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Big Makeup News For Women of Color!

Allure — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 04:05:53 PDT

We're excited to present this story from Allure:

When it comes to making women of color look amazing, makeup artist Sam Fine is pretty much king. In addition to glamming up top celebrities like Iman, Jennifer Hudson, Vanessa Williams, and Tyra Banks, he’s also known for his genius tips and tricks (check them out firsthand on his DVD, Fine: The Basics of Beauty). Now, he’s teaming up with Fashion Fair as the makeup brand’s new Creative Makeup Director. We talked with him about his new gig. See what Sam had to say when you keep reading.

Iman Cosmetics's New Palette Is Fit For an Icon

OnSugar Blog — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 03:00:01 PST

Iman is a timeless beauty with her own line of cosmetics specifically for women with darker skin tones. OnSugar blog Blaq Vixen Beauty tells us all about the legendary model's new collection of sultry eye makeup.

I just found out that this new inclusive palette from Iman Cosmetics is hitting stores Jan.15! By the looks of it, the Iman Eye-Con Collection ($35) seems to be a great item for someone who wants to step up their eye makeup game (like me). It has a built-in mirror, four trios of eyeshadow shades (Classic Smoky, Golden Romance, Edgy Emerald, and Cool Violet), brow liner (Blackest Brown Eyebrow Pencil), and a jet black eyeliner (Jet Black Perfect Eye Pencil). Of course, easy-to-follow instructions are included so that you can take your dazzling looks from classic to shimmering, smoldering, or radiant.

Want to see more? Follow OnSugar blog Blaq Vixen Beauty now! And don't forget, you can start a blog of your own, too. Just create your own site and share your own beauty tips. You could be featured right here on Bella.

Three Easy Ways To Update Your Makeup

Daily Makeover — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:00:32 PDT

We're excited to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Daily Makeover!

Now that fall is here and you've begun to pull out your sweaters, scarves and boots, you should also begin to re-address your beauty needs. Start by thinking about what current skin needs or challenges you may have, and then envision what trends you'd like to try. To check out celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine's tips for getting the new looks right, just keep reading.

This Makeup DVD Will Have You Looking Fine

BellaSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:00:46 PDT

Team Bella loves Sam Fine, and not just because he's a top makeup artist who's worked with some seriously bold-faced names (Halle, Beyonce, Tyra, among many others). Nope, we love him because he's happy to share his expertise in a friendly, easy-to-digest way. In his just-released DVD, Fine: The Basics of Beauty ($24.99), Fine teaches makeup basics through a series of makeovers and tutorials. Here's a preview.

The DVD is geared toward women of color, but anybody can learn a few things from Fine's advice. If you'd like some of his tips outside of the DVD, check out his advice on choosing the right foundation. And if you want to join the unofficial Sam Fine fan club, I'll see you there.

How-To: Queen Latifah's Makeup at the 2009 People's Choice Awards

BellaSugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:10:53 PST

At last night's People's Choice Awards Queen Latifah was a fabulous hostess. And, of course, no queen would be complete without a regal purple silk chiffon gown with multidimensional sparkles. As for her makeup? The majority of you loved it. Her look was a hit, and now I've got the details on how to be luminous like Latifah.

Seeing that the star is the spokesperson for CoverGirl, it's no surprise that celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine created her classic look with products from this iconic drugstore line. To see color selections and techniques straight from Fine himself, check out the how-to below:

Eyes: Fine applied an eggplant shade (which is easier to wear than lilac since it's closer to brown/mahogany tones) on the crease and underneath the lower lash line using Eye Enhancers Quad Eye Shadow in Ice Princess ($4.99). He also used an opalescent beige shadow on the eyelid to open up the eye. Next, he lined the top lash line for definition, applied false lashes, and some Volume Exact Mascara in Very Black ($7.29). "Mascara helps to fuse Queen's lashes to the fake lashes," he said. Great tip.

To see the rest of the how-to, along with Fine's instructions on what he did to add drama to her lips during a costume change,

Cheeks: Since Queen Latifah had just come back from the holidays, Fine applied a dusting of Natural Hue Minerals Bronzer in Brown Bronze ($8.18) to keep that glow going. Then, he added some rosy blush on top for a subtle effect.
Lip: First, Fine used a liner to define the lip - a step he never skips. He chose a lipstick in a neutral, mauve tone and a complementary gloss called Wetslicks AmazeMint in Pink Positive ($6.25).
Costume change: When Queen Latifah changed into her green dress at the show, Fine created a completely different look just by switching up her lips. He applied Vibrant Hue Color Lipstick in Cherrylicious ($6.21), a cranberry shade, along with a matching gloss for a fast and easy metamorphosis.

Source

Makeup Artist Sam Fine Shares Shopping Tips

BellaSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:00:18 PDT

When Vanessa Williams, Iman, Halle Berry, Brandy, Beyonce, Veronica Webb, and Tyra Banks have you on speed dial, you know you're good. Such is the case with makeup artist Sam Fine, who's worked with these (among other) celebrities. The Chicago native began his career by working at a cosmetics counter, then worked his way up to be one of the most sought-after makeup artists.

He also maintains his own blog, which provides shade-specific, step-by-step tutorials. In between appearances for MAC, I talked with him about a few makeup tips for women of every color.

