood glamour. I am in love with Lucille Ball, her look is probably my number one inspiration. More modern takes on her look that also inspire me are like Gwen Stephani, and Christina Hendricks from Madmen.

Danielle: I never thought about the connection between Gwen Stephani's look and Lucille Ball but I can completely see that. Speaking of looks, what is your favorite look that you have either experimented with or created for someone else?

Melissa: Usually when I get the chance to do some out of the box work, like we're doing right now; that's what I really like. I really like doing zipper eyes, Halloween gore make-up; the non-traditional stuff. I can appreciate good gore make-up...my boyfriend and I (smiles) were watching an episode of Dexter, and a girl was killed in a bathtub and I turned to him and was like, "that gore make up is terrible!" (laughing)  He was like, "It looks pretty good to me."

Danielle: (laughing) Not something someone, other than a make-up artist, would pick up. It is awesome though, you have an entirely different perspective then my own when watching a show. You're looking purely at the magic of the make-up.

Danielle: People, women in general, always want to know which products are the best, and obviously everyone will have a different opinion, but today you used a plethora of make-up on me, probably more make-up was put on my face than I have ever had in my entire life, and yet it feels like there is nothing there. My skin feels like it can breathe! Which products do you recommend, and which products can you not live without?

Melissa: Of course Mac, Hourglass is great if you're looking for an all-natural alternative, or you have sensitive skin. Mehron. I cannot live without my Inglot gel liner, and Hourglass icon lip stain!

Danielle: What about favorite make-up artists? You have to have a few you aspire to, are inspired by...

Melissa: Yes, I love Joyce Bonelli who does Kim Kardashian, and Nikki Minaj. And, Max Factor because he is just a pioneer.

Photo taken by: Ashley Victoria Makeup: Melissa Gaglio Magics In The Make-up

I loved having my make-up done by Melissa, not only is she personable, and full of energy but also meditative, capable, and precise all without losing her spur of the moment artistic edge. A true enigma, like most amazing artists. While sitting and having my alias for the photo shoot put on I kept thinking:

This must be what the stars, and celebrities feel like when they are getting ready for there red carpets, and photo ops.

CONTINUE READING

Get The Look: Summer Eyes For Every Occasion

I am by no means a makeup artist, but I do enjoy playing around with color, and having fun creating different looks. When I was younger I loved playing dress up, and I think that I never grew up, because here I am years later still playing. I create outfits, jewelry and make-up looks to shoot for my jewelry campaigns. Kristin, Nicole, Alyssa (my models, family, and best friends) and I always dreamt of what it would be like to wake up in the morning and walk our way right over to our own private makeup artist, and say, "So, what look shall we try today?"

Here are some of my favorite summer eye makeup looks that we tried over the weekend:

The gold and yellow tones really play up Kristin's blue eyes.

Nicole's tan skin and green eyes are truly played up with a silver and grey cream shadow.

 Purple is a universal color looking great on everyone, and for every eye color, but purple really accentuates hazel eyes. I wanted to try this look, because I wouldn't normally have worn pink as the brow bone highlight, but for this summer look it was a lot of fun!

Alyssa has the prettiest eye color out of all of us in my opinion. She has a green/ blue/ grey (although she will never admit it) Her light eye color looked so pretty in blended pinks and gold!

Thanks for still playing dress up with me!

Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies

CONTINUE READING

Get The Look: Pretty Pearl-Toned Shimmer Shadows

 

My inspiration for this Get The Look is Phoebe Tonkin's soft and sultry make-up for a jewelry campaign. I love this shimmery look. It plays up light colored eyes, and looks great on summer skin.

 

Think of this tutorial like paint by numbers! First apply the white pearl makeup in the inner corners of your eyes as well as on your brow bone. Second, brush the gold shimmer over entire lid. Third, you're going to brush a bronze shimmer shadow all over your crease and half of your lid (the outer half).

I love this palette! So affordable and highly pigmented!

 

When you add your eyeliner make sure that it is as close to your eyelash line as possible, and extremely thin. Don't forget to curl your lashes and add mascara!

 

 

We want to know what you think about this look! Tell us in the comments below, or let us know what looks you want to see next!

