how to make your makeup last

With holiday party season in full swing, we can only hope our makeup will cooperate for the long hours and late nights ahead. As impossible as it may seem, maintaining that “fresh-faced” look long after the last bottle of champagne has been popped is actually doable. Here are some of our favorite products and tips to ensure your makeup lasts all day and night!

Step 1: Prep Your Face
After giving your moisturizer time to set in, apply a primer to prep your skin (we love Smashbox’s Photo Finish Primer). Next, apply your favorite foundation directly to your skin (we recommend Bobbi Brown’s Stick Foundation for long wear). Blend the foundation using a foundation brush, buffing in circles for a flawless, even finish. For glowing cheeks that will withstand the day, NARS The Multiple, applied over foundation, gives a long-lasting, healthy glow.

Step 2: Prime Your Lips and Eyes
Swipe on a coat of lip primer (our favorite is Too Faced’s Lip Insurance Lip Primer) before you apply any lip product for a bold look that will last. If you’re applying lipstick, it’s best to use a lip brush to precisely fill in the lips and ensure a lasting pout. For eyes, we love NARS’s Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base — the primer holds onto even the most glittery eyeshadows, prevents fallout, and will make your eye makeup look freshly applied even after you’ve been wearing it for hours! Finish it off with a long-lasting eyeshadow (we swear by Make Up Forever’s Aqua Cream shadow).

Step 3: Set It
Lock-in makeup with a good setting spray (Urban Decay’s All Nighter Spray is our favorite—it prevents fallout and ensures that your makeup will last all day and night). Spray on your face at the end of your makeup application and you’re good to go!

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icy cat eye

As much as I love a bold lip, there's nothing like an accentuated eye look. Inspired by the cold winter weather, I went with a cat-eye look using icy, cool colors.

I started with prepping the skin with my three favorite primers - Benefit Stay Don't Stray Primer is for both under the eyes and the eye lid, ensuring that both under-eye concealer and eye shadow stay put, Benefit POREfessional Primer, which seemingly makes pores disappear, is perfect for the t-zone area, and I use Smashbox Photo Finish Primer for the rest of my face. All three primers work together to create a seamless canvas for the rest of the makeup.

Using the Sephora Collection Pro Foundation Brush #47, I blended a sheer layer of YSL Touche Eclat Foundation all over my face for a flawless complexion. Using the brand's Touche Eclat highlighter, I highlighted under my eyes, my cheekbones and under my eyebrows. I contoured under my cheekbones with Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Soft Shimmer Bronzer, blending to ensure that there were no harsh lines.

For the eyes, I started by blending Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Epatant, a gorgeous silver shimmer with hunter green undertones, all over my eyes just a bit above the crease of my eyes. Then, using Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Illusiore, a steel-like shimmer with plum undertones, I applied the eyeshadow in the crease and along the lash line-then blending out towards the eyebrow in a cat-eye way. Then, using the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette, I took the white silvery shimmer, Verve, and blended it from the inner corner to the middle of the eye. Also using Verve, I went from the inner corners of the eye down to the middle of the bottom lid as well. Using the darkest color from Naked 2, Blackout, I created a subtle smokey cat-eye by creating a horozontal V going from the crease to the upper lash line. Using MAC Pro Eyeliner, I lined both the inner and outer corners of my eye, as well as the bottom lid. Finishing the look with three heavy coats of YSL Faux Cils Shocking Mascara and setting the makeup with Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray to ensure that the look would last, I was ready to go!

Products Used:
Benefit Cosmetics Stay Don't Stray Primer (available here), Smashbox Photo Finish Primer (available here), Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional Primer (available here), Sephora Collection Pro Foundation Brush #47 (available here), Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Foundation (available here), Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Highlighter (available here), Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette (available here), Chanel Illusion D'ombre Eyeshadow in Epatant & Illusoire (available here) , Chanel Nail Polish in Dragon (available here), MAC Pro Eyeliner (available here), Yves Saint Laurent Faux Cils Shocking Mascara (available here), Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Soft Shimmer Bronzer (available here), Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture #24 (available here), Urban Decay All Nighter Spray (available here)

What is your favorite smokey eye look? Do you like to keep it dark and dramatic or lighten up a bit?

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tom ford: black orchid

Tom Ford is one of my all time favorite designers - from his iconic work with Gucci & Yves Saint Laurent to branching out with his own luxury line, it appears that anything Tom Ford touches turns to gold. When it was announced that Tom Ford was releasing a cosmetics line, I was ecstatic! Before the line made its debut, I assumed that the high quality of these luxury cosmetic products would be reflected in the price. It turned out that I was correct.

I lusted after Tom Ford cosmetics for quite some time, and looking at photos online of what the brand had to offer did nothing to stifle my want for these products, but it fueled my desire to purchase them. At the beginning of 2013, I decided that any purchase made in the new year would not be on impulse. I would only purchase things that I truly needed. I took the plunge, deciding that Tom Ford Black Orchid Lipstick was EXACTLY what I needed.

