Aveda Gift Set - Shimmer

      Aveda Gift Sets come with many different products to fit anyone on your list, they're all pre wrapped in beautiful handcrafted Lokta Bark paper from Nepal. Aveda has created a harmonious partnership with Nepali people to make this paper to cover our fantastic gift sets every holiday season. Over the next seven weeks I'm going to highlight a new gift set each week to get everyone set for their holiday shopping.

     The first and my personal favorite gift set this year is the gift of Shimmer. This set includes 2 limited edition mini Aveda Lip Glazes, in beautiful unique colors inspired by our partnership with the Nepali people and it's under 20 dollars! The first shade is Himalayan Snow, which is a clear glaze filled with multi-color micro glitter so your lips glisten and shine like new fallen snow. The second color is Nepali Berry which is a deep classic red filled with red micro glitter so lips shine all season long. These colors are great used separately or together, and as always contain organic vanilla, mint flavor and pomegranet which is a natural antioxidant to help fight free radicals.

xo.

Highlighting and Contouring, So You Can Have Glowing Skin All Year Long-

     During Fall & Winter months it's easy to neglect our skin, which can cause dullness. One way to work around having "dull" skin all winter long is by highlighting and contouring. This is a quick and effective way to have glowing skin all winter long! All you need is:

Highlight areas like cheekbones, cupids bow,
bridge of nose, brow bone and inner corner
the eye. Contour areas around the nose,
under cheekbones, around hairline
and chin.

• Eyeshadow or highlighter one shade lighter than your skin, I used Petal Essence Illumination Single Eye Color by Aveda
• Bronzer or warm brown eyeshadow 1-2 shades darker than your skin, I used Brazilian Sun Uruku Bronzer by Aveda
• Medium sized blending brush, I used this one from Sephora
• Kabuki brush, here's the one I used from Aveda

We'll start with a simple guide of where to highlight and where to contour. This can change depending on your face and eye shape, bone structure and skin type. So take into consideration what highlighting and contouring do first. Anywhere you apply your highlight is going to bring the area out and enhance raised areas on the face where light naturally hits (tops of cheeks, cupids bow, bridge of nose, etc.) Contouring is using a darker color or bronzer to further darken natural shadows giving a more angular defined appearance, think you don't have cheekbones? Think again.

This is me with my base foundation, eyebrows filled in & ONLY a highlight applied.

You can see my cheekbones, cupids bow, brow bone, the bridge of my nose and forehead are catching and reflecting more light than the rest of my face. 

Now I've gone through and added my contour under my cheekbones and around my nose and chin. You can see what a dramatic effect it gives. Blending and working in small areas is key in contouring, that's why I recommend using an eyeshadow blending brush for working in small areas like around the nose.

Some different lighting so you can see the difference
natural vs. artificial lighting makes.

Highlighting and contouring can be your secret to glowing skin all Winter long, and it's a lot easier than you may have thought! You don't have to have Kim Kardashians makeup artist to highlight and contour, as a matter of fact I bet you have everything you need in your makeup bag right now! So don't be intimidated by this simple technique, give it a go!

xo.

Lips for Fall.

As I've mentioned before in my Passion Flower Sneak Peak post, Aveda has a new 2012 Fall/Winter makeup collection out called Passion Flower. It has three new lipstick shades called Wild Fuchsia, Rare Orchid and Snap Dragon. I've used myself and the lovely Jessica as models to show you what these colors look like on.

All Aveda lipsticks go on smooth and hydrate lips all day, each has an organic vanilla and spearmint aroma, increases moisture and smooths lines up to 26% and 75% of women noticed fuller lips after 2 weeks of use.

in order of appearance: Tarragona Lip Pencil - Snap Dragon Lip Color - Wild Fuchsia Lip Color - Rare Orchid Lip Color

1. Start by hydrating lips with Nourish-Mint Renewing Lip Treatment for smoother lips and better application of color.

2. Outline and fill lips with either Foxglove, Tarragona or Nourish-Mint Lip Definer. This prevents feathering and makes lip color last longer. I used Tarragona under Snap Dragon, Foxglove under Wild Fuchsia and the Lip Definer under Rare Orchid.

3. Fill lips with chosen color, make sure to pay extra close attention to areas like the cupids bow and corners of the mouth.

xo.

Aveda Renewing Lip Treatment

Nourish-Mint Renewing Lip Treatment is a must have for me. Living in an extremely dry climate is harsh on my lips and I wear this stuff as much as I can. This colorless lip treatment increases moisture by 26%, smooths the appearance of fine lines by 26% and has an organic vanilla and spearmint flavor. You can wear it alone or under lip color for some extra moisture, or line and fill lips first then layer the renewing lip treatment for a hint of color and for an overnight intensive conditioning treatment apply at bedtime.

xo.

sneak peak of passion flower makeup line!

