omg! stars without makeup! ...and they look damn good.

Ok, I'll admit it... sometimes I'm all about a good "Stars Without Makeup" feature. The tabloid cover will catch my eye, and I'll think "YESSS I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO LOOKS LIKE A BAG LADY WALKING THE DOG." But I feel for these women. Because even though they have fame and money, and can be made over, botoxed and filled to near perfection, they are still women. They wake up looking just like the rest of us un-famous ladies (even you Queen Bey), but they shall not DARE leave the house that way, for fear their "hideous" mug will be plastered on the cover of US Weekly and we will be exposed to their repulsive natural beauty. Just disgusting...
And on the contrary, when their glamourous, made-up alter-egos are published on the friendly US Weekly pages, us boring, unfamous, regular folk are made to feel terrible about ourselves. It's a lose-lose.

So, instead of the usual "Stars Without Makeup" feature, below I've highlighted 16 famous ladies without makeup, because I for one think they look beautiful bare-faced... just like the rest of us.

BEYONCE

            Photo: x17online.com; Jim Spellman/WireImage.com

NICOLE RICHIE

Photo: Ramey Photo; Getty Images

 KEIRA KNIGHTLEY

Photo: INFphoto.com; Getty Images

KAT DENNINGS

      Photo: Splash News; C Flanigan/Film Magic

HILARY DUFF

Photo: X17online.com; Getty Images

GISELE BUNDCHEN

Photo: Hal Horowitz/wireimage.com; Getty Images

JESSICA ALBA

Photo: Daniel Robertson/startraksphoto; Kevin Mazur/Wireimage.com

KRISTEN BELL

Photo: Chiva/INFphoto.com; David Livingston/Getty Images

MINKA KELLY

Photo: RameyPhoto; Jennifer Graylock/Getty Images

ROSE BYRNE

Photo: Tom Meinelt/Splash News; Taylor Hill/Film Magic

REESE WITHERSPOON

Photo: x17online.com; wireimage.com

JENNIFER LAWRENCE

Photo: Gaz Shirley/pacificcoastnews.com; wireimage.com

JESSICA SIMPSON

Photo: twitter.com; Getty Images

JESSICA BIEL

Photo: x17online.com/wireimage.com

KELLY ROWLAND

Photo: INFphoto.com; Getty images

FREIDA PINTO

 Photo: WENN.com; wireimage.com

SIENNA MILLER

Photo: startreksphoto.com; Jason LaVernis/Film Magic

Share if you think these ladies look great au-naturel! 

easter inspired makeup look.

Happy Easter Beauties!! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and spent it with good company and good food! I know I did... I also felt inspired to infuse some of the beautiful Easter colours into my makeup look. Experimenting with pinks, purples and other pastels is a nice way to shake up your routine, and celebrate the arrival of Spring (finally!) 

The eye look was created with a medium purple on the lid, a dark purple mixed with taupe in the crease, and a pale yellow mixed with pale pink for the highlight, all from my professional shadow palette. Black liquid liner and false strip lashes finished the look. Nail colour is "lav-endure" by CoverGirl, and lipstick is [my fav] "Darling" by Gosh.

{ beauty tip } If you want to try a new pastel eye look: On brown eyes, pastel purples and light greens look great, if you have blue eyes try champagne or peach, and green eyed beauties should go for pale pinks or light sage. 

a billion lashes isn't enough.

Ok my little lipstick darlings,  I find it crucial to dedicate an entire blog post to this, because it's something near and dear to my heart: eyelashes.

Recently, my gorgeous mom was complaining about her less-than-lengthy lashes, and this got me thinking about just how important lashes are... they are one of the most [if not the most] important elements of the makeup routine because nothing translates without mascara... throw on a pair of falsies and the look is taken to a whole 'notha level! At the bare minimum, mascara opens the eye and makes it appear larger.

Example: 

[without mascara]

[with one coat of mascara]

Now, my favourite part of the eye dressing process is eyelash curling, and I've been doing this practically since I could walk. I started off using the typical drugstore impostors, until I was introduced to the holy grail of eyelash curlers. Enter: The Shu Uemura eyelash curler. [Quick fact: this curler is so great because it's japanese and was born from a need to curl asian eyelashes which are the straightest and hardest to lashes to curl.] You can pick up this wonder tool at Sephora for around $25, but trust me it's LIFE-CHANGING. Eyelash curling is a must. If you don't do this you might as well just skip everything and give up on makeup altogether.

[my love, Shu]

So as for the remainder of the lash process, I have cultivated a short list of the best mascaras to try based on your needs:

For LENGTH... try a synthetic brush.
[save] Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara ($10)
[splurge] Bobbi Brown Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara ($30)

For VOLUME... try a big bristled brush.
[save] Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Mascara ($8)
[splurge] Christian Dior DiorShow Mascara ($30)

For FALSE LOOK... try fiber formulas.

[save] L'oréal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lash Mascara ($12)

[splurge] Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Lashes Mascara ($31) *Lipstick Darling Mascara of Choice! 

For CURL... try a curly wand. (BUT DONT FORGET THE CURLER)
[save] Maybelline The Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara ($7)
[splurge] Buxom Sculpted Lash Mascara ($23)

For EVERY SINGLE LASH... try a spiky, domed brush.
[save] Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara ($12)
[splurge] Benefit They're Real Beyond Mascara ($29)


And to finish off your look, I actually really like QUO lashes from Shoppers for a low-cost alternative to luxury lashes from companies like MAC… But don't skimp on the glue! Only DUO lash glue will do! (I prefer the dark colour, but clear is great as well).

Have a favourite formula or suggestions for other great picks? I always love hearing them!