I prepped Jilly's skin with her favorite moisturizer, and went on to use Make Up Forever HD Perfecting Primer. Once the primer set in, I blended a tad of Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Illuminating Foundation onto her skin. Contouring her cheekbones with a bit of NARS bronzer in Laguna gave her a bit of color. I lined her eyes with Blackout, the darkest color in Urban Decay's NAKED 2 Palette.

The lipstick, which can be applied lightly for a sheer look or heavier for a more standout look, is a dark plum with shimmer that is subtle, almost undetectable on the lips. I applied it with Urban Decay's Good Karma lip brush for a perfectly even look. When wearing a lipstick as gorgeous as Tom Ford Black Orchid, you will want the lip to be the main focus, so keep jewelry and accessories to a minimum!

I can honestly say that Tom Ford's Black Orchid Lipstick has exceeded any expectation that I had. This will most definitely be the first of many Tom Ford Beauty purchases!

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'tis the season: holiday peacock eyes

One of my favorite makeup looks year round would be the ever popular smokey eye, so I figured what better way to update it than with some holiday colors, thus turning from a smokey eye to a peacock eye! I don't know about you, but a rich dark emerald green is what I consider one of the most beautiful colors out there. I decided to pair the green with a gorgeous gold for a dramatic and reflective contrast.

The peacock eye is associated with the brilliant Pat McGrath for Roberto Cavalli's Fall 2012 show, who used as much as four bright and contrasting colors on the eye. While nothing less than stunning on the runway, for a more subtle but equally gorgeous look, pick an unexpected pair of shimmery dark and light colors.

I prepped Jilly's gorgeous skin with her favorite moisturizer and then Make Up Forever HD Primer. After, I applied a light layer of Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat foundation. I then defined her already perfect cheekbones with a little bit of Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess bronzer.

When you work with any eyeshadow, you're going to want to use a primer to ensure not only that it wont move, but that the color will be at its purest saturation. The eye primer I used on Jilly was Benefit Stay Don't Stray primer. After, I applied the gorgeous gold, Half Baked, from the Urban Decay Naked palate from the inner corners to the middle of her eye. I then applied NARS Night Porter eyeshadow, a gorgeous dark emerald green, from the middle of her eye out-making sure to blend!

I then used my personal favorite mascara, Yves Saint Laurent Shocking Mascara in black, and a quick swipe of my favorite nude lip, YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 24 Blonde Ingenu, and all done! A perfect played up eye look for the holidays!

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'tis the season: red lip & glowing skin

I don't know about you, but every year after Thanksgiving, my makeup look completely changes up! I've been known to rock a red lip, but what better time of year to do it than around the holidays? To me, winter is the perfect time of year to rock your reddest reds on your lips-especially since the cold weather will ensure that your perfect pout wont melt or smudge!

products used: Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat, Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Highlighter, Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Lip Color #19 Gabrielle (similar), Chanel Rouge Allure #71 Fatale, Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Soft Shimmer Bronzer

To get this holiday look, apply a light layer of sheer to medium illuminating foundation all over the face. Then, dot highlighter under the eyes, on the cheekbones under the eyebrows and the cupid's bow. Fill in your eyebrows with pencil for some added definition (although with Jilly's envious brows, none were needed).

Contour just under your cheekbones with a bit of bronzer-but remember to blend! No mascara was used on Jilly, but if you ladies are one of those who refuse to leave the house without mascara on, go for one coat of your favorite lengthening mascara (I like this one or this one). Lastly, apply your favorite red red a lip brush to ensure that the line of your red lips are perfect! I mixed two Chanel colors for Jilly to make what I believe is her perfect red!

What is your go-to beauty look? Do you feel like you switch things up during the winter?

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beauty-ful

While I absolutely love fashion, beauty & everything related to it is something that I have always been extremely passionate about! Whether it's reading beauty magazines & blogs, applying makeup to myself or to others or browsing & shopping for products at stores, I absolutely adore everything and anything to do with makeup, and I am extremely excited to announce that I will be sharing my love of beauty with you here on Sorelle in Style! Keep your eye out for upcoming posts, including different beauty looks, tutorials, swatches & news on the latest makeup trends!

Here's a sneak peek at what's to come..

What are your latest beauty obsessions? What would you guys want to see?!

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the want list: feels like fall

t by alexander wang slub classic long sleeve (available here), 7 for all mankind snake skinny jeans (available here), burberry prorsum cotton-sateen trench coat (available here), jennifer zeuner mia necklace in yellow gold (available here), christian louboutin pigalle (available here), chanel reissue 2.55 in red, kate spade all eyes phone case (available here), chanel nail polish in vamp, dolce & gabbana oversized sunglasses (available here), nars pure matte lipstick in volga (available here)

It's starting to actually feel like Fall..finally! I don't know about you, but where we are the weather has been teetering between the two seasons which has made dressing properly a bit difficult. I'm definitely going to embrace the temperature drop with cozy long sleeved shirts and trench coats. With the change in weather and clothes of course comes switching up the makeup! I particularly like autumn because I can play up my fair skin tone with the trendy, beautiful lip and nail colors in burgundy.

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