As some may know and some may not know last Monday I went to Los Angeles for an opportunity to audition to be a freelance makeup artist for Aveda, I've been practicing and studying for this audition all summer and I can't believe it's already over! It was such a blast, I loved the class I was able to attend and all the fun people I met that were just entering the program like me and the ones that have been a part of the program for years. The audition was simple, full face of makeup using all Aveda makeup and a quick interview to learn about our backgrounds and where we wanted to go with Aveda. The truly inspiring and fun part was the 4 hour class I was invited back for after the auditions, this class was all about the new seasonal fall/winter makeup line Aveda is launching called Passion Flower.

I can honestly say that I love each new makeup collection a little more than the last one, Passion Flower has a perfect mix of neutrals and bright colors and shimmer and matte eyeshadows. Not to mention two brand new lip liners, 3 amazing lip sticks and 3 hydrating lip glazes. All of the colors in this line are extremely pigmented and of course still live up to Aveda standards by using plant derived ingredients and formulating all of their makeup without parabens, mineral oil and talc.

Here are swatches from the new Passion Flower eyeshadow and lip collections on my really tan arm and hand..

petal essence single eye colors:
brown velvet rose
callalily
bittersweet
green tuberose
night iris
cerulean bloom

lip collection:
lip liners in tarragona and foxglove
lip colors in rare orchid, snap dragon and wild fuchsia
lip glazes in gilded lotus, pearl rose and star dahlia.

I'll be doing a makeup event on September 15th at my salon, check facebook for more info!

xo.

Aveda makeup - what i love and why i love it

did you know that Aveda has their own line of makeup? so many clients and friends that i talk with have NO idea about this fantastic makeup line! Aveda's makeup line was originally introduced as skincare with tint, but the name didn't stick but the ingredients did! all Aveda makeup is formulated without parabens, talc or mineral oil, which are known to have negative side effects when used in cosmetics.

Aveda makeup covers everything from eyes, lips, cheeks, face and they even have amazing brushes and compacts. like any other line of products there are always things you love, and some things you could leave and not be heart broken about. i'll let you know a few of my favorites from each category and tips on how to use them!

lips:

1. nourish-mint lip definer: used as a lip primer to smooth and define lips and helps lip color from fading, features spearmint and sweet vanilla aroma.

2. nourish-mind rehydrating lip glaze in beach thistle & coral sea: rehydrates lips up to 25%, smoothes fine lines in lips, uses pomegranate as an anti oxidant and gives amazing shine with a hint of color.

3. lip saver spf 15: water proof formula uses sun screen and anti-oxidants to protect all day from UV rays, refreshes with cinnamon leaf, clove and anise oils.

4. nourish-mint smoothing lip color in poppy & star coral: provides a bright pop of color that outlasts many other lip colors, increases moisture by 26% and uses spearmint and vanilla flavor

eyes:

1. petal essence eye definer in black orchid: uses aromatic flower waxes to create a creamy and blend able pencil, color stays true and smudge free and ophthalmologist tested to reduce irritation.

2. petal essence single eye color in illumination: true to color that blends and builds effortlessly. illumination is great to use on the brow bone or inner corner of the eye.

3. petal essence eye color trio in sea grass: the complementary colors in one eyeshadow pan make it easy to wear all three or just pick one, the sea grass trio includes warm matte sand colors to deep sea green.

4. color options eye shadow transformer: just a drop or two transforms shadow into cream, liquid liner or can be used as a primer all over the lid to intensify color and staying power.

face/cheeks:

1. inner light mineral tinted moisturizer spf 15: lightweight formula that blends skin tone evenly, formulated with mineral derived sunscreen.

2. petal essences face accents in shimmer shell: blend and build with a trio of long wearing colors, shimmer shell can be dusted lightly all over the face or used as a blushing bronzer.

3. inner light concealer: creamy consistency that sets up quickly to stay crease and smudge resistant, helps camouflage dark circles, age spots or blemishes.

4. uruku bronzer in brazilian sun with kabuki brush: uses annatto, a powdered pigment from the uruku shrub and vitamin E as an anti oxidant to provide an amazing long lasting all natural glow for skin.

there is so much that i didn't mention in this post that i still love! there are a few things i'm a snob about, like mascara, pink lipstick and some more intense eye shadow pigments that aveda doesn't quiet cover for me.. but everyone is different, so get to your nearest Aveda salon or experience center and play around with their extensive makeup stations! there's a ton to use and a ton to learn about Aveda's amazing makeup line. today i did a makeup look and posted it on instagram using some of my fave Aveda products in this post, you should do the same and tag me in the post! @viccyslade

lip definer & coral star lip color on lips

sea grass trio on lids + shadow transformer for liner

uruku brazilian sun bronzer on cheeks

inner light tinted moisturizer & concealer in 01 on face

mac swiss chocolate shadow on brows

buxom lash mascara on lashes

xo.