 

Stay Lovely,

 

D.R

 

Editor and Curator of

 

Dusk & Rubies

CONTINUE READING

Get The Look: Easy Edge Meets 1940s Cateye

So easy with most of the attention paid to the eyes, this look was inspired by the makeup worn in the 1940s. Lately we have been seeing a lot of vintage inspired fashion, especially with the mega box office hit The Great Gatsby. This look is a little bit more muted than the 1920s flapper style, but still fun and reminiscent of a different era.

What you will need:

- A black liquid liner

- A black matte liner

- A black matte eye shadow

- A peach coloured blush

- A neutral lip

- Falsies Lash Blast Mascara

- A stiff eyebrow eyeliner brush

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finish with a neutral lip and voila! You are done!

Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies

CONTINUE READING

Get The Look: How To Do Your Makeup... Like Carey Mulligan (Gatsby Premier)

Carey Mulligan is doing it, Jennifer Lawrence (I love her) is doing it, and I always do it. Minimalist makeup is in! Both Carey Mulligan and Jennifer Lawrence showed up to the Gatsby premier naked...well their faces were, nearly. Take a look below:


Picture From: Glamour



Picture From: Glamour

     So why did so many celebrities show up with profoundly minimalist make-up? Well, against the backdrop of the glitzy and overly ornate movie it created contrast, and of course the weather! It is warming up all over (thank goodness), and as Summer approaches we tend to wear less makeup, which has so many benefits besides just looking pretty. It allows your skin to breathe; hey, even our skin needs a break! As the warmer months approach we are also going to places where the dolled up look seems out of context. Some places I never wear makeup to? I don't wear makeup: when at the beach, when on vacation,  when lounging around the house, when tanning at the pool, when up-state camping, when playing any sports, when at the gym. I know a lot of people don't feel comfortable sans make-up, and I know a lot of people who can't imagine wearing make-up all the time. Well I think this minimalist look helps bridge the gap between the two! Here is how to achieve it:

(Disclaimer: you will see me sans makeup...yet again...let the screaming begin.)

What you will need:

 

Step 1: Both of our lovely Hollywood ladies have flawless skin (or what looks like flawless skin). You will need a great hydrating concealer like the one above by Maybelline. After touching up under your eyes, on the side of your nose, and any areas that need some cover up, brush a mineral powder with a large powder brush over your entire face to set it, and for further coverage. What is great about nixing the foundation is that it allows your face to breathe, and it gives the appearance of way more natural look.

Step 2: Both ladies are wearing a very sheer, very natural looking earthy blush (think the color of clay).

Step 3: Carey's lips have a matte look while Jen's has a little bit of gloss. Both ladies look like their lips are perfectly shaped, which leads me to believe that they have had their lips lined with a pencil, or a lip brush. I used a lip pencil in the color of my lips, lined my lips, then colored them in. I then applied a little bit of gloss over the lip in a natural color.

Step 4: Last but not least eyes. The eyes are the most interesting part of the entire look. There is no visible eye liner, and no visible false lashes. In Jen's case it looks like mascara has been applied to her top eyelashes, and just probably a brush through on the bottom. If Carey has on eyeliner it is a thin line close to her waterline that starts in the middle of her lid and just reaches the corner (no extension). Once again we see there are no visible use of false lashes, but she may have a few separate lashes added to the outer corners of her lids. Because of the close-up photo we can see that Jen is wearing two eye shadows, a bone/light flesh color for under her eyebrow (brow bone) and it is dusted down to her lid. The second is a  coral/ bronze shimmer shadow that was dusted over her entire lid and swept out in a triangle. The shadow is extended out past the corner of her eye. I used Borghese's mineral shadow in coral sunset.

I love this look. I feel it makes everyone look young, fresh, and vibrant. I also feel this look celebrates clean, flawless looking skin that is neither overly tanned, or overly done up. I like this look for everyday and the upcoming summer weather.

Try it out, and let me know what you think in the comments below.

Stay Lovely,
D. R
Editor and Curator
Dusk & Rubies

CONTINUE READING

Get The Look: How to do your hair...like Zoey Hart (Fun & Funky Braids)

How to achieve Zoey's funky and fun braided dos:

Look 1: Side ponytail braid, with french braid side part inspired by Zoey Hart Season 2 Episode "The Kiss":

Look 2: Classic French Braid Up Do-

(1) French braid only to behind your ear, finishing the braid with a rubber band

(2) Pick up the french braid again from the bottom of your nape.

