High Definition: Getting Romantic

ColumnKick away your traditional makeup routine and slip into something more romantic.

Something inside of me wanted to kick away the obvious trends of bronzey skin and neon hues that dominate this summer season, so I rebelled with romanticism.  I’ve been playing make believe in the concrete jungles of New York, as a romantically doe-eyed woman who wears floaty, water-colored dresses and gracefully sits by a lake making a wreath of flowers with lips stained from the juice of wild berries.

You might want to take your own break from traditional makeup routines and try dipping into purple hued lip tints and lipsticks for a vintage, wine stained mouth, softly flushed cheeks, and washed eyes with faded edges.  It’s more versatile and easy to wear than you might imagine.

Berry Beautiful Lips

Here are some splendid, natural lip colors which are the key to our romantic look:

Lavera Lipstick in Berry Violet 03.  This deep purple with just a touch of rosey shimmer looks amazing on everyone, from the milky white to the golden and dark.  The wear is exceptional, the texture divine because it’s not too greasy or too matte; just the right amount of hydration with full pigment power! Daytime or nighttime, this is a delightful shade to don.

Alima Pure Nourishing Lip Balm in Cranberry The shade name says it all.  This uber-hydrating, deep hued lip tint plays off the natural pink shades of the mouth, adds in a little purple and the effect is natural yet noticeable.  This is a great shade to set off any eye color. It has peppermint oil in it; an added bonus for those of you minty-fresh lovers.

 

Nvey Eco Organic Lipstick  #367. Not feeling quite like diving into the deep-end with color? This is a lighter version that’s a little more on the rose side, but still has the vintage violet necessary to pull this look off.  I adore the texture of this creamy lipstick. The smell is totally neutral and it wears well.

Pro tip: After applying lip color, use a tissue to press against it removing the shiny look of too much product.  Repeat the process one more time (apply and blot), then take your pinky (make sure it’s clea) and wipe off some of it from the very edges of both the upper and lower lip.  This is what will give it a delicate look.

Romantic and Budget Friendly Cheeks

Use the same lip color as a cream blush and give it a secondary purpose!  The goal is to create a flushed cheek tone.  So take your middle finger and dab the product from the lipstick to the apple of the cheek.  Start lightly and build color in a soft, rounded motion.

Pro tip: If you get too much on just take a clean finger and lightly wipe off the color or use a touch of foundation over it to lighten up the tone.

Dreamy Eyes

Just pick one color, warm or cool, and sweep it over your lid, into your eye socket, and diffuse the edges out and around and lightly underneath your lower lashes. There should be no obvious start points of the color.

Pro tip: use a very fluffy eyeshadow brush to apply the color and with a clean brush buff out all of the edges.

To create a warm look, try Divine by Josie Maran.

For a more dramatic, cooler feel dust on some Lilac by Alima Pure.

Editor’s note: Got a celebrity look you’d like to copy or a trend you’d like to see incorporating healthy, non-toxic makeup? Send your questions to High Definition columnist Kristen Arnett at beauty@ecosalon.com

New York City based Kristen Arnett is an internationally renowned makeup artist and founder of the Green Beauty Team, styling high profile celebrities and runway models as well as a sought after beauty expert, educator and teacher for other makeup artists.

Image: Elle Denmark 2011