On his makeup philosophy:
"Makeup is about personality. I'm not a big rule-maker. If you want to wear red lipstick morning, noon and evening, why not?"

On the most flattering hues for women of color:
"There are a few shades that I don't use as much with women of color, like pink shades. Pink is not in the undertones of women of color, so I use bronzer instead. For me, it's all about the basics: Orange, coral, and golden shades look beautiful. But pinks are tricky, as are really pale colors."

For Sam Fine's tips on choosing color cosmetics and foundation,

His foundation-shopping tips:
"Be savvy; shop around. Nowadays, you have lines like Bobbi Brown and MAC that have more than two or three shades. These lines may not be dedicated to women of color, but they have some wonderful options. You have to go from line to line. It's really trial and error. Don't think it terms of, 'This one line is my everything.' You'll have to pick and choose from different lines. Women of color are always going to have to do more work to find the right foundation color for their skin tones."

On finding the most flattering color cosmetics:
"For women of color, there's already color in the skin, so you need more pigment. Nars, Iman, and Fashion Fair are some lines that have truer colors. What you see in the tube is going to be the same on skin. You have to be careful in your color choice - that's true not just for women of color, but for all women. There's nothing you can't do, but you have to switch up the shade, not the color, to make it complement your complexion. For instance, the right blue for Vanessa Williams might be a different shade than the one that looks right on Patti LaBelle."

Check Out the Top Contenders For Best Cookbook of the Year

Susannah Chen — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:30:54 PST

Thousands of cookbooks were published in the last year, but which ones are really worth buying? The International Association of Culinary Professionals, or IACP, tackled the question as it announced its cookbook award finalists for 2012 today.

Among them: plenty of cookbooks from top restaurant chefs, like Jean-Georges Vongerichten, John Besh, and Andrew Carmellini, as well as new books from reputed publications such as Fine Cooking and Cook's Illustrated.

Cookbook winners will be announced on April 2 in an award ceremony hosted by Mo Rocca, where the honor of best cookbook of 2012 will also be announced. To see the entire list of award winners, keep reading.

10 Money Moves to Make Before You Freelance

Bundle — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:15:41 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart Bundle story here on Savvy!

Freelancing can be an exciting and rewarding path for many people. You get to call the shots - accept or decline assignments, enjoy greater degree of flexibility in your schedule, and develop diversified streams of income. But there are also many things that freelancers have to worry about: health insurance, invoicing, saving for retirement, etc. Here are 10 money moves you can make to ensure that your freelance career is well-positioned for success.

Have an emergency fund

Most personal finance experts recommend 3-6 months worth of living expenses stashed away, but for freelancers, it might be more prudent to aim for a bigger, 6-9 months emergency fund. Jamie Beckman, New York-based freelance writer and author of The Frisky 30-Day Breakup Guide, saved about seven months' worth of money in an emergency fund before she took the freelance leap. "In retrospect, I'd probably recommend saving more than that just in case," said Jamie, "I was able to get a good amount of work right off the bat, so I haven't been dependent on my savings (knock on wood!), but having a healthy financial cushion buys me peace of mind. I also have a few mutual funds that I can cash out in an emergency, but I'd rather not dip into those unless my situation is dire."

Read on for more tips for freelancers.

Kate Winslet Talks Divorce and Her "Complicated" New Chapter in Harper's Bazaar UK

Lindsay Miller — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:55:58 PDT

Kate Winslet covers Harper's Bazaar UK's November issue and posed for a sultry spread inside the magazine. The actress sported lingerie-inspired looks and a dramatic cat eye for the steamy shoot. Kate, who appears in the glossy to promote the international release of Contagion, also opened up about her personal life in her interview. Kate split from director Sam Mendes last year, and the Emmy-winning star said their separation has been tough, but amicable. She also reflected on the next phase of her life and career and single motherhood in the issue, which hits stands on Thursday, Oct. 6. Here are some highlights:

On her split from Sam: “One thing I will say about me and Sam is that it’s fine, it’s really fine. I’m not going to shit-fling, there’s no point in even going there. It is what it is... We’re grown-ups at the end of the day, and however hard it’s been for me, it’s been equally hard for him. And we have a child together who we both love - and raising him together, jointly and without any conflict, is absolutely key. It’s the only way to do it, and I’ve really learnt that with Mia.”
On families today: "Those days of every child having a mummy and daddy who lived at home - Daddy went to work, and Mummy stayed at home and took care of everyone - those days have almost gone, and it’s so much more unconventional now.”
On what's next for her: "I feel that I’m just at the beginning of a new narrative, and it’s incredibly exciting. It’s complicated, I know, and uncertain - but it’s where life happens, between the cracks. It can be a painful process, but I truly hope that never stops for me.”

Photos courtesy Tom Munroe for Harper's Bazaar UK

Celeb Style: Gwen Stefani

Noria Morales — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 07:56:20 PDT

Gwen Stefani's breezy, boho pretty outfit is a fine choice for early Summer days. It's also effortless to put together. Try a printed maxi like this affordable version from Topshop ($60) and throw a fitted denim jacket over it. Wear flat sandals like these from Sam Edelman ($60) to keep it casual and comfortable and add oversized sunglasses. Click the items to shop an outfit just like Gwen's.

Visit CelebStyle for lots more celebrity street style!