(3) Grab hair from the front and bring braid down into a normal three strand braid. Tie with a rubber band.

(4) Pin up braid across the bottom part of your head, and fini!

Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator

CONTINUE READING

Get The Look: How to do your makeup...like Zoey Hart (The Smokey Kitten Eye Tutorial)

Tutorial Inspired by, Zoey Hart: From the CW's Hart Of Dixie

 

I am a big fan of Rachel Bilson's personal style, as well as her character Zoey Hart's style from the CW's new tv dramedy Hart of Dixie. Zoey Hart is a city slicker: born and raised in Manhattan, and she won't let you forget it!  But under strange circumstances she finds herself re-located to the small town of Bluebell, Alabama. Zoey manages to stand out in the small town looking more city chic than southern belle. (See pictures from various episodes below).



Zoey is known for her: Smokey Kitten Eye & Funky Braided Updo's.

We are going to start with the basics:

(1) How to achieve Zoey's simple smoky kitten eye

 

 

 

 

 

To achieve Zoey's look this is what you will need:

• A pink blush: Zoey's cheeks are always flushed a light, pretty pink. I used Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Wear Blush in Dollface
• Metallic Eye Shadow: Zoey's eyes are always a mixture of metallics and shimmer shadows. I used Metallic Eyes Palette by Victoria Secret.
• A Natural lip: Zoey's eyes are her main focus, so she keeps he rest of her face simple. I used Borghese's Natural Lip-gloss Pot in Bella Rose.
• A liquid eyeliner, and a thick black pencil eyeliner: Zoey's eyes are always lined both her water line, and lash line.
• Mascara: I used Covergirl Lashblast and Maybelline Falsies Flared.
• Highlighter: I used Rimmel's  eye shadow in British Linen.
• Types of brushes: I used a foundation brush (1), blush brush (3), sponge tip applicator (10), and stiff liner/brow brush. If you are confused as to which brushes I am referring to please use the pictures below as a guide.

 

 

 

Before we get to the eyes: Apply your face cream, your concealer, and foundation. Then apply Tarte's blush in dollface to the apples of your cheeks. Finally, apply your highlighter to the following designated areas on your face: below your eyebrow, in the inner and outer corner of your eyes, down the center of your nose, on the top of your cheek bones, and at the bow of your upper lip, and underneath the middle part of your bottom lip. If you are unsure where to highlight look at the picture below. (The spaces that are circles, or white is where you would apply your highlighter)

Now it is time for the 4 easy steps to achieve the smoky kitten eye:

Model: Alyssa Lynne

 

Victoria Secret: Metallic Eye Palette

Step 1: With a sponge tip applicator sweep the gold colored eye shadow (the top shadow in the right column) over the entire eye lid, up to your highlighted brow. (See number one in top photo)

Step 2: With a sponge tip applicator sweep the lighter bronze color (the middle shadow in the right column) from the outer corner of your eye to the middle of your eye lid, and into the crease of your eye. (See number two in the top photo)

Step 3: With the tip of the sponge tip applicator use the darkest brown shadow (the last shadow in the right column) To create what is considered a smoky eye, sweep the shadow into the outer corner of your eye, and into the crease again, flaring it out and making it more dramatic. (See number three in the top photo)

Step 4: With your liquid liner, line the top of your eye starting in the middle of your eyelid and extending outward passed the corner of your eye. This is the kitten eye so you don't want the eyeliner to be too thick, or too long, it should not go out further then the end of your eyebrow. (Tip: If your hand is not to steady with liquid liner do not worry you will be going over it with a regular black eyeliner pencil) Next ,go over the liquid liner with the black eyeliner pencil. Lastly, use a stiff eyeliner brush and dip it into the black shimmer eye shadow, trace over the line you have made smudging it along the way and blurring it so that the line is not so clean. Sweep a little under your water line. This should not be a perfected line but more of a smoldered charcoal line. (See number four in the top photo)

Once again [disclaimer] you will see before and after pictures: Me with NO makeup!!! Ahhhh!!!

Model: Alyssa Lynne

Outtakes:

Stay tuned for both Zoey Hart Inspired Fun & Funky Braided Hairdos, and The Get The Look: Dress like Zoey Hart blogposts!

Like always, stay lovely

 

D.R

 

Editor and Curator of

 

Dusk & Rubies

CONTINUE READING